With recent research revealing that 30% of Brits have considered moving into a smaller property, relocating, or staying with family to save money as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, the decision to downsize has become quite the trend for UK residents. Downsizing your home can be the right move at any stage of life depending on your specific needs.
Whether you are moving from your family home, making a temporary lifestyle change, or relocating to a new area, downsizing successfully can seem a daunting task, leaving many people not knowing where to begin.
Attic Self Storage has teamed up with Professional Lifestyle Organiser and Declutterer, Sally Walford, whose award-winning company, Declutter Me has been helping people move home and declutter their way through life for over a decade.
Sally has shared her top tips on how to have a successful and clutter-free home move:
1. Preparation
Let’s face it, moving, in whatever capacity is very stressful. Most people feel overwhelmed at the prospect of even starting a project like this. So, preparation is the key to a stress-free move.
Start off with writing a to-do list or download our printable home-moving checklist. Listing tasks can stop procrastinating and help you focus on one step at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole picture.
Seek the services of expert residential movers to ease the burden of transporting your belongings to your new home.
2. Measure Your New Space
One of the crucial steps to a successful and clutter-free home move is measuring out the new space. Before packing up and transporting all your belongings to the new home, it’s essential to assess the size and layout of the rooms in the new space. Measure the dimensions of each room, including the height of the walls, to ensure that your furniture, appliances, and other belongings fit in properly. This will help you determine which items to keep, sell, donate or discard, and avoid unnecessary clutter and stress in your new home. Additionally, mapping out the new space in advance can also help you plan your furniture placement and make the most of your living space.
3. Collate
Collate similar items together, you may be surprised to see how many coffee mugs or items of Tupperware you own. Decide whether you have the space or really need them all in your new home.
4. Decluttering
There is no better time to declutter than before you downsize. It may seem obvious but it’s true! Most downsizers take far too many possessions to their new home causing them even more stress at the other end.
- Say Goodbye
Don’t move with things that you haven’t used for a long time. How about that fondue set or ice cream maker that’s just gathering dust? Now is the time to let go.
- The 80/20 Rule
Did you know that you only wear 20% of your wardrobe 80% of the time? This rule can be applied to anything in your home from children’s toys to cookbooks too.
- The Four-Pile Sort System
The four-pile sorting system is a popular method used for decluttering your home. When going through your belongings, you separate them into four piles: give, donate, sell, and trash.
The “give” pile is for items you want to give to friends or family, the “donate” pile is for items you want to donate to a charity or organization, the “sell” pile is for items you want to sell either online or at a garage sale, and the “trash” pile is for items that are broken or unusable and need to be thrown away. This system can help you organise your belongings and reduce clutter in your living space.
5. Self-Storage
Sentimental items such as photographs, relatives’ possessions, and baby clothes are always tricky to tackle. If you are struggling to let go, consider using self-storage for these items and tackle them when you are ready. Choosing the right storage company is essential. Attic Self Storage offers a friendly and professional service as well as storing your possessions safely.
6. Packing and unpacking
People often underestimate the time it takes to pack and unpack. To ensure the safe packing and moving of your possessions, call in the professionals. People often run out of time and throw things in boxes causing chaos at the other end plus breakages. Attic’s friendly team and network of trusted suppliers can advise you with the correct boxes and packing materials to ensure you store your possessions safely.
