Downsizing Your Home: Complete Guide

1. Why People Downsize

2. Downsizing Timeline

6 Months Before Move

• Walk through new space, measure rooms and closets
• Create floor plan showing what furniture can fit
• Start with obvious items: broken things, duplicates, expired items
• Begin selling valuable items (furniture, collectibles)

3 Months Before

• Tackle one room per week
• Sort sentimental items (photos, heirlooms)
• Schedule donation pickups
• Consider temporary storage for undecided items

1 Month Before

• Final decisions on remaining items
• Pack what you're keeping
• Schedule junk removal for final cleanout
• Cancel/transfer utilities and subscriptions

3. Making Keep/Go Decisions

The Decision Framework

For each item, ask these questions in order:

1. Does it fit in the new space? If no, it goes (unless irreplaceable).
2. Have I used it in 2 years? If no, probably don't need it.
3. Would I buy this today? If no, let it go.
4. Is it worth the cost to move/store? Moving costs add up.
5. Does it bring me joy or serve a purpose? Keep only what matters.

The Four Piles

4. Room-by-Room Strategy

Kitchen

Usually the most duplicates. Keep only what you use weekly.

• Multiple sets of dishes? Keep one.
• Specialty appliances used once a year? Gone.
• Duplicate utensils, pots, pans? Consolidate.

Bedroom & Closets

Smaller closet = fewer clothes. Be ruthless.

• If it doesn't fit or you haven't worn it in a year, donate it.
• Extra linens? One set per bed plus one spare.
• Oversized furniture that won't fit? Sell and buy smaller.

Garage/Basement/Attic

Where stuff goes to hide. Often the biggest purge opportunity.

• Sports equipment for sports you don't play? Gone.
• Holiday decorations you haven't unpacked in 5 years? Gone.
• Tools you'll never use in a smaller space? Sell or donate.

5. How to Let Go

Selling Options

• Facebook Marketplace: Best for furniture, local pickup
• eBay: Best for collectibles, niche items
• Consignment: They sell it, you get 40-60%
• Estate sale: For large volumes, they handle everything
• Garage sale: Quick but labor-intensive

Donation Options

• Goodwill/Salvation Army: Accept most items, will pick up
• Habitat ReStore: Furniture, appliances, building materials
• Local shelters: Clothing, bedding, toiletries
• Buy Nothing groups: Free to neighbors via Facebook

6. Using Storage During Downsizing

When Storage Makes Sense

• Seasonal items: Holiday decor, sports equipment you'll use
• Sentimental items: Can't let go yet, but no room
• Transition period: Moving in stages
• Family heirlooms: Waiting to pass to children/grandchildren

Storage Size for Downsizing

• 5x5: Boxes, seasonal items, small furniture pieces
• 5x10: Contents of a small bedroom or large closet
• 10x10: Half a house worth of furniture + boxes

7. The Emotional Side

Downsizing isn't just physical—it's emotional. You're letting go of a chapter of your life.

Tips for the Hard Parts

• Take photos: Photograph items before letting go. You keep the memory.
• One item per memory: You don't need 10 items from that trip—one will do.
• Pass it on: Give heirlooms to family now; see them enjoy it.
• It's not the item: The memory lives in you, not the object.
• Take breaks: Don't sort for more than 2-3 hours at a time.