More and more baby boomers are downsizing their homes. It’s a smart move for a lot of people who can save hundreds of dollars a month by trading their large home for a smaller house or condo. However, so many people who make a move, end up feeling down in the dumps about it. They miss the space and the possessions they’ve had to do away with in the process. If you want to downsize, but you don’t want it to be depressing, check out these tips that will ensure you don’t make downsizing a downer:
Condominium _ Zaki Jarrah _ Flickr
Adjust Your Mindset
So much of what makes us suffer, in any circumstances, is our own mind. We think negative thoughts and ruminate on all the things that have gone wrong, and it makes us feel unnecessarily unhappy. So, if you want to avoid downsizer’s depression, before the removalists even arrive, start thinking positively. Instead of decrying the loss of space and getting rid of that big comfy couch you loved so much, think about the money you will save, and how little time you’ll have to spend in chores now, Accentuate the positive and you’ll be just fine.
Work Out What You Want
There’s no getting around it; if you’re downsizing you’re going to have to lose some of your stuff, but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’ll encourage you to finally get rid of some of your clutter and ensure you are surrounded only by things you truly love. So, take a pen and paper and write down everything you own. Then work out whether it’s something you need, want or could do without. This will help you pare down your possessions and prevent any accidental losses of stuff you want to keep.
Rent a Storage Space
It somewhat goes against the philosophy of downsizing, but if you have a lot of stuff that you just can’t bear to part with, one option is to rent your own storage unit, where you can keep all that unnecessary stuff you want to keep until you’re in a better place to deal with it. After a while of not seeing or using it, there is a good chance that your emotional attachment to your stuff will diminish and you’ll be able to sell, donate or send it to the trash after all.
Unleash Your Inner Creativity
If you’re worried that moving to a smaller property will make you feel closed in, there are a number of things you can do to create the illusion of more space. Decorating the walls with neutral colors and hanging large mirrors, for example, will make rooms appear bigger than they are. Letting in lots of natural light will also help to prevent a claustrophobic feeling, as will downsizing some of your furniture to better fit your rooms. If you are located within CT, you can contact All About Interiors to help take on the task of both downsizing and decorating your new home.
Downsizing can be tough at first, but if you remain positive, and try to make the most of the experience, the money you save and the fun things you can do with it, will more than makeup for the square footage you’ve lost.
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