Downsizing your home can help you reduce clutter, lower living costs, and embrace a more minimalist lifestyle. Preparation is critical, whether you’re moving to a tiny house, preparing for retirement, or looking to simplify your life. Here’s how to use storage solutions to downsize.
Prepare to Downsize
Proper preparation will make downsizing your home much easier. From setting goals to deciding what to keep and store, here are some essential steps to take while downsizing.
Set Realistic Goals
Before starting the downsizing process, evaluate your space, needs, and goals. Run through the steps to downsize your home—including your timeline, whether you’ll use self storage, and if you’ll need assistance from your social circle or local companies. Whether you’re planning a move or simply decluttering your home, the approach to downsizing will vary based on your needs. Setting clear objectives will help you prioritize your belongings and reduce stress during the transition.
Take Inventory
Taking a detailed inventory of your belongings helps you understand what you own, identify existing duplicates, and plan how to downsize. Go room by room, listing items you use regularly and those that no longer serve a purpose. Measure your space to visualize how everything fits (before and after) and consider how you’ll move large furniture between rooms. A downsizing home checklist will guide your decisions on how you’ll move and whether you need to hire movers.
Assess What You Need
As you check your inventory list, asses what you truly need. Focus on functionality and sentimentality to determine what’s worth keeping. Use common home organization ideas like the KonMari Method to decide what possessions serve a purpose in your daily life and which can be let go after decluttering to create a more efficient living environment. Determining what needs to be kept, stored, or donated can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of items to manage. Some ways to declutter while saving are selling furniture online, using resale apps, or setting up a garage sale.
Determine What Items Need Accessibility
Now that you have a more accurate inventory of belongings, you can better understand how your current or new space can house your possessions. Take stock of your home’s existing storage spaces—such as the garage, laundry room, attic, every closet, basement, and more—and measure the available area. Consider implementing small-space living ideas to maximize your downsized home’s storage spaces. Then, separate your items into two categories—a pile for items you need quick access to, and things you might not need as often or on a seasonal basis. This can be a great way to help determine which belongings can stay organized in your home and which items can stay in self storage.
How to Use Home Storage for Downsizing
Effectively storing and organizing belongings will make a major difference when downsizing homes. Check out these clever storage solutions that will help downsize your space.
Maximize Vertical Storage
Every inch counts in a smaller space—which is why using vertical storage is key. You can maximize vertical space with floating shelves, wall-mounted racks, and hangers. Over-the-door storage is a creative home storage idea that frees up floor space while keeping items (like books or shoes) pocketed and organized. Wall hooks are easy to install and offer ways to hang towels, umbrellas, leashes, hats, and other clothing. Vertical storage is especially useful for kitchens and bathrooms, where you can make the most of underutilized space above counters or inside cabinets.
Utilize Multi-Functional Furniture
Space-saving furniture that serves multiple purposes is excellent for discreet downsizing storage without sacrificing your personal touch. A day bed provides seating while neatly tucking away items like blankets, sheets, or clothes. Storage ottomans can be used as a footrest or coffee table—while storage benches are a comfortable, budget-friendly option for guest seating in your living room or flex room. Sleeper sofas, wall beds, and expandable tables can be folded up when not in use to save critical real estate. Multi-use furniture makes the most of a smaller space without sacrificing comfort, style, or function.
Make Use of Hidden Storage
Hidden storage offers major potential and can be found or added to every area of your home. Add smart secret storage ideas like toe-kick drawers, hutches, and more in the kitchen, living room, or bathroom for cookware, small appliances, and more. Storing under beds in bedrooms, staircases, or other overlooked areas can greatly maximize space, as well. Insert dividers in bed cabinets to keep them tidy—or DIY under-bed storage with drawers to effectively store additional belongings.
Consider a Closet Organization System
Placing a robust focus on closet organization is a game-changer when downsizing. Closets often offer ample wall and floor space to store anything you need, including clothing, linens, jewelry, and more. By incorporating shelves, bins, and hanging closet rods, you can create designated spaces for downsizing household items, streamlining the process. This not only improves accessibility but also keeps your belongings more organized, ultimately reducing clutter and making downsizing easier.
Organize with Bins & Baskets
Clutter can quickly take over when downsizing, so it’s important to have space-saving storage solutions to stay organized. Plastic bins and stackable storage containers are great for keeping items visible, and labeling them helps you easily track and organize their contents, even in cramped, dark rooms like storage rooms or garages. Baskets are a versatile addition to any room, providing a convenient spot under tables or desks for throws, towels, and other essentials, keeping them accessible yet out of sight.
How to Use Self Storage for Downsizing
If you’re downsizing but still need access to certain items, renting a storage unit is a great solution. Storage units provide extra space for items you don’t always use but may want to keep, including seasonal decorations or heirlooms. Here are some tips for using self storage for downsizing.
Measure Everything
Before placing items in self storage, you’ll want to measure everything you plan to store. Measure your furniture to determine how much space each piece will occupy, and measure the doorways in your home to see if larger items fit through while you move. Once you’ve taken accurate furniture measurements, you’ll have a clear idea of how much space you’ll need, so you can rent a storage unit size that matches your needs. If you don’t measure, you risk not being able to fit everything, or overpaying for space you don’t need. Precise measurements will also help you decide whether items need to be disassembled or rearranged for better storage efficiency, ultimately saving you time, money, and frustration.
Select a Storage Unit
When choosing a storage unit for downsizing, it’s important to consider several key factors. Storage units typically range from small storage lockers to 5x5 and larger 10x30 unit sizes. There are several types of storage units, such as indoor, drive-up, and vehicle storage units. If you’re storing artwork, collectibles, or other temperature-sensitive items, consider renting climate-controlled storage to protect them from severe weather and high humidity. Lastly, consider the duration of your rental, as most places offer month-to-month contracts for extra flexibility. Some facilities may offer the convenience of renting online, letting you secure a unit without setting foot on-site.
Label Boxes Clearly
Clearly labeling moving boxes for self storage will make downsizing much more efficient, saving you time and energy when retrieving specific items. Labeling boxes by household areas, such as “bedroom,” “bathroom,” and “kitchen” will help you organize your storage unit by keeping relevant items correctly sorted. This is useful when moving things in and out of storage and for seasonal storage, since labeling by “winter clothes” or “holiday decorations” can help you easily locate and access them when the season rolls around. During the off-season, you can keep your living space simple while holding onto what you need.
Optimize Storage Space
Making the most of your rented space will allow you to downsize possessions as much as possible. A smart storage idea is to disassemble furniture, such as removing legs from tables or taking apart bed frames, which frees up valuable space and makes it easier to stack items. Arranging your belongings by size and weight by placing heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on top will create a stable, compact stack. Use shelves, bins, and vacuum-sealed bags to store small items and maximize vertical space using stackable moving boxes. Leave aisles and pathways open so you can easily access belongings as frequently as you need.
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Looking for more space after downsizing your home? Extra Space Storage is proud to be your storage partner, with facilities located across the country that can help get you to a better tomorrow. Find self storage near you.
