How to prioritize when moving into a smaller flat

Moving is rarely fun. But finding your new place can be quite an adventure. When moving from the suburbs into the city center, your bank balance may not stretch exactly the same way it once did. You may have to downsize to a small flat to live closer to all the excitement of the city or to save money for a down payment for a home.

If you find yourself moving into a more petite home or flat, you may need to consider what to keep and what to toss. Purging some of your belongings can also make moving easier and help you start your life in your new place with a fresh palette. As the days dwindle down, and you get closer and closer to your move, make sure you know how to prioritize what you plan on saving and what can get tossed in the bin, sold, or donated. Use this as an opportunity to assess what you need and love and what you can part with. This may also give you the opportunity to add a few more cherished pieces to your home.

When you are preparing for your move, make sure you have the space for what matters and don’t toss anything you might miss later on. We’ve come up with some tips to help you decide how to move forward with your move.

1. Measure Your Furniture

While this may seem like quite the hassle, measuring your furniture can help you have a better idea of how your existing pieces will fit into your new home. It’s important to know the floor area of your new rooms to be able to compare spaces. 

If you have a sofa, armchair, ottoman, and coffee table, you may have to donate one. You will want to evaluate how much you use each piece and how much you need each one. Likely, you will want to part with the armchair, but if it holds a special place in your heart, you may be able to place it in another room like your new bedroom.

The more furniture you can do without, the less bulky items you’ll have to carry into your new home.

2. Keep Family Heirlooms

If your grandad gave you his old fishing pole, but you never use it, you still may want to keep it. These items can make great decorative pieces, and you don’t want to regret getting rid of them. Understanding why we value certain possessions can help you make a better-informed decision.

I’ve kept my Grandma’s bike for three years now even though I don’t ride it or have the extra space for it, but it reminds me of her and inspires me to be more adventures. As a young woman, she was one of just a few road cyclists, and her bike represented the freedom and empowerment that gave her. While her bike may not mean much to a person sorting through secondhand items at a charity shop, it means a lot to me.

So, if you have an heirloom that makes you smile or reminisce, or you find beautiful, you will always be able to find room for it. You can also always make space by downsizing other belongings that may not hold the same emotional value.

3. Cut Back on Your Closet

Clothes take up space. You have your winter wardrobe, your spring finds, and your summer outfits. Not to mention your layers, layers, layers. When it comes to storing your clothes, it can become quite burdensome. Try paring back by asking yourself when the last time you wore a shirt or pants was and if you’ll wear them again. Here’s a hint: if you only wore it once this season, you don’t need it.

When cutting back on your closet, separate clothes that are in excellent condition, good condition, and poor condition. The clothes in poor condition with holes and stains can probably get tossed, while your good condition clothes can be donated. Clothes that you only wore once or even still have the tags on them can be resold. Open a small online shop to earn a little extra money from your unwanted outfits. Register a domain name, design your shop, and sell your stuff.

4. Try Living Without and Downsize But Upgrade

While you have some time before you move, put items you may get rid of in a spot where you won’t easily access them. This will help you realize what you can live without and what you use regularly. If you find yourself searching for and using the belonging you put up, then you may not want to toss it because you’ll likely rebuy it. But if you don’t need the item, donate it.

You can also use this opportunity to buy some fresh new kitchen tools or furniture that you like more. Fresh furnishings that fit better in your new place can help your new home feel more comfortable. You can also find multipurpose furniture to help use your space more efficiently. 

Once you choose a home that will work best for your budget and needs, you can begin considering the logistics of your move. As moving day approaches, keep in mind why you’re relocating. Stay positive and don’t get overwhelmed by beginning early and staying organized.

Remember to pare back what you can to save yourself the backache and headache of a complicated move. Keep and heirlooms that can’t be replaced, and don’t be afraid to buy some new pieces that will make your new home more livable for you and your family.