Published February 27, 2024

The Upsides of Downsizing: Simplifying Your Space

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Written by Beth Grotelueschen

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Living in a smaller home has become a standard practice today. There are a couple of reasons why this came to be. First, these homes tend to be much more practical than big houses. Plus, living in urban cities would be nearly impossible without vertical housing. Secondly, these homes come in various sizes. Therefore, everyone can find a perfect size for themselves. Also, a problem often occurs in the form of expenses. People flock to big urban cities such as Seattle for a better quality of life. However, most of them can only afford to rent a place. Plus, the bigger it is, the higher the rent. Here's where the upsides of downsizing stand out. We're here to explore these benefits so you can embrace this new adventure with open arms.

What are the Upsides of Downsizing?

Downsizing, in the context of modern living, goes beyond just moving to a smaller residence. Simplifying your space is a deliberate choice to make life easier by reducing physical possessions and living spaces. This trend is gaining momentum among various age groups, especially with people looking into buying a new home, which is otherwise very expensive. It is also driven by the desire for a simpler, less cluttered lifestyle. For many, the decision to downsize is not solely about managing space but about:

  • seeking financial freedom
  • improving the quality of life
  • most importantly - practicality


Seeking Financial Freedom

As previously mentioned, living in dense and urban areas presents certain challenges. If you decide to live in an expensive area, living in a smaller apartment will drastically reduce your expenses. These expenses include the mortgage or rent, utilities, and ongoing maintenance. This newfound financial freedom enables individuals to accelerate debt repayment and enhance their savings. The act of downsizing also often involves selling or donating excess possessions. Thus, you will declutter your space and potentially gain an extra source of income or tax deductions.

Improving the Quality of Life

More than anything else, the upsides of downsizing are about enhancing your quality of life. It's all about making an environment that encourages the pursuit of personal interests and meaningful engagements rather than personal possessions. With less space to maintain and fewer possessions to worry about, you will have more time and energy to devote to hobbies, travel, and quality moments.


Lastly, being flexible and open to smaller housing options means getting closer to the action. Simply put, you can land a job much easier if you are comfortable relocating to another city with more job opportunities. The same goes for being close to various amenities that'll be of use to you every day. All of this combined can potentially improve your quality of life.

Practicality

Downsizing is a practical decision for most people. If you choose to live in a smaller space with fewer possessions, you quickly realize that you didn't need that many things to begin with. Here are three practical advantages of downsizing:

·         Home cleaning and maintenance get much easier.

·         You get to move around your home more freely.

·         There is more space for hanging around with your friends or family.

Downsizing Tips

Simplifying your space might seem intimidating at first, but you can easily downsize by following these tips:

  • Going for an early start: Kick off the decluttering process well ahead of your move to avoid feeling rushed.
  • Being methodical: Employ the room-by-room strategy to reduce clutter systematically.
  • Using the one-year rule: If you haven't used an item in the past year, consider donating, selling, or recycling it.
  • Digitalization: Consider converting physical items like photos and documents to digital formats to save space.
  • Measuring your new space: Recognize the dimensions of your new living space to organize everything better.
  • Selling or donating: Donate items to reduce waste or sell them to earn extra cash.
  • Embracing the multi-functionality: Use the multi-purpose furniture and items to maximize efficiency in a smaller space.
  • Asking for assistance: Don't hesitate to involve friends, family, or professionals in sorting and moving.

Seek Help from Professionals when Moving

Moving involves thoughtful planning and execution. In this context, hiring a moving company can be very beneficial. Professional movers can make your move a much easier endeavor, particularly if you’re moving long-distance. Let’s say you’re relocating from Manhattan to Seattle. In this case, the warm-hearted and trustworthy movers from Heart Moving can handle the logistics of packing and transporting your belongings. At the same time, if you still have excess belongings that you don’t want to part with, this moving company can also provide convenient storage solutions.


Final Thoughts

As you weigh your options, you will eventually realize that a minimalistic way of living is a good idea. The upsides of downsizing are prone to subjective points of view, but several key aspects can't be denied. Simplifying your space is an excellent choice for people that are all about practicality. It also saves you a lot of money. Lastly, it allows you to have a wider selection of housing options. No matter where you go, finding a home will not be a problem if you're comfortable with smaller spaces. What's more, it will potentially provide you with more options in general. All in all, going for a downsizing process is an idea you will surely not regret.


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