SMALLER SPACES WITH ROOM TO SPARE

Whether you’re downsizing or helping someone else, the process is never easy.  With each move, things are eliminated, but it can be difficult to choose and even harder to give up items that have been a part of you for a long time.

So, where do you start?

First obtain a blueprint or layout of your new home. Find out the exact measurements of each room. Measure each piece of furniture and then decide what furniture will fit and which won’t. Knowing ahead of time makes the decision a lot easier when it’s time to move.

Pack one room at a time. Deciding room by room what goes to the new home and what items must find a home elsewhere prevents an all-out mess. Keep the boxes, tape and piles confined to one space so it doesn’t take over your life.

Get help. Recruit your family, or a no-nonsense friend who can speed through clutter and closet removal. And if you need additional help, hire a professional like myself who can help you sort, discard, pack and arrange items in your new home.

Take pictures of your home. As close as possible, try to place furnishings in a similar way so that you will feel at home and comfortable in your new place.

Downsizing doesn’t mean getting rid of all your treasures. Your smaller home can still reflect your personality and style—but it does mean less clutter, and that can be quite liberating. There are many decorating tips to make small spaces appear larger and roomier.

• Painting walls a light, pretty color makes a room feel larger. And to enhance the flow of your place, paint the additional rooms a different shade. This makes the rooms flow and again gives a larger appearance. Paint all trim the same color.
• Keep the ceiling painted white.
• Wall to wall carpeting or wood floors unify the room.
• Mirrors reflecting the window will make the space feel larger and brighter. There’s no decorating like sunshine.
• Hang curtains at ceiling level. This gives an appearance of higher ceilings. Keep window treatments simple.
• Have “hidden” seating for larger gatherings, such as an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table and cushioned footstools.
• Use accessories, but sparingly. Fewer, larger pieces works best.

By following these few, simple suggestions, your move will go smoother, and your new, smaller home will feel intimate with room to spare!