10 Questions to Ask Before Downsizing Your Home || House Beautiful
The hardest part of moving out after all the kids grow up and leave the nest is figuring out what you keep and (even harder) what you toss. Before you start filling the boxes, ask yourself this series of questions.
CAN YOU REPLACE IT?
Repeat after us: affordable, accessible, available. If something contains any of this criteria, you might want to part ways. “Offload items that aren’t frequently used and consider affordable ways of getting them again if a future situation calls for them,” says Amelia Meena, organizer and founder of Appleshine.
IS IT TRULY IRREPLACEABLE?
Items that fit into this category, like family photos, heirlooms, and childhood mementos, make for an easy decision. Meena says you should go ahead and keep anything you answer “yes” to for this question.
WHAT DO YOU WANT AROUND YOU?
“Downsizing is the perfect time to consider what you really want to surround yourself with and what you don’t,” says Meena. Determine if you feel happiest when you’re in a home full of collectibles and memories or one that looks like it’s a museum it’s so spotless.
WHO WILL PACK UP WHAT’S LEFT SOMEDAY?
Not to be a downer, but if you’re moving to a smaller home, chances are your children are grown. “Be mindful of the fact that someone will have to sort through your items at some point … and that someone should be you,” says Meena. “Do it now rather than leave it as an unwanted task for others to deal with.”
WHAT DO YOU WEAR EVERY DAY?
We all tend to wear the same types of clothing during daytime hours. “Be realistic about your ‘uniform’ and move out any items that don’t fall in line,” says Meena. That might include formalwear, workout clothes (sorry, gym), and extreme weather gear like snowsuits.
November 2016
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
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