How to Downsize Your Home (and Stuff) the Right Way, According to a Pro Organizer

No matter the reason — whether you’re trying to save money, becoming empty nesters, or dealing with changing physical health — you may need to downsize at some point in your lifetime. As a professional organizer, I’ve been called in numerous times to assist with this undertaking because many people underestimate the amount of stuff they own. 

Moving under any circumstance is stressful, but downsizing adds another layer because significant decluttering and cleaning out the house must happen first. Here, I’ll share why downsizing (your home and, subsequently, your stuff) is good, how to do it correctly, and some tips to make this life event an easier transition.

Aside from the apparent advantages of downsizing — namely (and ideally) reduced rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, taxes, and maintenance — there are also upsides from an organizational perspective.

I once had a client downsize from an 8,000-square-foot home to one that was 3,000 square feet. I know that’s still a lot of space, but there was a difference of 5,000 square feet. Imagine if she tried to fit everything from her old home to her new home. Even if she hired both a pro organizer and a magician, the stuff wouldn’t fit. And, more to the point, even if your downsize isn’t as drastic, you still don’t want to begin this new chapter surrounded by clutter. Less space means owning less stuff; it’s simple math.

You might be convinced you need all those serving platters, but it’s only because you have room to store them. Downsizing forces you to hold onto what you genuinely love, need, and want and to let go of what you don’t.

As morbid as it is, your stuff has to go somewhere once you’re no longer here. Whether it be your children, grandchildren, niblings, or someone hired to clean out a home after death (like a professional organizer), downsizing now will make it an easier task for them later. Your family won’t feel obligated to take on as much clutter in their home, have to spend a lot (or any) money on a professional service, and have as many decisions to make while still grieving your loss.

If the thought overwhelms you, I highly recommend watching or reading The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning to understand the benefits of decluttering for the day everyone ultimately faces.

To prepare to move into a smaller home, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and declutter. Depending on how much stuff you currently have and how much space you’ll have in your new place, this could take a couple of months to complete. So, I say start as early as possible to prevent added stress. Here are some essential decluttering tips to get you going.

This should be (relatively) straightforward because only so much of it will fit in your new home. Once you know what you’re taking with you, you’ll have enough time to donate or sell the rest before the big move.

If you’re moving in the summer, declutter Christmas decorations and winter gear, as you’re not using or wearing them. Also, take note of the climate you’re moving to, as that can make it easier to let go of more things if they won’t be needed there. Have an abundance of servingware because you host every holiday? If you won’t be doing that in your new home, pare down significantly. Include mementos and home decor in this phase as well.

Now comes the more challenging part, but, alas, it must be done — especially if you’re losing space. Clothes, toiletries, linens, office supplies, paperwork, kitchen tools, and so on must be addressed. Start with things with expiration dates (like medicine and pantry goods), and then go room by room and separate things to keep and pack from things to toss or donate.

Remember that everything must leave the house before you hand over the keys, so pace yourself and avoid zig-zagging. If you start to declutter a drawer, go through it and decide about each item before moving on to the next one.

These are a few things to keep in mind that will make a difference in your cozy new home.

I understand this isn’t always possible — especially if you’re moving long distances and can’t easily access the new home. But if you can, go through closets, cabinets, and storage spaces and measure them. This will give you a much more accurate picture of what kind of room your things will have to live in than going by overall square footage. It also allows you to shop for proper organizing supplies that will fit (or, better yet, ensure the ones you already own will fit).

I’ve witnessed many people go wrong when downsizing because their kids have flown the coop and, yet, think their childhood stuff needs to come to their new, smaller home. Sometimes, it’s because of the parent’s sentimentality and refusal to let it go (even though the kids clearly expressed they don’t want boxes of old trophies).

Other times, parents don’t have open conversations with their kids and ask them to offload their stuff. Either way, it’s essential to address the issue: Explore your resistance to letting go and find clutter-free ways to preserve memories or give the kids a deadline to take their things and let them decide what to do with them.

If you’ve decluttered and are still unsure if the new home will accommodate the things in your keep pile, consider renting a short-term storage solution. A service such as PODS or a local storage facility will offer month-to-month rentals, which could allow you to move things in at a slower, more intentional pace. If you find that some of it won’t fit comfortably, give it away to someone in need rather than try to shove it somewhere in the house. Be disciplined with yourself, though, because storage units can be a slippery slope. If you have hoarding tendencies, I’d strongly suggest doing all of your decluttering pre-downsize.

It may feel overwhelming at first to downsize, but in my personal and professional experience the long-term benefits are worth it. Plan ahead and declutter as soon as you know you’re moving. Or, heck, start downsizing now even if you haven’t made the step yet so that when the day does come, you’re ready and you’ve lessened the load (literally and figuratively, of course).