Downscaling – How Do You Do It?

Free yourself from your too much stuff.

Downscaling is not the same as de-cluttering.

Decluttering is basically just a fancy name for cleaning up your space. Decluttering can go further, and get rid of stuff you don’t use, stuff you don’t like, and like Marie Kondo says, anything that “doesn’t spark joy”.

Downscaling on the other hand is a more drastic step towards deliberately living a “smaller” life. Downscaling usually means changing your living arrangements and even moving into a smaller space.

There are many reasons for downscaling, and while involuntary downscaling due to financial constraints, age or deteriorating health can be traumatic, voluntary downscaling can be a wonderful opportunity to simplify your life.

In the past couple of decades, downscaling has become a bit of a buzzword…mostly due to the development of the “tiny house” movement. (“Van life” is another form of semi-voluntary downscaling that many younger people embrace for its cost effectiveness.)

How to downscale

Write down your goals and be honest about your reason.

This isn’t a decision you should take lightly. Don’t decide to downscale when you are desperate or overwhelmed, and don’t downscale in anger…to do it properly. It is best to take a couple of months to mull over the idea, do your research and investigate the impact on you and your loved ones.

How low do you want to go.

Downscaling is scalable. You don’t have to go from a 5-bedroom house to a VW kombi with a mattress. You can do it incrementally. (And skip the van-life stage completely.)

Where in your life are you?

If your kids are out of the house, you don’t have pets and you don’t work from home, downscaling from a large suburban home with the stress and maintenance costs of a large yard and garden to a smaller one- or two-bedroom townhouse with a patch of lawn, is a great way to start.

The biggest obstacle many people face when it comes to downscaling is knowing what to let go.

Extra beds, a twelve-seat dining room table, a whole entertainment room, multiple sofas and chairs…All these things take up space and if you’re ready to downscale you probably don’t use all of it anymore.

Look to the stars.

A great way to figure out what you use regularly and want to keep, is to buy a roll of sticky stars. (The kind teachers use to reward good work) Give yourself a month. Every time you use an appliance or piece of furniture, stick a start onto it. Those things with 30 stars on them, obviously go on the keep pile. The Zero-star items can go. As for the rest, think carefully about anything with less than 10 stars.

Make friends with the cloud.

Keep your memories, music and other keepsakes in the cloud. Digitize your old VHS home videos, scan your photo albums and upload your favourite music for easy access once you have moved into your new space.

Be slow to buy.

It’s better to move into your new, smaller space with less furniture. Once you have decided which pieces you won’t be taking with, don’t just rush to replace them with smaller versions immediately. Wait until you are settled in your new space, measure, measure again, check for functionality and only then buy your new, smaller furniture. By doing this, you also don’t have to pay the moving costs for your new furniture.

Don’t overwhelm yourself.

Take your time and only sort through one room at a time. By compartmentalising you’ll be able to think clearer and avoid getting overly emotional. (Moving can be traumatic, even when it is voluntary!) Its important that you should already have an idea of your new space before you start downscaling your possessions. If you are going from a five-bedroom home to a bachelor’s flat, your scale of downscaling will be much more than simply swopping a five-bedroom home for a two bedroom townhouse.

Love the season you are in.

Whatever the reason may be for going smaller, it doesn’t have to be a wholly negative experience. Embrace this new season in your life and go into it with an open mind. Who knows – it might be the best season yet!

Do your own research:

Simple tips for moving to a smaller home

5 Essential tips when downscaling your home

Also read our article on how to Be In The Moment with your home.