How to Move Into a Smaller House

There are many reasons people choose to move into a smaller house. Perhaps the children have gone off to college, you would like to have a smaller house payment, or you just need less space for which to care. Whatever your reason for moving into a smaller house, here are some tips on how to make the most of your smaller home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Downsize your stuff. It may go without saying, but if you are moving from a larger home into a smaller home, you need to get rid of any non-essentials. Have a yard sale. Sell your stuff on Craigslist. Give it away to relatives. Or donate it to charity. If you donate it, get a receipt. You can probably claim the value of the donation as a dollar-for-dollar reduction off the bottom line of your federal income taxes.

2. Buy multipurpose furniture. Take some of the money you made selling your old stuff on Craigslist or eBay and invest in well-made pieces of furniture that serve more than one purpose. For example, odds are if you are moving into a smaller home you won't have a guest room. So buy a pull-out sleeper couch or futon for the den. Another example is a storage ottoman. They provide seating or a resting place for weary feet while at the same time adding valuable storage space to a small room.

3. Aim high. Make sure you use every square inch of available storage space. Home improvement centers such as Lowe's and Home Depot sell storage racks that can be suspended from the ceiling. Depending on the brand, these racks can hold anywhere from 50 to 250 pounds, and they allow you to take advantage of otherwise wasted storage space.

4. Rise to the occasion. If you are still pressed for space to store your belongings, use bedpost risers to elevate your beds. You can then buy inexpensive under-bed storage units that are sold at most department stores and home improvement centers. This is a great way to store off-season clothing, holiday decorations, and other items of a seasonal nature. You can also find the bedpost risers at most department stores and home improvement centers.

5. Hang it up. Organization is an art, and an entire industry has sprung up around it. These days you can find an over-the-door organizer for everything from gift wrap to shoes to canned goods and spices. Make the most of all your surface space, including the backs of doors. Closet doors are especially great for this purpose, because you can add a lot of storage capacity and keep the clutter out of sight rather than on the exposed back of a non-closet door.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait until after you move into your smaller home to purchase new furniture or accessories. It will be easier than moving them.