Seize the opportunity to design a new lifestyle!
Chances are that you, like most Americans, only use a small percentage of the rooms in your big home. This means most of the space in your home is either unused or not used to its maximum capacity. This could be costing you time, money and energy — all valuable resources that could be better utilized to travel, spend more time with family and friends or enjoying a newfound passion or business venture.
Like most Americans, you may have become accustomed to more space, rooms and closets. This raises a concern that if you downsize your home, you may also be downgrading your life and your lifestyle.
Start analyzing just how many rooms you actually use. Pay attention to how many of those areas are being used for storing things you no longer use, need or want. When you get tired of wasting extra time, money, and energy on cleaning, organizing and maintaining the unused or underused areas of your home, downsizing becomes a desirable opportunity to live in a smaller space where every inch is fully utilized. This involves consolidating and minimizing your possessions to only what you want, use, and love.
Once you downsize, you will be surprised at how much space you actually need to live comfortable and well.
My interior designer friend is frequently tasked to maximize space and make it work well for her clients. She uses visual tricks that make the space feel and look bigger. According to her, when you don’t have a lot of space, every inch needs to work for you and your lifestyle. She recommends built-ins, wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling seamlessly integrated into the space to provide display, storage, and work areas. Outdoor spaces like patios, decks, or balconies, can become another room if they are made liveable.
You must declutter and edit items you no longer want, need or use when you choose to live in a smaller space. Find spaces for the things you need to keep such as a cabinet or drawer for keys, wallet and glasses. Use a system for bills, mail and magazines. Perhaps a tray for remotes kept close to the TV and audio equipment?
Use small scale furnishings so you don’t overcrowd your space. Choose furniture that is multi-functional , that expands and contracts as needed, to save space. Ottomans serve as storage, cocktail table, or additional seating. Some tables expand out of a credenza. Murphy beds that, when closed, serve as a desk, bookcase, and storage.
Use mirrors (mirrored doors, mirrored closets, mirrored walls) to visually expand space and light. Glass partitions serve to divide open spaces providing privacy without closing the room in. Natural light and ambient light illuminate spaces, making them appear higher, wider, and brighter.
When I downsized, I started to recognize that I made room for a whole new life and lifestyle. I started to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that “less” provides. Less space to clutter. My home now is easy to maintain and care for. I have less temptation to accumulate more because I don’t have the space for it. I have more time to nurture relationships and create new memories together. I have freedom to travel and enjoy new experiences. More time and energy for self-care, health, wellness and personal development.
I’ve worked hard and learned a lot along the way. I’ve lived in big houses and learned that bigger is not necessarily better. I’ve learned that more stuff doesn’t make me happier but more experiences will.
Once I fully embraced the lifestyle of living with less, I began to realize I haven’t compromised anything at all. It’s not just about living in a smaller footprint. It is also about seizing the opportunity to design a new lifestyle.
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