Have you noticed a new push to downsize our daily lives? Why is everyone talking about downsizing? Downsizing from a large home to a smaller one may at times be heart-breaking, but it is an opportunity to let go of things you no longer need. In fact, there are numerous advantages to downsizing to a smaller home. Whether the decision is voluntary or forced due to a job relocation or other life event, there is a benefit to downsizing your home that you can make the best of.
Instead of viewing downsizing as a loss, consider it an opportunity to let go of things you used to be concerned about. In your new home, you will only have time and space for the things that are essential to a happy life for you and your family.
Here are a few reasons why moving into a smaller home will not only make you happier but also helps you save on your resources.
1. Save Cost with a Smaller Home
Let us face it: the more space you have, the more you feel compelled to fill every square corner with! One of the benefits of moving into a smaller home is the ability to stop spending money on furniture, electronics, appliances, and home items that are merely decorative rather than functional. Downsizing to a smaller home will allow you to prioritise your life and bring only what is necessary into your home. Smaller homes are less expensive to purchase and maintain keeping in mind insurance, taxes, heating, cooling, electricity, etc.
2. Easier to Maintain
If you dread doing general cleaning in your home on a regular basis, you will appreciate this feature! Nobody wants to spend their leisure time cleaning, and with a smaller home, the amount of time spent dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and so on can be significantly reduced. Smaller houses are easier to maintain.
A house requires a significant amount of time, effort, and energy to maintain. Consider how much time you spend cleaning and organising your home. Consider all the things you could have accomplished in that period.
Cleaning takes less time, effort, and energy when you downsize and live in a small house. This gives you more free time to do the things you want to do.
3. Get in Touch with your Minimalist Self
Downsizing will be extremely easy if you keep a minimalist mindset. Begin to let go of your attachment to the items in your home. It will appear to be an impossible idea, but you will quickly forget about them.
Going from room to room, ask yourself the following critical questions about your belongings:
- When was the last time I used this item?
- Will I put it to use again?
- Will there be enough room in my new house for this item?
You should be able to determine if it is necessary to answer these questions. Answering these questions will also help you connect with your minimalist self.
You can start off with decluttering which will automatically begin when you begin the move into a smaller home. Then you can begin to adopt minimalist habits that will help you free yourself of physical, digital, mental, and emotional clutter.
4. Customise your Home to Your Taste
Every family has a unique vibe in their home. While many people believe that downsizing means they cannot make their home look beautiful, think again!
Style and creative use of space and proportions are characteristics of some of the best homes. Consult interior designers who specialise in bringing colour and life to small spaces. Spend money on a few key pieces, such as a vibrantly coloured couch that draws attention to your decor rather than the size of your room. Beautiful design is about how to use a space functionally while also being inspired to enjoy it. Size should not be an obstacle!
Here are some smart space-saving ideas for your smaller home:
Wall Ideas to Amplify your Small Living Room:
- Have One Accent Wall
- Use Lighter Colours with Minimalistic Bright Patterns
- Dedicate One Wall as A Picture Wall or For Abstract Art
- Bonus Tip – Use Wall for Storage as Well- Hanging Baskets
Small Space Sofa Designs:
- Use Sofas that fold
- Instead of a sofa, use armchairs or club chairs.
- To Make More Space, Place an L-Shaped Sofa in the Corner
- Alternate Sofa Cover Designs
- Sofa in Light Colours
Table and Storage Ideas:
- Minimalist Table Design
- Table with Storage
- Simple, Uncluttered Centrepiece for The Table
- In-Wall Shelves
5. Focus on your Health and Relationships
As mentioned earlier, downsizing to a small home lets you have less to maintain, and less to do. This gives you more free time. Spend more time with your family, experiment with new recipes, pick up a new hobby, grow your own organic food, or even consider starting a small business!
People who live in large houses rarely spend time together, even if they stay at home all day because everyone has their own space to retreat to. When compared to living in a home with more rooms than you really need, living in a home with just the right amount of space allows the entire household to communicate more, spend more time together, and work together. It ensures that you focus on your personal relationship and build stronger family bonds.
Larger homes necessitate more care and maintenance. Simply put, there is more to clean and more opportunities for something to break. Your home to-do list is shorter in a smaller space. Home should not add to your stress; rather, it should be a place where you can escape from it. When your home is easier to keep clean, you will be able to keep major allergens like dust and mould at bay. The air quality in your home will improve, and so will your health!
The size of the home we choose to live in is something that many of us can change. Consider whether that change is right for you. Could downsizing your living space lead to the joy-filled, simpler, and lower-stress life you seek?
If large-house living has not been fulfilling, it is time to try a smaller space, regardless of family size.
