Downsizing on next house: 2800 to 1800 sq ft

[aimeedyan]

I posted on Friday that I was going to househunt over the weekend without DH and thankfully, had success! Put in an offer today on a great house.

However... it's 1000 sq ft less than what we have. Our current house is way too big for us but of course we've filled it with "stuff" so I'm trying to figure out what to take and what to part with.

My mind is spinning!

Anyone else downsize on their next house? How did you decipher what went and what didn't? Did you Craigslist extra stuff?

[natablue]

I think House*Tweaking downsized when they bought their new house. I think she did a couple blog posts about how they decided what to keep and how to pare down their stuff.

[heygrey]

we moved from ~1000 sq/ft to ~500 sq/ft (rented apartments). we kept things we used and love. nothing for some hypothetical future date that i might like or remake or use again.

[housegeek]

We're going from about 2000 to 1600, but well also have attic in our new place and I think it'll be all over more functional. Stuff I haven't used in a year is going in a garage sale, minus 1 tote for sentimentality crap. It's a good start

[ssmjlm]

I would probably start with what furniture will you need for the new place. So you know what you want to keep.

Then start going through the rooms you don't live in and start getting rid of what you don't use/want.

[brooklyn]

I went from a 500 sq ft 1 bedroom to a 300 square ft studio (rentals). We got rid of any clothes/games/etc that we didn't use frequently or absolutely loved. We have the bare minimum furniture. Everything that we have now has a important use, and we love it! I'm actually happier in the studio than I was in the 1 bedroom, since we finally got rid of all the clutter.

[mnvegas]

We are downsizing from a 3700sf house to a 1650sf house. We have gone thru 80% of our house so far and have given away enough stuff to stock a whole Salvation Army store, maybe even 2! DH & I had way too much crap.

As far as storage in the new home, we will still have a 2 car garage for storage. We will have a pantry closet in our kitchen which I don't have now. We will have a lot less closet space in our new home, but thankfully I have already converted all our closets with space saving slim huggable hangers. Will also get several of those underbed storage bins for off season clothing and shoes.

[mrsg123]

I feel like in a small space you have to use every inch wisely... We have turned into pros at using/finding hidden space. I bet you have SO MUCH stuff you don't need!!!

[lmdbww]

We aren't technically downsizing, but the next house we are moving to in a few weeks is about the same sq ft as our current house. The bedrooms are a tad smaller but the sq ft is added onto the kitchen and main living room, which is ok for us. The attic is also totally unusualbe for storage, but we are also gaining a 2 car garage, nicer outdoor space, fully finished everything, and the house is only 7 years old.

I am also glad to declutter and get rid of all of our junk and anything that I cannot picture being used in the next house, including (much to DH's sadness), our beautiful pool table, furniture, etc. I have gotten rid of about half of what I plan to and I already feel so free. lol Whatever I have not used in years or cannot picture being used in the next house (no matter what it is) is not moving with us. As I unpack i'll probably find more stuff that I wont use.