When it comes to housing, many renters abide by the rule that “bigger is better.” After your first starter apartment, you’ll almost always want your next place to have more space. Many you’ve accumulated more stuff over time, or maybe you’re earning more money and want a home office, guest room or game room. But opting for more space isn’t always a positive thing. Typically, if you rent a bigger apartment, it will cost you more. And having more space also means more responsibility. If you’re apartment searching or living in a place that’s draining you financially or otherwise, you may want to consider downsizing to simplify your life. Use this guide to figure out when and how downsizing might be the best option for you. Jenna Mahoney, author of Small Apartment Hacks, shares her tips on how to make a small space feel just like home.
1. Life Changes
If you break up with your partner, take a lower-paying job or decide you want to live alone after having roommates, downsizing might be right for you.
“It is always a good idea to downsize. One: It’s better for the environment. Living in smaller spaces means less energy consumption and less waste,” says Mahoney. “Another great reason to live in small spaces: less cleaning! Less stuff also means less clutter both physically and mentally. Taking away the excess can level the mind and help focus on the moment. Also, think of simplifying and downsizing to help save money — we have too much consumer debt! And for what? Stuff? Let go of all that.”
2. Benefits of Downsizing
“Save money, stay sane, live in the moment. If you downsize your life, you can also think more globally,” says Mahoney. “Having less stuff and less bills means more money for experiences like travel. Also, the upkeep is less complicated.”
3. Buy Versatile Pieces
Since you may have to take all of your stuff and find room for it in a smaller space, it’s a good idea to find furniture pieces that serve dual roles. Mahoney recommends ottomans with storage space.
4. Drawbacks of Downsizing
One of the biggest issues many have with downsizing is the constant editing they have to do. When you don’t have much room, you’ll need evaluate each and every item you bring into your home.
“You need to be mindful of everything you bring into your home,” she says — and recommends you “ask yourself three questions: What is its function? Does it fit? How does it make me feel? If you answer “I don’t know” to any of those, you can’t bring it into your house.”
5. Be Practical
When it comes to developing storage space, you need to be honest with yourself about what you’ll use and what you won’t. Mahoney advises that you shouldn’t store your sweaters under the bed if you know you’ll never crouch down to retrieve them. Likewise, don’t purchase a Murphy bed if you’ll never fold it up every morning. Just be honest with yourself to find a storage system that works for you.
6. You Don’t Need to Only Buy Tiny Furniture
Yes, downsizing means you’ll have less space. But it doesn’t mean all your furniture needs to look like it could fit in a kid’s classroom. Mahoney says many people have issues with imagining how a smaller space might look.
“You need your furniture and other items to have purpose and bring joy. Don’t have a mini desk because it fits in the space. If you don’t like it, you won’t use it or worse — cover it up with clutter to not have to see the piece below,” Mahoney says. “Invest in pieces that serve a function and make you happy. For ideas on how to really live in a small space, I love looking at the mini rooms set up at IKEA stores. They show functional, attainable systems that aren’t loaded with dollhouse-like furnishings.”
[tweetthis]Your furniture & decor need to have purpose & style. If you do not like it, you will not use it.[/tweetthis]
7. Get Creative
When it comes to finding space to store certain items, get creative. Feel free to store office, cleaning or laundry supplies in the kitchen cabinets. As long as it’s in a place where you’ll use it and remember where you put it, it will work.
For tips on how to decorate efficiently using shelves, check out this ForRent.com post. For advice on how to make great use of a small kitchen, check out this post.