It takes some time to settle down after moving. Making your home cozy and getting to know the new environment is not as easy as it might seem. For most people, moving to a larger home is not that big of a deal. However, downsizing can feel like a big problem. But before you start going with that train of thought, let’s recognize the benefits of downsizing to a smaller home.
Own less, live more
They say that the things we own end up owning us. So, the goal would obviously be to own less. And the reason is that the more possessions we have, the larger lifestyle we live. As a result, our life gets more mentally straining. After downsizing, you won’t need to worry that much about the housework and outdoor maintenance. Freeing your to-do list will also free your mind of stress. In addition to that, the feeling is simply relieving. If you don’t believe it, go through your drawers and get rid of everything unnecessary. You will see how this affects your mind after a couple of days.
Save money
You need a lot of money to maintain a large home. Furnishing, cleaning, paying for utilities, the effort, and the cost behind these can add up. After downsizing, you’ll notice that you don’t have to do a lot around the house and that you have more cash, that’s a win-win. With more time at your disposal, you can have some fun, and maybe spend more time with your family. And finally, instead of being tied to your home and its responsibilities, you can start to relax and enjoy it.
Stay out of debt
Having a lot of space in your house means that you have to fill it. It doesn’t seem too satisfying staring in a vast stretch of nothing. For this reason, people tend to buy furniture or art pieces to fill these areas. And of course, they can spend more money than they planned to.
In most cases, downsizing to a smaller house will help owners stop overspending on additions to their homes. Instead of overbuying, a smaller home requires coming up with creative solutions – think quality over quantity. Therefore, if you’re trying to save some money and keep your credit in check, consider downsizing.
Easy to clean
If you currently own a two or three-story house with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, you know how hard it is to keep your home clean. Basically, as soon as you’re done vacuuming, it’s time to pull out the vacuum from your closet again. It takes time and effort to keep this kind of household neat. What makes it even harder is that it’s necessary to clean the rooms that you don’t use as much.
Instead of wasting time in cluttered corners, you only need to clean the essential areas in a smaller home. And in this case, it’s the whole house. When you figure out the best strategy to keep your smaller home clean, it won’t take you long at all. It’ll be much easier to keep your home impeccable at all times.
Make your home look fabulous
Some people believe that after they downsize to a small home, they can’t make the space look amazing. However, this is far from true since there are many examples with impressive proportions and efficient use of each room. Some home designers specialize in bringing life to smaller spaces. Sometimes, a good thing to do is to have a dynamic coloured piece of furniture for both practical and decorative purposes. This piece can draw attention away from the size of the room. And the design can end up looking fabulous, as well as being functional.
Boost your creative thinking
You need some creative thinking to get the most of the smaller spaces. Where there was a bare wall, now is the right place for built-in bookshelves. And it can go all the way up to the ceiling to fit all the books you have, making it an excellent way to use this space. The vertical organization can help get the most of your closets. Smaller split areas for certain items can be very helpful in these cases, as there will be no more space left unused, other than what’s necessary.
Start a new chapter
Sometimes it’s easier to see the signs that we’re ready to move to a larger home. On the other hand, it’s harder to notice signs that it’s time to downsize to a smaller home. If you have more space than you need and it’s no longer economical to live in your current home, downsizing is an idea you should consider.
Reducing your mortgage, and paying it off faster, as well as lower energy bills and maintenance costs, will help you enhance your lifestyle. With the money left, you might be able to afford to travel more often or to afford another type of luxury that you couldn’t before. Besides, smaller homes are usually easier to secure, so you won’t need to worry as much about your home while you’re on the road.
What’s interesting is that downsizing will affect your consumption. As there’s really no space to put unnecessary clothing, food, and other consumer goods, you’re less likely to buy them. As a result, you will have more money to spend on more meaningful things like experiences rather than partaking in consumerism.
Explore more benefits of downsizing
To have the right mindset, you should try to realize that the benefits of downsizing to a smaller home don’t end here. Try to stay open to any other benefit that you might experience in your new life. After all, it’s not without reason that going tiny is one of the biggest housing trends. This attitude will show you more perks that downsizing can bring you, and it will help you enjoy what comes next.
About the Author
Ronald Erickson is a part-time real estate agent who loves to write. His topics are usually based on his professional experience. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and camping.