Settling Into Your Downsized House:
4 Tips to Make It Feel Like Home

When you buy a new house, you have visions of how you want your home to look. However, after years of living in your family home, it's tough to apply your decorating tastes to a new, downsized space. In a rush to unpack and settle in, decorations are hastily hung, furniture arranged with little thought to scale, and before long, clutter starts to take over. As a result, your new house ends up feeling cramped and uncomfortable, instead of the cozy retirement nest you imagined.

 

There's a better way to settle into a downsized home and it doesn't take a ton of time or energy. You can unpack, decorate and start enjoying life in your new abode in no time when you follow these four tips:

Choose a Color Scheme

Color is the unifying thread that ties a room together. Rather than organizing items based on where they went in your last home, arrange rooms so that each item complements your chosen color palette.

 

Be mindful when selecting colors, as dark colors can make a small space seem even smaller. Stick to light neutrals for paint colors, restricting dark and bright hues to the accents. If you are undecided on which color to paint your new room, you can buy samples for less than $4 at big-box retailers.

 

With virtually endless choices in color, fabric, texture, design, and patterns, wallpaper is another option for the downsized home. The benefit of using wallpaper when choosing a color scheme is the option of different, complementary colors of the background and the design or pattern. And bear in mind that choosing and installing wallpaper isn’t what it used to be. Thanks to services like Spoonflower, you can select from millions of patterns created by independent artists in easy-to-use peel and stick, or if you’re feeling inspired you can even create your own. The end result is sure to add a beautiful and unique touch to your new space.

Buy the Right Size Furniture

If the furniture isn't the right scale for space, the entire room looks off. To avoid purchasing furniture that's too small or too big, measure each room and draw a furniture layout before you shop. As you design the layout, keep Emily Henderson's rules in mind: Leave 30-36 inches of space between large furniture pieces, 16-18 inches between the sofa and coffee table, and pull furniture 3-5 inches away from the wall.

Stop Clutter Before it Starts

The clutter creep starts the day you move in, with belongings haphazardly organized and unpacked boxes stuffed into corners. If you don't stop the clutter now, it won't be long before your home is overwhelmed by stuff. That's especially true when moving from a large home to a smaller one, as a downsized space can't accommodate the same quantity of belongings.

 

Keep clutter in check by carefully curating the items you bring into your new home. If you didn't have a chance to decide what to keep, sell, or donate before moving, pack up items you're considering parting with and keep them in a storage unit instead of cluttering your new home. Storage units are fairly inexpensive but research the options in your area to find the best price. By renting a unit for a couple of months, you buy yourself time to decide what to do with unwanted stuff.

Organize With Aging in Mind

It's not just about how much stuff you have. How you organize your items also influences the safety and comfort of your downsized home. Because your mobility will change over the coming years, it's important to organize in a way that minimizes fall risk and makes storage spaces accessible without stooping or reaching.

 

Don’t use area rugs, keep power cords off the floor and follow the other aging-in-place safety tips from House Method. When organizing closets and cupboards, install slide-out shelving, accordion-style racks, and other storage solutions that make it easier to access everyday items. For seasonal items and things, you use infrequently, opt for storage in hutches and under the bed rather than storing heavy items above your head.

 

When buying a home for the retirement years, your decorating decisions need to go beyond personal tastes and factor in safety and livability. Thankfully, you don't have to sacrifice beautiful design for an aging-friendly home. By understanding your needs and your tastes before you start unpacking, you can create a home that's as easy to live in as it is to enjoy.

 

Looking to buy or sell a home? Advanced Realty can help. Call 954-232-7171 today! 

 

Image via Unsplash

By: Tina Martin