You’ve decided to change your living environment, to move from your home of many years to a senior living community. You’ve planned carefully for this day, organized your finances and discussed how this move will change your community, your day-to-day schedule and your lifestyle. Now the hard part: what to do with your large furniture and other bulky items.
“Getting started is the hardest part of the downsizing process,” says Tina Baril of Monarch Transitions. “One of the primary challenges is not knowing what is needed at the new community. Fortunately, Wesley provides a list of essential items to bring, floor plans and other helpful transition materials.”
Get the floor plan
Significant large objects pose an additional challenge when downsizing. Items like pianos, grandfather clocks and dining sets may be family heirlooms or hold an important place in someone’s cultural history.
“One of the biggest downsizing challenges is keeping most of your familiar and desired furniture while hoping it will fit in your new home,” Tina says. “Sometimes the furniture will work, but other times it is too large and bulky for the new space. Start by obtaining or creating an exact floor plan of your new residence and measuring the space and your current items to see what realistically fits.”
Choosing to make something work in a new space often leads to frustration and feeling cramped in your new home. This extra furniture can make it difficult to maneuver throughout the new space. Too many objects also create tripping or other hazards.
Remember that the floorplan is not simply the square footage. Doorways, closets and other permanent architectural details may reduce the overall floor plan.
Measure large pieces
“A floor plan helps you visualize your current belongings in your new home and determine what will fit,” Tina says. “It’s important that the floor plan be drawn to scale. Hand-drawn floor plans show where you want your furniture to go but not whether it will fit. A scaled floor plan removes the guesswork from moving and avoids costly and stress-producing mistakes. The floor plan is the reality check that provides the incentive to let go.”
Choosing a smaller piece of furniture, like a favorite recliner or loveseat, often provides familiarity without taking up too much space. Downsizing also provides an opportunity to “trade-in” bulkier items like a large dining room set for a new smaller dining set that adds freshness to the space.
The bedroom also provides an opportunity for a makeover, as the transition often requires a smaller mattress size and bed set. It’s important not to force a larger bed into the new space. It may fit, but nobody wants to shimmy around a mattress or remove the opportunity to include a favorite dresser, small chest or nightstand for the sake of a former bed.
Height matters, too
When thinking of square footage, we often overlook the height of a piece. However, tall furniture may have the same enclosed effect on our new space.
“Measure not only the width and depth of the pieces, but also the height,” Tina says. “Confirm it will fit in your new home and can pass through the doorways as well as the elevators. If you don’t plan to take a large piece of furniture, like a China cabinet, but you want to keep the treasures inside, you must plan ahead for where those items will go.”
Give away or donate
The psychological toll of downsizing and transitioning to a new environment cannot be understated. However, there’s almost always someone or an organization who will appreciate your donations.
“Offer the pieces you are not keeping to loved ones, friends and neighbors,” Tina says. “Check whether local charities can pick up the pieces to give to those in need or if they have stores that sell them and give back to the community. Knowing that furniture you’ve loved or that belonged to someone you love will be useful to someone else or another family can help ease the sting of letting it go.”
The donation process should follow a strict schedule. Establish a deadline for decisions and set a firm collection date. And always avoid moving items to costly storage units to be collected later.
It’s always hard to move. Tina offers key advice for the entire downsizing process.
“If it turns out to be too much to handle physically or emotionally, and you need support, ask for assistance. Remember, there are companies and resources to help with this life change.” As stressful as downsizing can be, the transition to a Wesley community offers possibilities of new friendships, community and learning opportunities, a chance to make memories that lead to new mementos for your shelves.