Downsizing can be a tough process at any point in life, but it’s one frequently faced by retirees. It can be overwhelming, trying to decide which items to keep and which to sell or giveaway. It can get even more complex when you factor in children and grand children who want to lay claim to cherished items during the sorting process. Fortunately, with careful communication and strategy, downsizing can go from a headache to a liberating, nostalgic process.
The first place to begin is to know how much space you have to work with at your new home. Measure your new apartment and note the dimensions of each room or area. Bulky items like furniture will often sort themselves once you take a look at your square footage. If you’re still having a tough time deciding which well-loved pieces will come with you, think about your new priorities. In a retirement community setting, for example, extra seating for entertaining might not be necessary with so many common areas and prepared meals. Instead, you could bring a well-loved decorative screen, or a curio cabinet.