Downsizing for Seniors: Tips for Less Clutter & More Fun

That overflowing closet and junk drawer doesn’t hurt anyone… until it’s time to move. Downsizing for seniors can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It can actually be freeing (and even fun) as you make room for what really matters and turn “less” into so much more. Here are our tips to trade clutter for comfort so you can be happier at home.

Benefits of Downsizing for Seniors

There are so many benefits of downsizing—financial, physical, emotional, and beyond. 

• Less home maintenance. A small space means less household chores, giving you more time to pursue your passions.

• Lower monthly bills. When you downsize, typically your utilities, mortgage payments, and property taxes decrease.

• Safer, more accessible living space. A home designed for seniors will be easier to move around in, so you know your safety is not at risk.

• Can age in place. With a home that fits your lifestyle, you can stay there as you grow older.

• Simpler lifestyle. A small space means a life that’s easier to manage and less stressful.

• New sense of freedom and joy. Looking back on memories can spark happiness, and with less clutter, you’ll find freedom in the fresh start.

• Makes moving day easier. Now relocating doesn’t feel as daunting.

• Expands your social circle. If you’re downsizing to a retirement community, you’ll find new people your age who share your interests.

Signs It’s Time To Downsize

There is no best age to downsize, but most folks who do are 55+ and either retired or empty nesters. If you’re not sure if the move is for you, here are some questions to ask yourself. 

• Does home maintenance feel overwhelming? 
• Does your house struggle to meet your health and lifestyle needs?
• Do you want to grow your social circle and live in a community with people your age?
• Do you want to move closer to your family?
• Do you want a simpler lifestyle?
• Are your monthly expenses too much (over 30% of your income)?
• Do some rooms in your house sit empty, wasting space? 

If you answered “yes” to these questions, and you aren’t tied to your current location for any reason, then downsizing to a smaller home, apartment, or even a retirement community could be right for you!

Downsizing Tips For Seniors

We’ve worked with so many folks as they prepare for downsizing to a retirement community. From our experience, here is our best advice on downsizing your home.

Start Early

Downsizing for seniors is a journey, not a one-day event. To help eliminate some of the stress, get started early. It can take several months to sort through your belongings, decide what you want, and process the emotions that go along with it. Don’t rush the process, so plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time to get it done.

Know Your New Home

Our second downsizing tip is to make sure you get all the information about your new home before you move in. How much space will you have? Will all your furniture fit? Are there any community rules about what you can and can’t bring? These questions will help guide you in making decisions for your future, so your new place is perfectly you. 

Take Photos of Your Current Setup

We all think we’ll remember exactly how we arranged things. That is, until move-in day. With so much going on, it’s better to have a reference. If you like the current setup in your home, snap a few pictures. This way, you can recreate it exactly in your new place and take the stress out of decorating.

Set Downsizing Goals

Before you begin, you need to have a vision for your new space. Do you want a clean and minimalist look? A homey feel filled with your favorite things? A space your grandkids will love to visit? Or maybe your goal is to reduce your home maintenance and chores. Keep these goals in mind as you organize your belongings.

Do it Room by Room

Our advice on downsizing your home is to do it one room at a time. We recommend making a plan and timeline before you get started. Don’t try to tackle the entire house all at once. Start with something small and manageable—a bathroom, spare room, or closet. Once you get into a rhythm, you can move on to the bigger spaces like your kitchen and bedroom.

Create Piles

This tip doesn’t just apply to downsizing for seniors—it works for anyone doing a little spring cleaning. Start by sorting everything into keep, throw away, sell, or donate piles. If it’s broken or damaged, throw it out. If you have duplicates, donate or sell all but one. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: Have you used this item in the past year? If not, you probably don’t need to hang onto it. 

Be Definitive and Practical

Avoid creating “maybe” piles as much as you can. They tend to grow the fastest and slow you down the most. We get it—some items are hard to decide on. But delaying the choice only adds to the clutter and stress. Instead, make the call in the moment and trust your gut. You’ll move forward faster and feel more in control.

Allow Yourself to Get Emotional

It’s totally normal if downsizing and decluttering brings up strong feelings. You’re going through old photos, heirlooms, and sentimental items that have memories attached to them, both good and bad. They may be hard to get rid of. You may be experiencing grief, fear of the future, or just a sense of overwhelm. Take time to feel these things and reminisce. It’s part of the process. 

Save Memories Without the Clutter

Downsizing for seniors is different from other stages of life. All your items have stories attached, so it may feel like you’re throwing away precious memories. Instead, here are some creative ways to save the memories without the clutter.

• Take pictures of items and then donate them. 
• Pass items to your kids or grandkids so it stays in the family, but out of your house.
• Digitize photo albums and letters onto a device.
• Repurpose them into something functional.
• Create a memory box.

Ask for Help

Our last downsizing tip is to ask for help if you need it. You can work with professionals to declutter or ask friends and family to lend a hand. It’s a big undertaking, so don’t feel bad if you need a little support.

Advice for Move-In Day

You’ve done all the hard work, and now it’s time to make the move. With all the downsizing and decluttering out of the way, it’ll be an easy transition (with much fewer boxes to unpack). Here’s our tips to make move-in day go smoothly.

• Hire professional movers. Don’t worry about carrying boxes yourself! Let the pros handle that.

• Label all your boxes. Keeping things organized will help make unpacking a lot less stressful.

• Have an essentials bag. Fill it with items like toiletries, medications, and other necessities that you need while you pack up. Keep it on your person so it doesn’t get lost in the move.

• Embrace the emotional aspects. We touched on this above, but moving and downsizing for seniors is emotional. Embrace that part of the journey.

• Take time to say goodbye to your home. You’ve made so many memories in your current home. Take time to give it a proper goodbye.

• Decluttering never stops. Don’t start collecting new things as soon as you move. Try to maintain the work you did when you downsized.

• Don’t focus on what you’re leaving behind. Instead, focus on your future and the exciting opportunities ahead.

• Don’t expect to finish unpacking right away. Take your time to ease into the transition. Just like downsizing, unpacking isn’t a one-day deal. It’ll take time, so be prepared and give yourself grace.

Sneak Peek at Your Potential New Home

Downsizing to a retirement community can be stressful, but your new life at Woodcrest Villa is worth it. We offer apartments and villas for those that want a community-focused lifestyle.

Downsizing to a smaller home or apartment can be daunting. But we make the transition to Woodcrest Villa easy, with a thriving community ready to welcome you home.