Moving from House to Apartment
There are many situations that cause a person or family to want to downsize their home. Maybe all of the children have grown up and moved out, or maybe the daily maintenance of a large house is just too much. No matter the reason, there are a lot of factors that come with moving from house to apartment. The first thing that will probably come to mind is “What am I going to do with all of this stuff?” Let’s go over some key issues to keep in mind as you go through the process of downsizing your home.
Consider the Size of Your Furniture
Most likely, not all of the furniture in your home is going to fit into the new apartment. You need to go through your whole house and decide exactly what you want to take with you. Some of these items will be easy for you to see that they will not work in the new place. For example, if you are moving from a larger home to a much smaller apartment, you will for sure see that your large sectional couch will not fit into your smaller living area.
Go ahead and measure the pieces of furniture that you are unsure about or you know for a fact you want to take. This way you can see what will actually fit into the new place and what will not. You might have to replace some items with smaller pieces, like a more compact dining room table or a smaller couch, based on the size of your apartment.
When measuring your furniture and new home, don’t forget to take doors, stairs, and hallways into account. It’s all well and good to have enough space for your old couch in your new living room, but can you actually get it in there? Some furniture can come apart into pieces for moving, but not all of it works this way.
Not Everything You Own is Going to Fit
The longer you live in a home, the more stuff you inevitably accumulate. The items that go unused get shoved in closets, the garage, or the attic. If you are moving into an apartment, you are going to have much less of this storage space.
This is the time to really go through all of these storage areas in your home and all the nooks and crannies. Start getting rid of anything and everything you know you will not need or use. Porta-Stor’s previous blog on decluttering can help your organize this process and goes over how to deal with sorting your belongings into things you want to keep, donate, or throw away.
Consider All of Your Storage Options
You're already going through and cleaning your house. All of it. You're already getting rid of the unnecessary items and extra furniture. Doing this does not mean you have to get rid of every little thing that won’t fit in the new place. If there is extra furniture you want to keep, sports gear you still use seasonally, or bulky family heirlooms you just can't get rid of, by all means keep it! You will just need to find a good storage solution for all of that extra stuff. This is where it can be a good idea to consider renting a portable storage container close to your new home. Rented storage space can keep those bigger and more bulky items safe and secure while allowing you to store the smaller items at your new place. Porta-Stor allows for both long-term and short-term storage to suit your needs!
Get Creative with Your Space
Apartments can feel cramped, especially if you are used to living in a house. The space you have to live in, let alone store your extra belongings, can feel limiting. There are plenty of ways to get the most out of your small living space, and you can really maximize that space in every area from the kitchen to your patio area.
Remember to look up. There may be space to place shelves or hang baskets above normal eye level. This gives you vertical space while giving you room to move.
Remember to look down. There is often extra storage space at your feet, such as under a bed or on the closet or pantry floors.
Use the doors. You can often place racks on doors that offer more space to hang clothing, accessories, and other belongings.
Check out Porta-Stor’s blog here for more information on making the most out of a small space!
Remember Your Pets
As you get ready to downsize, one of the first things you should ask before you seriously consider a location is if they will allow your pets. It would be the worst feeling to get all ready to move in only to find that your furry, feathery, or scaly little companions are not allowed to move in with you!
As you are setting up your new place, remember to make sure that your pet has a secure and cozy spot of their own. The downsizing may not be easy on them either, and you want them to feel safe and comfortable.
Moving can be fun and exciting. It’s a great way to get a fresh start! If you are downsizing by moving from house to apartment, just remember to take it one step at a time and maximize your space the best you can. Some organization, measuring, and sorting will take a lot of the stress away from trying to shove too many belongings into too small of a space.