Moving to a smaller apartment - how to do it?

Downsizing is a great way to save money on both the rent and bills. And if you are transitioning from a house to an apartment you’ll also see significant savings in the upkeep costs. But, that transition isn’t always easy. Moving to a smaller apartment can be tricky for many reasons. And you need to be ready to handle such a move. Both physically as well as mentally. Here’s a simple guide on how to do it.

Good organization is important when moving to a smaller apartment

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to moving to a smaller apartment is the chaos of having too many items. Not everything will fit into your new apartment. At least not as it used to. That’s why it’s important to stay very organized from day one of your preparation. And make as little packing mistakes as possible. Do you need to know which items you have? Which you will be moving to? And what goes into storage.

There are a lot of good sides of moving to a smaller apartment

Moving to a smaller apartment can be tough

While downsizing certainly has its pros, many people have a hard time handling it. Moving to a smaller apartment can feel like a bad move. Even if everything else says otherwise. That’s why it’s important to overcome those mental obstacles. But, even once you do, you’ll find yourself in a small problem. You’ve organized your whole life around a certain space. And now, moving to a smaller apartment presents you with a challenge of fitting everything in it. And while it can be tough, with a little bit of creativity, everything is possible. But, let’s first talk about the relocation itself. And how to do it and stay organized.

Preparing for the move

Your priority should be to “catalog” all the items that you plan on moving. You have probably already seen your new apartment, and planned the transition to it. But, doing it in your head is vastly different than looking at the actual items that will go into your new apartment. And having a list can help you with that. As well as when it comes to packing.

Make a list of everything that you plan on moving

Your list should contain all belongings that you plan on moving. From tiny decorations to large furniture. That way, you’ll have a much better idea of how many moving bins you’ll need, how much packing paper and what to put where. It will also help you better determine which items will go into the new apartment. And which ones will have to go to storage or be donated.

Make a list of all of your belongings!It’s best to categorize items in some way. The exact way depends on you and your reasoning. But, those categories can be sorted by size, location or purpose. No matter how you do it, it’s important to have everything on that list, so you can be prepared for both packing and moving.

Get rid of the items you no longer have space for

This is a tough decision for anyone. Getting rid of some of your items is essential. If you try and fit everything when moving to a smaller apartment, pretty soon you’ll end up with a cluttered apartment. So, look at your list and determine which items don’t have a place in your new apartment. Either because they are too clunky or not important enough. There are many ways to deal with those leftover items. The first one is to throw away any items that are no longer functioning. In a big apartment, we have storage space for those broken appliances. But, in smaller ones’ space is at a premium. When it comes to functioning items, and the ones that are dear to you, you should look at some storage options. You can place all your smaller items in storage bins and keep them safe and sound in a storage unit. And you can simply wrap larger items and keep them there as well. If storage doesn’t work for you, you should consider selling or donating your items. Many items, even used, can fetch a nice price. And donating them to charity is a noble thing to do.

Buying packing supplies

Once you have everything neatly organized on your list. And know which items you will be moving with you, it’s time to think about packing supplies. You need to decide how to approach the packing and moving process. Start with boxes. You can get standard cardboard boxes at your local hardware store. And if you want a more eco-friendly option, Capital City Bins offers a great selection of eco-friendly moving bins. The great thing about the bins is that you won’t need packing tape. And they are much sturdier. But, no matter which way you go, you’ll also need some cushioning for your items, a good pair of scissors and some moving blankets.

Make sure that you have enough packing materials

The packing process is important when moving to a smaller apartment

When it comes to moving to a smaller apartment, a good organization is everything. So far, you’ve worked on selecting your items and packing materials. And now that you’ve got your plastic bins and other moving supplies that you’ll need, it’s time to start packing. It’s important to be methodical when packing. Start with larger items and work your way down to smaller ones. Make sure that the essentials can be easily accessible. Cushion your fragile items carefully and don’t mix and match them too much. Especially if you are moving long-distance. And don’t forget to label your bins, as it will make the unpacking process significantly easier.

Moving into a new and smaller apartment

Your relocation is almost over. You’ve selected, packed and transported all your items to your new apartment. Now, it’s time to start thinking of ways to organize it. Even though it’s smaller, there are many ways to save space. And make the most out of what you have. So, think carefully before you start randomly unpacking your bins. Plan where you will be putting your items. Make good use of corners and shelves. And in no time, you will make that new apartment into a home. And feel like you’ve lived there forever.