Have you recently downsized or moved into a small property? Small properties, such as these promoted by this mobile homes dealership, can be cost-effective and fully functional. In many cases, they are beneficial to the household as they can make homeownership more affordable and manageable.
However, moving into a small home doesn’t come without difficulties. For a start, you might find it tough to bring all your belongings with you, especially if you used to live in a bigger house. Unfortunately, you can’t help but accumulate items along the way:
- Birthday and celebratory gifts
- Family souvenirs and heirlooms
- Meaningful items you’ve kept throughout the years
- Items you are keeping just in case
- Hand-me-down items you never knew would end up in your home
- Seasonal items
- Etc.
Before you know it, your home is filled with clutter! How can you keep clutter at bay when you move into a smaller property? These tips can change your life for the better.
Do not bring any unwanted clutter with you
If you are in the process of moving in, you can take preventive actions to ban clutter from even entering your new home. Consider making a list of everything you don’t need, and that is still in good condition. These items can be sold on social media, Craigslist, and eBay for a profit.
Some of the most desirable items are:
- Vintage fashion
- Memorabilia
- Collectible toys and gadgets
- Vintage electronics (yes, that includes the old game-boy console your children loved in the 1990s)
- Era glassware and house laundry (such as 1970s cups)
- Etc.
Anything else that you feel is not sellable or would not be profitable can be donated to charity.
Set clear rules
It can be hard to avoid presents when your friends and family love buying you gifts. So, it is important to let them know about your preferences. Unfortunately, it can be hard to communicate your intentions. Most people are unwilling to listen, or they refuse to believe you may not want a gift. This brilliant article can help you introduce the no gift rule without hurting anybody’s sensibility. Indeed, for many people, giving a present is part of their love language. So they feel frustrated and betrayed when you won’t let them express their affection to you. You don’t want to hurt your loved ones in the process.
Regularly evaluate your belongings
Despite your best efforts, you might find yourself accumulating things in your new home. So, it may be worth doing a regular annual clutter check. You can review items in three piles:
- The ones you will use or wear
- The ones you use occasionally
- The ones you never need
In a small home, you need to be strict about keeping your belongings. Things you do not need or use will instantly clutter the space. You can sell or donate them. But seasonal items or items that are still used periodically but not as often as you thought may need smart storage solutions. For instance, you can rent a storage box to keep your Christmas decorations or your ski outfits.
Making sense of a small house begins with managing your clutter habits. Unfortunately, clutter is unavoidable. So it’s important to regularly remind your loved ones about your clutter-free priorities and evaluate your belongings.
