Downsizing Your Home: 12 Practical Tips for Making the Move to a Smaller Space

When I decided to move onto a 41-foot sailboat with just a couple hundred square feet of living space, I knew I had to get rid of boatloads of stuff (no pun intended). I was surrounded by furniture, clothing, and books, and I had just one month to gather some downsizing tips and get to work. It wasn’t always easy, but ultimately, learning how to downsize turned out to be one of the best moves I’ve made.

Whether you’re trading your house for a boat or a condo, or just ready to simplify your life, these 12 tips for downsizing your home will help you decide what stays, what goes, and how to make the most of your living space.

Once you figure out the “why” for downsizing your home, keep it in mind to stay motivated through the process.

1. Know Your "Why" for Downsizing Your Home

My 30-day deadline to move onto a sailboat gave me a major kick in the pants to start downsizing right away. Your motivation might be different. Maybe you want to lower your expenses or just enjoy a more manageable space. Whatever your circumstances, knowing why you’re downsizing your home is just as important as knowing how to do it.

Chris DiCroce, an author, sailor, and minimalist, says it’s a good idea to articulate your goal, dream, and desire for downsizing your home into one simple sentence.

“When the process becomes difficult, you can lean back on that goal for support,” he says. “Whether it’s going sailing, becoming debt-free, or living a simpler life, write it down and have it in a visible place. That will be a daily affirmation that will keep you focused on your goal.”

Make sure your goal is motivating and keeps you on track, especially as you navigate a long list of downsizing tips and try to figure out what sticks. Make it a point to read that sentence daily.

2. Create a Schedule for Downsizing Your Home

One of the most important downsizing tips for people with a monumental amount of clutter is to make a checklist and a realistic schedule. Start with your move date and work backward to the present, then divide your checklist into manageable tasks for each week. And keep in mind that tackling a little each day is much easier than trying to do it all in one panicked weekend.

• Set your deadline. Decide when you want the decluttering to be done — ideally before you start packing for your move.
• Make a list of areas to tackle. This doesn’t just mean rooms. Remember to include spaces like the garage, closets, and sheds.
• Rank areas from easiest to hardest. Start with spaces that don’t require a lot of emotional decision-making.
• Break big jobs into smaller tasks. Instead of “declutter the garage,” try “sort the tool cabinet.”
• Build in extra time. Yes, you want to stay on schedule. But going through sentimental items can take more time than you might think.

3. Start With the Easy Stuff

I was lucky to only have a few rooms to go through when I started downsizing my home to move onto a sailboat. But whether you live in a two-bedroom condo or a five-bedroom house, one of the best downsizing tips is to start by going through the stuff you won’t miss. For example, collecting clothes to donate and paperwork to recycle was pretty painless. My childhood mementos? Not so much.

“Those remotes in the drawer that you have no idea what they go to?” asks DiCroce. “Throw them out! Go into your attic, basement, or closet and gather up those dusty old suitcases and gym bags. Half of them have broken zippers or missing straps.”

Easy Targets To Toss

• Duplicate kitchen gadgets and utensils
• Empty boxes and packaging
• Clothes you’re keeping “just in case”
• Broken appliances and electronics

When you start with the easy stuff and begin to see those piles of clutter disappear, you’ll be more motivated to tackle the harder items. And keep in mind one of the most important downsizing tips: If something is beyond repair, toss it.

Be selective as you downsize and declutter: Do you really need that box of sweaters from 1997?

4. Take Stock of What You Actually Use and Need

When deciding what to hold onto, remember to be realistic. Do you really need that silver blazer from New Year’s Eve 2005? How about the 23 mismatched coffee mugs in the kitchen? In my situation, I knew I wouldn’t need my full-size bed and chest of drawers on the sailboat, so they were among the first to go. And since I’d also recently lost my job, I got rid of a lot of my work clothes and high-heeled shoes.

Sure, following these downsizing tips and getting rid of those items was difficult on some level. But I knew those things would be easy to replace if I ever moved back into an apartment or found another office job.

Three Questions To Ask as You Sort Your Belongings

• Have I used this in the past year?
• Does it serve a purpose in my life today?
• Would I buy it again if I didn’t own it already?

If you answer “no” to any of those questions, say buh-bye to that item. Of course, not everything has to serve a practical purpose; there’s room for things that simply make you happy. Just be selective.

5. Figure Out the Best Way To Get Rid of Your Stuff

Part of downsizing your home is deciding where your things should go. There are plenty of ways to give your gently used items a new life — and you might even make a few bucks in the process.

Where To Sell, Donate, or Give Away Unwanted Belongings

• Host a moving sale and advertise it on Craigslist, Nextdoor, or neighborhood Facebook groups.
• Sell things online using eBay, Poshmark, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace.
• Donate to Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity.
• Post to your neighborhood’s Buy Nothing group.
• Give items away to friends or relatives who could put them to use.

When I was taking inventory and plotting how to downsize my home, I realized I had way too many gorgeous cast-iron pots. Instead of selling them, I gave them to family members to “hold onto for me.” They’ve been enjoying those pots for years, and I know I can get them back if I ever need them again. Sometimes knowing your treasures are going to a good home makes it much easier to let go.

One of the most important downsizing tips is to measure your furniture before you move.

6. Measure Your Furniture Before You Move

If you’re downsizing your home to move into a smaller place, break out the measuring tape. It’s no fun paying movers to pack, load, and unload — only to find out your things won’t fit. Measure your couches, end tables, dining room furniture, beds, and anything else that might be too supersized. The more you can get rid of before your move, the better.

7. Rent a Portable Container To Help You Downsize and Declutter

One of the challenges of downsizing your home is figuring out how to go through everything without turning your house into a disaster zone. That’s where PODS on-site self storage containers come in. You can have a container delivered right to your driveway and use it as a staging area for sorting your belongings.

“Just because something goes in doesn’t mean it stays in,” said Sherry and John Petersik, hosts of the popular Young House Love podcast. They became experts on how to downsize before moving when they used a PODS container to help their family of four downsize from a spacious 3,150-square-foot home in Richmond, VA, to a cozy 1,400-square-foot beach house in the Florida Panhandle.

How a PODS Portable Container Helps With Downsizing Your Home

Here are a few ways a container can make things more manageable:

• More space to work. Everything is out of the way while you declutter room by room.
• Safe place for things you’re keeping. You can securely pack belongings that are going with you.
• Simplified moving day. When your container is loaded and ready to roll, PODS will pick it up and take it to your new home, whether you’re moving cross-country or across town.

Downsizing your home doesn’t always require ditching all your belongings. Long-term storage allows you to hold onto things you may need later while still freeing up space in your home.

8. Consider Longer-Term Downsizing Tips and Storage Options

Downsizing your home doesn’t have to mean getting rid of everything that won’t fit in it. Sometimes you just need a little extra storage space. That was the situation for me: My childhood mementos didn’t have a safe spot on the sailboat — after all, there’s no room for bins full of childhood artwork, photo albums, yearbooks, and a few treasured toys in such a small space.

Luckily, I was able to store those belongings in my mom’s attic. But not everybody has that option! If you’re renovating, traveling for an extended period, or planning how to downsize before moving, consider PODS storage unit facilities. Your belongings will be secure until you need them again — no attic space required.

What Should You Keep in Storage?

Before paying for long-term storage when downsizing your home, consider what you’re storing and whether it’s worthwhile.

DiCroce’s downsizing tips include being especially selective about appliances and electronics. “Usually, if we're going to store washers, dryers, or refrigerators, we're paying to store diminishing technology,” he says. “A year from now, the refrigerators, washers, and dryers will be more efficient than the ones you're planning on storing. It might be better to sell the appliances and tech you have (that right there could pay to store other items) and replace them when you know what you need.”

That doesn’t mean storage is a bad idea. Storing away seasonal clothing, sports gear, and decorations is a particularly clever way to free up in-home storage space without tossing things you’ll need in the future.

9. Get Creative With Sentimental Mementos

One difficult thing about downsizing your home is decluttering belongings that have emotional value. For me, it was the Breyer horses I played with as a child. I moved those horses with me from home to home for years, but eventually I decided to donate a bag full of them. Following all the downsizing tips up to this point helped me build the courage to do so. I did keep several of the horses to remind me of happy childhood days. I just didn’t need two boxes full!

How To Preserve Memories Without Keeping Everything

Struggling to part with sentimental items? Add these ideas to your downsizing tips:

• Keep a few favorites. If you have old birthday cards or letters you’re holding onto, consider keeping just two or three.
• Take photographs. Create a digital album of special memories.
• Turn memories into art. Frame childhood drawings or keepsakes as wall decor.
• Pass heirlooms along. Give family members items they’ll treasure.

10. Think Outside the Box for In-Home Storage

Once you’ve finished downsizing your home, get inventive with storage. The goal is to keep stuff out of sight and out of mind, reducing clutter and stress. While it can be tricky in a smaller home, you just need to be a little creative.

For example, John and Sherry Petersik, who downsized into their Florida beach home, now have only three closets.

“We added shelving and vertical storage to our closets, which got a lot of things off the floor,” said Sherry. “We built several shelves over our washer/dryer, which gave us much more storage space.”

Other In-Home Storage Ideas:

• Use rolling plastic bins to store items neatly beneath beds.
• Use vacuum seal bags to store bulky items like comforters, extra pillows, and guest room bedding.
• Opt for tall bookcases rather than wide ones to maximize floor space.
• Choose furniture that does double duty, like storage ottomans or beds with lift-up frames.

11. Don’t Buy More Stuff

After implementing these downsizing tips, you might think your wardrobe’s looking sparse or the living room feels empty. But once you’ve adjusted, you’ll enjoy the sense of space and openness you’ve created.

When I got rid of most of my belongings, my buying habits changed. Now, I keep downsizing tips in mind and ask myself several questions before making a purchase:

• Do I really need this?
• Is this item duplicating anything else I currently have?
• What would I get rid of to make room for it?
• What purpose will it serve in my life?
• Will I use it often enough to justify the cost?

I simply don’t have the space to keep multiple versions of the same item, whether that’s running shoes, hiking backpacks, or coffee cups.

By downsizing your home, you’ve taken a major step to prioritize what’s important. You’ll save money, and you’ll know every item you buy has a purpose.

12. Hire Professional Help if You Need Help

Downsizing your home is a big project. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can always call in the pros.

Professional decluttering services and organizers can help you develop a plan and make decisions about what to keep, donate, or discard. Their downsizing tips may include options like junk removal services or packing-and-loading professionals. The goal is to stop feeling bogged down by all your belongings and instead feel a lightness and energy you can enjoy in your next chapter.

What Are the Best Moving and Storage Options for Downsizing?

Once you’ve finished decluttering and downsizing your home, you’ll need a plan for getting everything to your new place. The best options depend on your budget, timeline, how much you’re moving, and whether you’ll need storage.

How PODS Helps With Downsizing Your Home

The last thing you want is a moving schedule that adds more stress. That’s what makes PODS moving and storage services a smart solution. Instead of rushing to pack your entire home — decluttered, but still a home! — in a single day, PODS will deliver the container to your driveway for you to load on your own schedule. After decluttering, you can keep your container on your property or have it transported to a secure PODS storage facility until you’re ready to move.

PODS is also a great option if you plan to keep things in long-term storage. You can keep your container at a PODS Storage Center and later have it delivered to you in your new city (no need to load and unload a self storage container every time you move).

PODS offers three container sizes to fit your needs:

• 8-ft container: Apartments, college dorms, or downsizing. Fits up to 500 square feet.  
• 12-ft container (local only): Homes with 2 bedrooms. Fits 500 to 800 square feet.
• 16-ft container: Homes with 3–4 bedrooms. Fits 1,200 square feet.

If you’re downsizing to an apartment or condo in a big city and you don’t have space to park a container, no problem! With PODS City Service (available in select cities) a PODS driver will bring the container to your location, stay with it while you load or unload, and then take it away. You don’t need a driveway. And if you’d like some help with the heavy lifting, PODS can refer you to local packing and loading services to lend a hand.

Start early and give yourself plenty of time to downsize and declutter.

Downsizing Tips — FAQs

Q: What not to do when downsizing?
A: Don’t wait until moving day to downsize and declutter your belongings. Give yourself plenty of time and don’t underestimate how much stuff you’ve accumulated. Start early, work in stages, and take deep breaths.

Q: At what age should you downsize your home?
A: There’s no perfect age to implement these downsizing tips. Some people move into smaller spaces in their 30s or 40s to simplify their lives, while others wait until they’re empty nesters. The right time depends on your lifestyle, budget, and how much space you need.

Q: What is the 10-10-10 rule for decluttering?
A: This technique is one of the best downsizing tips. Applying the 10-10-10 rule, you’ll spend 10 minutes each in 10 areas of your home, removing 10 items from each location. This is great for people who are overwhelmed by the amount of stuff they have and need a more realistic, instantly gratifying goal.

Q: What are common downsizing mistakes?
A: The top mistakes when downsizing your home: Underestimating how much time decluttering takes, moving furniture without measuring, and buying new things to fill the decluttered spaces.

Q: What is the hardest thing to get rid of when decluttering?
A: Sentimental items are the most challenging to get rid of. Journals, photos, childhood toys, family keepsakes — all can carry years of memories. Give yourself extra time to process these items compared with more functional belongings that may be easier to let go.

Downsizing Your Home With PODS

Ready to enjoy life in your simplified, clutter-free new home? PODS portable moving and storage containers make the process flexible. With your container delivered right to your driveway, you can sort and pack at your own pace, store your belongings when needed, and take the time you need to finish downsizing your home before making your move.

Visit PODS online for a free on-site storage quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving and storage.

Kristin Hanes is a writer and blogger who helps people downsize and live in tinier homes, whether that’s a campervan, RV, sailboat, or tiny house on wheels. She now splits her time between the sailboat and a campervan. You can find her blog at The Wayward Home.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}