Will 2011 be the year you down-size?

Unless you've been secretly (or openly) dreaming of changing the family home for a simpler way of life for years, downsizing can be a challenging process. Hard enough if the decision is yours to make, but sometimes life takes us by the hand and leads us down a path we hadn't planned on walking...forcing us to change the family home for something smaller. 

So whether you're changing by choice, or changing due to circumstance, I want you to know that downsizing can be a great way to open a new chapter in your life...

For those of you who've already embraced minimalism and led the “de-clutter brigade” from the front I'll let you skip the next paragraphs: you're sorted! But if your daily delight is a home packed full of belongings accumulated over years of travel & family times, the prospect of “de-cluttering is daunting. Even the term is hard to take! How can your possessions be classed as clutter?

Your furniture, carefully chosen over the years may be too big to fit into your next place. But something has to give, and the key to success is to change the way you look at your home...and everything in it.

Remember, that when downsizing, size DOES matter! So no matter how much you love those pieces of furniture, and your many & varied accessories, you'll probably have to let some of them go before embracing the new “you”.  Concentrate on the positives the move will bring, and although it may be hard to realize now, your memories DO make the move with you! Accept that and you'll be able to cherry pick possessions to take...leaving the others behind.  The more selective you are now the more you'll enjoy your new space by keeping it lightly furnished.

Here is a general guide to help you decide what to keep: Select the things you'd take with you if fire struck. Allow yourself the same quantity of second choice items...and a handful of luxury extras. This will become the base of your new space, and with clever use of storage you'll be able to re-create the essence of the home you love, without the volume.

Feel you need more help? Or want to help someone you know down-size? Our designers are trained to guide you through the process: making the most of your new space...while preserving the best of your old.

Discover our range of products & services at www.designatdistance.com