WASHINGTON 鈥� Living with less is a big trend these days.
are trading in square footage for and convenient commutes, and popular shows such as HGTV鈥檚 鈥淭iny House Hunters鈥� and 鈥淭iny House, Big Living鈥� put simplified lifestyles in the spotlight.
A recent survey from even reports that more homeowners would choose a smaller home over a bigger one for their next move.
If you鈥檙e dreaming big about a smaller space, designer Anna Gibson says downsizing is totally possible. Here are some of her top tips.
The Benefits
There are a lot of benefits to downsizing, says Gibson, owner and chief designer at AKG Design Studio in Reston, Virginia 鈥� starting with your wallet.
鈥淎 lot of people have big mortgages, and unfortunately, a lot of people like to live outside of their means,鈥� Gibson said.
Trading in your five-bedroom home for something more sensible could save you a lot of money, especially in the D.C. area, where the cost of living is one of the highest in the country.
Downsizing will also save you time if you move to a condo or community where building maintenance and landscaping are included 鈥� a perk for many retirees and aging baby boomers.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 even have to be older 鈥� maybe you鈥檙e just busy with everything in life and your priorities changed and mowing the yard for four hours every weekend is not what you鈥檙e looking to do anymore,鈥� Gibson added.
Finally, condensing your living space could be beneficial to your family dynamic.
鈥淧eople have to interact. You鈥檙e not in 5,000, 6,000 square feet where you don鈥檛 see your kids for days,鈥� Gibson said.
Plan Ahead
Once you鈥檝e decided to downsize, Gibson says it鈥檚 time to start thinking about what you want out of a new living space. Is it to be closer to the city? Closer to the grandkids? Maybe it鈥檚 a country cabin you鈥檙e after. Whatever it is, determine your destination.
Next, talk to a real estate agent about the value of your current home. This will give you a better idea of what you can afford for your next residence.
However, the most important part of preparing to downsize, Gibson says, is decluttering.
If you find you need to hang on to childhood art projects and your grandmother鈥檚 antique chiffonier, research storage options.聽
Take measurements of the furniture you have and see if it makes sense to take items to your new place. (A slimmer, more contemporary sofa may work better than your oversized L-shape lounger in a smaller living room.) Donate or sell what you don鈥檛 want to move.
Finally, find out what you really use on a day-to-day basis. Gibson suggests keeping a list each time you go into your closet or your kitchen of the clothes you wear and the tools you use.
鈥淒o you really need 25 glasses? I look in my own kitchen and I have my Dutch oven and my Instant Pot and my Crockpot, but you don鈥檛 really need all that,鈥� Gibson said.
Furniture That鈥檚 Functional
Living in a smaller space means you need to be smarter with design and more creative with storage. Opt for pieces of furniture that serve dual purposes, such as a coffee table that opens up and stores books and blankets, or a sleeper sofa that can double as a guest bed.
鈥淥ften times, because you have less space to pay for, you can afford more luxury,鈥� Gibson said about choosing more functional products for your smaller home.
For example, she says there are high-end kitchen appliances on the market that multitask, such as a convection oven that also works as a speed cooker and a steamer.
鈥淪o you don鈥檛 need to have the double oven, you don鈥檛 need to have the microwave separately,鈥� Gibson said.
