Whether all of the kids have recently left the nest or you’ve been living in your current home for decades or more, downsizing can be a beneficial decision in maximizing your future. Moving into a smaller house or condo comes with many benefits: You save money, effort, time and clutter moving forward.

Making the decision can be easy for some, but the actual action of downsizing can be an intimidating task for many – especially those with lots of bulky furniture and cherished personal belongings. To streamline the process, we’ve put together a few of our favorite tips and tricks for moving to a smaller living space:

Declutter and get organized
If one thing’s for sure, it’s that downsizing keeps you from bringing along lots of clutter and the belongings that have been boxed up for years anyway. When you make the final decision to downsize, set aside some time to go through each of your rooms and declutter. Organize everything into three piles: What stays, what goes to the trash and what goes to the donation center. Once you have a better idea of what you’re bringing for the move, you can feel more comfortable about getting organized in the new space.

Assess your new living space
Speaking of your new living arrangement, it makes sense to spend some time in the empty space to get a feel for what you can bring with you. Understanding the amount of surface area you have to work with for furniture, as well as wall and storage space there will be, can help you during the packing and decluttering process early on.

Consider multifunctional furniture
When moving into a smaller living space, less is certainly more. This is especially important when it comes to furniture. Choosing pieces that are multipurpose allows you to utilize less space while maximizing storage space and square footage. A hollow ottoman, for example, can be used to store throw blankets and act as a coffee table during the daytime as you entertain guests and make family feel comfortable.

Choose new accessories – but bring memories along for the ride
Decorating a new living space is always fun. Since downsizing means you won’t need to cover as much space in decor, now’s a great time to consider new and improved accessories.

David Haseley, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at Decorating Den Interiors recommended gathering fresh pieces of artwork and accent pieces to decorate your living space, but also bringing along those items you hold dear to your heart.

“Sometimes, fresh accents and accessories are exactly what you need to make a new living space feel wholesome and inviting,” said David. “Of course, those staple statement pieces that you’ve kept in your family for decades should make the cut as well.”

Consider some professional assistance
If you’ve finally committed to downsizing and are getting ready to pack up all of your personal items and hit the road, don’t assume you have to take on this task on your own. A personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors can come over for a free consultation to evaluate your new living space and compare the allotted area to the amount of belongings you plan to bring with you. From there, he or she can suggest the perfect pieces of furniture, accents and accessories that’ll bring the space together without letting it get overwhelming or cluttered.

Ready to make the move? Call a design consultant from Decorating Den Interiors today.