Have your kids left home and you’re considering your next move? Or maybe you have already bought a smaller place to downsize to and you’re currently in the planning stages to move?

Downsizing (or ‘rightsizing’ as we prefer to call it) is an exciting time in your life and a wonderful opportunity to lighten the load and and trim back the to-do list, making space in your life to do more of what you love.

However downsizing can also be daunting for those who fear that moving to a smaller space means sacrificing the style they love in their bigger home. The truth is, just because you’re moving to a smaller space doesn’t mean you have to downgrade your style at all.

Here are 10 tips for downsizing with style from an interior designer:

1. Only keep the things you love

There’s no better time to get rid of the things you no longer love or need than when moving to a smaller home. It could be the perfect excuse to let go of large furniture pieces and replace them with new pieces you’ve had your eye on. Selling your old furniture is a great way to help finance your new purchases.

2. Be as bold as you dare

Some people think that bold bright colours can’t be used in a smaller space. However don’t be afraid to go bold with colours and textures, as this can actually help bring smaller spaces to life.

3. Plan for the future

Take care when selecting new furniture items to ensure they consider your potential future needs. For instance, don’t choose a bed that is too low or too high as it may be impractical when you get older.

4. Give yourself room to move

This may seem like an odd piece of advice when downsizing, however even when moving to a home with fewer bedrooms, you still want to ensure the rooms you have are spacious enough to allow good access around the bed, dining suite and other furniture in your home.

5. Deck the walls

While your new home likely has less wall space, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your entire art and photographic collection. Consider creating a feature wall by covering one wall with your favourite pieces.

6. De-clutter

One of the best things about downsizing is the extra freedom it gives you because your new home will be so much easier to maintain. Having a lot of trinkets on display will make furniture harder to clean and will also make the space look more cluttered and smaller than it is. If you can’t bear to part with any of your treasured pieces, consider rotating them for display in your new home.

7. Avoid slip hazards

Ensure your new home has non-slip tiles/flooring in all wet areas.

8. Let there be light

Good lighting makes a huge difference to the functionality, aesthetics and safety in the home. And strategically positioned mood lighting will add warmth and ambience to a space and can be used to highlight certain decorative features.

9. Beware of sharp corners

By sharp corners we mean table tops and benches etc. This is good advice not only for you but also for when the grandchildren come to visit.

10. Spoil yourself

It can be an emotional time in your life when leaving the family home. Why not splash out a little and use some of the equity you have freed up in the sale of your home on something you have always wanted but couldn’t afford for your new home. It could be a statement piece of art, the latest steam oven or perhaps a new BBQ for your balcony or alfresco space.

We have helped many couples downsize successfully over the years (we have also done it ourselves). So if you are thinking of downsizing but are yet to sell the family home, contact Shelley on 0417 963 670 or Mark on 0411 552 309 for an obligation free appraisal and advice on how to achieve the highest possible price for your existing property.