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Make the Most of Downsizing Your Home with Self-Storage

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When downsizing, it can be difficult to know what to do with the extra belongings that donโ€™t quite fit into your new space. Whether youโ€™re moving into a house with less storage space or want to bring a more minimalist aesthetic with you, there are an array of benefits to using self-storage during this process.

This guide will help you to understand the advantages of using household storage during downsizing, as well as provide some useful tips for deciding what to store, keep, or let go of.

Why Self-Storage is Beneficial When Downsizing

A major factor as to why people decide to downsize is due to unneeded space and cost-savings. If you own a four-bedroom house, but your children have moved out and no longer use the space, then downsizing to a smaller and more affordable property is an appealing decision to many. This could also be combined with moving locations; perhaps you want to try a new neighbourhood or county for a while and wish to downsize your property in the process. The advantages of downsizing are endless, but it can be difficult to know what to do with lots of your belongings.

If youโ€™re looking to downsize your home, you will likely have accumulated more belongings than will fit into your next property. Whilst this is a chance to declutter, there are certain items that you just might not want to part with. Whether itโ€™s for sentimental value or fear that you will one day find a use for these items, you should not feel obligated to get rid of them just because they might not have a place in your new home. Especially for things like seasonal items, which can be bulky and tricky to store, self-storage makes perfect sense.

With self-storage, you can make your new space feel like a refreshing start without lots of unnecessary clutter. Thereโ€™s a good chance there will be reduced storage upon your downsizing, so self-storage can assist in bridging the gap between your two properties.

How to Decide What to Keep, Store, or Let Go

It may have been years or decades since you moved into your current home, so thereโ€™s probably yearsโ€™ worth of belongings that youโ€™ve stored that now require moving. If youโ€™re downsizing, thereโ€™s a good chance that many of these items will have to be donated or go into storage. But donโ€™t worry! Our storage units are easily accessible, seven days a week, so you can get a hold of what you need without hassle. Some belongings simply may not serve any purpose in your life anymore, in which case, it might be time to let go of entirely. Hereโ€™s our brief guide to help you decide:

What to Keep
  • Sentimental Items: Things like family heirlooms, childhood memories, and cherished gifts canโ€™t be replaced. If an item has significant emotional value, or you wish to keep it to reflect on, then keep it in a safe place.
  • Everyday Items: This one is potentially a given, but things that you utilise daily and get plenty of use out of should come with you to the new property. This could be anything from appliances to linens - it all depends on what you use the most.
What to Store
  • Seasonal Items: Seasonal clothing like winter coats or beach towels, festive decorations, or winter gear are perfect items to send into storage. These are items that you donโ€™t need all year round but still want to keep.
  • Occasionally Used Items: Items like additional furniture, air mattresses, and toolkits are all examples of things that we donโ€™t want to get rid of but wonโ€™t be used every day. Keep them in storage where they are out of the way but still accessible if you need them.
What to Let Go
  • Damaged or Broken Items: This applies to things like old gaming consoles that once brought your family entertainment but now has a missing component or just doesnโ€™t work as well as it used to.
  • Unused Items or Clothing: One of the areas where itโ€™s easy to consume lots of items is the wardrobe, as it can be daunting to set aside time for decluttering all of those clothes. If you havenโ€™t worn or used an item in the past year, it might be time to question whether you will wear it or use it in the next year.

Maximising Self-Storage for Downsizing

Maximising self-storage during a downsizing process is a smart way to ensure that you hold onto what matters most while adjusting to a smaller living space. Start by categorising your items into essentials sentimental pieces, and those that can be stored for later use. Use vertical space in your storage unit by stacking boxes or using shelving to keep things organised and easy to access. Labelling everything clearly can also make it easy to retrieve items when needed, whether thatโ€™s through using a dedicated label maker or handwritten notes.

If youโ€™re looking for a little extra space during the downsizing process, whether itโ€™s short-term or longer-term, our flexible agreements are ideal. With a range of unit sizes, our storage facilities are equipped to store anything from just a few items to larger furniture or equipment. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, then please get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your storage needs in the North West and Scotland.

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