Downsize Me By Laurel Colins
The Supersize Era is Dead There was a time not so long ago that we could not get enough stuff. Children grow, styles change, activities change, and the world of sports equipment advances as fast as iPhones. Good money invested in this range of high quality goods makes it hard to part with. Surely we can pass them on to our kids, friends, relatives, grandkids, and the list goes on. Understandably we just want to pass them along to someone who will appreciate their value, but until then we must endure massive accumulations in our basements, closets, and storage facilities. This all is a source or stress, regret, and sadness, not to mention storage facility costs can add up fast. Now we have entered a new era of higher consciousness. A much greater awareness about our retail consumption is sweeping the country. Whether it be food, clothes, equipment or home goods, we are becoming ever more conscious of the footprint we leave here on this planet. Decisions for our home environments require careful consideration and thoughtfulness. With this in mind, the five bedroom house that so wonderfully supported three children and their parents is too much space for the empty nester. Maintaining this massive home and the kids’ rooms in case of a homecoming is taking up valuable time and money you could be spending on recreation travelling and other pastimes. The bins of clothes stacked in the attic need to be purged and you may need to re-think the snowmobile and surfboard you haven’t used in 10 years. Will you ever surf again? Perhaps you will, now that you are about to downsize, but these are the things you really need to take into deep consideration. Downsizing is something most all of us do for many reasons, including the fact that it is very stressful to live in homes that are overflowing with items that, to our subconscious, just feel and look like work. We all do enough work so let’s simplify our home lives with some simple steps. 1. Assessment time: Do you really need it? Seriously take a good look around at everything, and I mean everything. Begin in one area of your living space and go through each and every drawer, cupboard and closet. You probably have old bubble bath bottles and perfume samples in your vanity, old shoes for specific sports, coats and dishes, and on and on. Determine what you really need to keep. There are many rules of thumb for this so now it is time to implement them. But start small, even 20 minutes a day will be adequate and won’t be overwhelming. 2. Size Matters: If you are re-locating to a smaller home you need to consider the shapes and sizes of the pieces you bring or purchase. If your new, diminutive home has a small dining nook with a small kitchen counter/bar between nook and kitchen prep area, consider using a counter height table and counter height chairs; this way you can easily move the seating from counter to table comfortably. Now you have bar seats and dining seats all in one. It is easy to access these smaller sizes now. Get a good furniture consultant and they will find it for you. Think about your living room; the huge, deep, roll arm sofa or sectional may not be a good choice for maximizing space. Look for trimmer lines in furniture and really look at the length and depth of a piece.This is often a crucial factor, especially if you have small stairwells and doorframes. I have had to return sofas that could not fit through my door. Not fun. 3. Storage: Oh glorious storage, if only it were that simple. Just put everything in a cupboard and forget about it. No, we must only store what is essential and purge the rest. If you are downsizing with an actual new home, ensure there is adequate storage available for all the items you have deemed essential during your assessment process. Here in the Kootenays, most of us need to have space for our skis and bikes. Don’t sign the deal on the place unless you know you can comfortably house yourself and your accoutrements!
21 WEST KOOTENAY FALL HOUSE AND HOME 2014