The Global Empty Nester

Category: Downsizing

  • 50 Things We Decided Not to Move to Our New Apartment

    When we decided to downsize from our family villa to an apartment, I assumed the hard part would be packing.

    I was wrong.

    The hardest part has been deciding what not to take.

    After living in the same home for many years, it’s amazing how much we accumulated without really noticing. Cupboards filled up. Drawers became crowded. Storage rooms became treasure troves of things we hadn’t seen in years.

    As we work through our downsizing journey, we’ve discovered that every item we choose not to move creates more space for the life we’re building next.

    Here are 50 things we’ve decided not to bring with us.

    Kitchen Items

    1. Duplicate saucepans
    2. Three different cheese graters
    3. The bread maker we haven’t used in years
    4. Extra serving platters
    5. Mismatched plastic containers
    6. Duplicate utensils
    7. Specialty gadgets used once
    8. Old water bottles
    9. Excess coffee mugs
    10. Spare wine glasses

    The kitchen was a wake-up call. We had enough equipment to cater for a small event, yet used the same handful of items every week.

    Linen and Bedding

    1. Old towels
    2. Worn beach towels
    3. Spare duvet sets
    4. Extra pillows
    5. Sheets for beds we no longer own

    It’s surprising how much cupboard space linen occupies. Keeping only our favourites instantly simplified things.

    Furniture

    1. Extra side tables
    2. Unused outdoor chairs
    3. Oversized bookcases
    4. Decorative console tables
    5. Furniture that won’t suit apartment living

    Every piece of furniture now needs to earn its place.

    Decorative Items

    1. Artificial plants
    2. Decorative bowls
    3. Candles we’ve never lit
    4. Old picture frames
    5. Seasonal decorations we rarely use
    6. Wall art that no longer suits our style
    7. Decorative cushions
    8. Random ornaments

    Many of these items were purchased for a version of our home that no longer exists.

    Books and Magazines

    1. Old travel guides
    2. Cookbooks we never open
    3. Magazines kept “just in case”
    4. Duplicate novels
    5. Outdated reference books

    These days, most information is available online. Keeping only our favourites feels far more intentional.

    Office and Paperwork

    1. Old utility bills
    2. Expired warranties
    3. Empty folders
    4. Broken chargers
    5. Old instruction manuals

    The amount of paper we kept was astonishing.

    Clothing and Accessories

    1. Clothes that no longer fit
    2. Shoes we never wear
    3. Old handbags
    4. Formal outfits from another stage of life
    5. Duplicate scarves and accessories

    If we haven’t worn it in years, we’re unlikely to wear it again.

    Sentimental Items

    1. Children’s school projects
    2. Old trophies
    3. Boxes of random keepsakes
    4. Holiday souvenirs
    5. Greeting cards

    This category was the most emotional.

    Rather than keeping everything, we’ve chosen a handful of meaningful items and photographed many of the rest.

    Miscellaneous Items

    1. Exercise equipment gathering dust
    2. Boxes labelled “miscellaneous”

    If a box has remained unopened for several years, that’s usually a clue.

    What We Learned

    The most surprising lesson from downsizing is that letting go hasn’t felt like losing something.

    Instead, it has felt like gaining clarity.

    Many of the items we owned represented past habits, past homes, or past versions of ourselves. Keeping everything was quietly creating physical and mental clutter.

    As empty nesters, we’re discovering that the next chapter doesn’t require more possessions.

    It requires more freedom.

    Freedom to travel.

    Freedom to lock up and leave.

    Freedom to spend less time maintaining things and more time enjoying life.

    The process hasn’t always been easy, but every box that leaves the house feels like a step toward something lighter and simpler.

    And honestly?

    We haven’t missed a single thing yet.

    Thinking About Downsizing?

    Start with one drawer.

    One cupboard.

    One room.

    Small decisions add up quickly.

    You may be surprised by how little you actually need—and how good it feels to let the rest go.

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  • Our 12-Week Downsizing Plan: Moving From a Dubai Villa to an Apartment

    After more than 15 years living in Dubai, our family home is about to change.

    Like many parents, we’ve reached a milestone we knew was coming but somehow never fully prepared for: becoming empty nesters.

    Our two boys have grown up, left home, and started exciting new chapters of their own. One is pursuing his culinary career in Barcelona, while the other is beginning his professional journey in London.

    Suddenly, the large family villa that once felt perfectly sized now feels much bigger than we need.

    So, we’ve made the decision to downsize.

    Over the next 12 weeks, we’ll be moving from a four-bedroom villa to a three-bedroom apartment. It sounds simple enough, but anyone who has lived in the same home for many years knows that moving isn’t just about boxes and furniture.

    It’s about sorting through memories, making decisions, and figuring out what really matters.

    Here’s the plan we’re following.

    Week 1-2: Taking Inventory

    The first step is understanding exactly what we own.

    Over the years, it’s amazing how much “stuff” accumulates without us noticing.

    We started by walking through every room with a notebook and creating three categories:

    • Keep
    • Sell
    • Donate

    Rather than trying to tackle the entire house at once, we’re working room by room.

    The biggest surprise so far?

    The number of duplicate items we’ve accumulated. Multiple sets of kitchen gadgets, spare bedding, forgotten decorations, and enough storage containers to open a small shop.

    Week 3-4: Decluttering the Easy Stuff

    We made a rule:

    If we haven’t used it in two years and it has no sentimental value, it goes.

    This stage includes:

    • Old paperwork
    • Broken household items
    • Unused kitchen gadgets
    • Expired products
    • Old electronics
    • Duplicate household items

    Making quick decisions builds momentum.

    The longer an item sits in the “maybe” pile, the harder it becomes to let go.

    Week 5-6: Selling Larger Items

    This is where the real downsizing begins.

    We’re listing furniture, outdoor items, and larger household pieces that won’t suit apartment living.

    Some of the items we’re selling include:

    • Outdoor furniture
    • Garden equipment
    • Excess dining furniture
    • Decorative pieces
    • Storage units

    One lesson we’ve already learned is that buyers love clear photographs, accurate measurements, and realistic pricing.

    The goal isn’t to maximise every dirham.

    The goal is to reduce the amount we need to move.

    Week 7-8: Tackling Sentimental Items

    This is often the hardest stage.

    School artwork.

    Holiday souvenirs.

    Boxes of photographs.

    Children’s belongings that somehow survived every previous clean-out.

    We’ve adopted a simple approach:

    Keep the best, photograph the rest.

    Not every memory needs a physical object attached to it.

    Sometimes the story is enough.

    Week 9-10: Organising for Apartment Living

    Moving to a smaller space forces you to be intentional.

    Every item now needs a purpose.

    We’re asking ourselves:

    • Do we use it?
    • Do we love it?
    • Will it fit our new lifestyle?

    Apartment living offers many advantages:

    • Less maintenance
    • Lower utility bills
    • Reduced cleaning
    • Better lock-up-and-leave convenience
    • More freedom to travel

    The transition isn’t just about living in less space.

    It’s about creating a simpler life.

    Week 11: Packing Strategically

    Packing isn’t simply putting things into boxes.

    We’re labelling everything clearly by room and category.

    For example:

    • Kitchen – Daily Use
    • Kitchen – Entertaining
    • Bedroom – Linen
    • Office – Important Documents

    Future us will thank present us on moving day.

    We’re also packing an essentials box with:

    • Chargers
    • Medications
    • Basic kitchen supplies
    • Important paperwork
    • Toiletries
    • Dog supplies

    These are the things you’ll need immediately when you arrive at your new home.

    Week 12: Moving Day

    The final week is all about execution.

    At this point, the hard work should already be done.

    The goal is to avoid last-minute decisions and unnecessary stress.

    By moving day, every item should already have a destination:

    • New apartment
    • Storage
    • Sold
    • Donated

    No “I’ll decide later” boxes allowed.

    What Downsizing Has Taught Us So Far

    We’re only partway through this journey, but a few lessons have already become clear.

    First, we own far less that truly matters than we thought.

    Second, many possessions represent past versions of ourselves.

    And third, creating space feels surprisingly liberating.

    The process isn’t always easy.

    There are emotional moments.

    There are frustrating moments.

    But there’s also excitement.

    This move represents more than a change of address.

    It’s the beginning of a new chapter.

    A chapter with fewer possessions, more flexibility, and more opportunities to focus on experiences rather than things.

    As empty nesters, we’re discovering that downsizing isn’t about giving something up.

    It’s about creating room for what comes next.

    Are You Downsizing Too?

    I’d love to hear about your own downsizing journey.

    Have you moved from a family home to a smaller property?

    What was the hardest thing to let go of?

    Leave a comment below and share your experience.

  • Why We’re Downsizing After 15 Years in Dubai

    There comes a point in life when the home that once felt perfect no longer fits the life you’re living.

    For our family, that moment arrived this year.

    After spending more than 15 years in Dubai and raising our children in a large family villa, we’ve made the decision to downsize into a smaller apartment and begin a new chapter.

    At first glance, downsizing might seem like a financial decision. While reducing housing costs certainly plays a role, our reasons go much deeper than that.

    The House Served Its Purpose

    When our children were younger, our villa was exactly what we needed.

    We needed bedrooms, storage, outdoor space, room for friends to visit, and somewhere for the chaos of family life to unfold.

    The house was filled with school projects, sports equipment, family dinners, birthday celebrations and all the wonderful messiness that comes with raising children.

    But life changes.

    Today our children are pursuing their own paths, studying and working overseas, and the reality is that much of the space we once used every day now sits empty.

    Choosing Simplicity

    Over the past few years I’ve become increasingly aware of how much time, energy and money can be spent maintaining a large home.

    There are cupboards filled with items we haven’t touched in years, furniture that no longer suits our lifestyle and rooms that are rarely used.

    Downsizing offers an opportunity to simplify.

    Instead of maintaining a larger property than we need, we’re choosing a home that better reflects the way we live today.

    The goal isn’t to have less.

    The goal is to have the right amount.

    The Emotional Side of Downsizing

    What surprised me most is how emotional the process can be.

    Every room contains memories.

    Every cupboard seems to hold a forgotten chapter of family life.

    Sorting through belongings forces you to make decisions about what to keep, what to sell, what to donate and what to let go.

    Some days it’s exciting.

    Other days it’s surprisingly difficult.

    I’ve realised that downsizing isn’t just about reducing possessions. It’s about acknowledging that one chapter of life has ended and making space for the next one.

    Why I’m Sharing the Journey

    One of the reasons I created The Global Empty Nester is because I suspect many women are navigating similar transitions.

    Children leave home.

    Careers evolve.

    Priorities shift.

    And suddenly we find ourselves asking what comes next.

    Over the coming months I’ll be sharing our real downsizing journey, including:

    • What we’re selling
    • What we’re keeping
    • Storage solutions
    • Apartment living ideas
    • Empty nest reflections
    • Lessons learned along the way

    My hope is that by sharing both the practical and emotional sides of this experience, I can help make the process easier for others.

    Looking Forward

    Although moving can feel overwhelming, I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead.

    A smaller home means greater flexibility, less maintenance and the opportunity to focus on experiences rather than possessions.

    This isn’t an ending.

    It’s the beginning of a new chapter.

    And I’m looking forward to sharing the journey with you.

    Have you downsized or are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.