If there’s one thing we’ve learned during our downsizing journey, it’s this:
We should have started sooner.
Like many families, we spent years accumulating things without really noticing. Cupboards filled up. Spare rooms became storage areas. Drawers quietly collected items we hadn’t looked at in years.
When we finally made the decision to move from our family villa to an apartment, we suddenly had to make hundreds of decisions about what to keep, what to sell and what to let go.
Looking back, there are several areas of our home we wish we’d tackled long before moving day appeared on the calendar.
Paperwork
The amount of paperwork we kept was astonishing.
Old utility bills.
Bank statements.
Instruction manuals.
Expired warranties.
Files we hadn’t opened in years.
Most of it served no purpose and could have been safely shredded or digitised.
Decluttering paperwork isn’t exciting, but it’s one of the quickest ways to create a sense of progress.
Kitchen Cupboards
The kitchen was one of the biggest surprises.
Over the years we accumulated:
- Duplicate utensils
- Spare serving platters
- Unused gadgets
- Extra coffee mugs
- Mismatched containers
The reality is that we regularly used only a small percentage of what we owned.
Once we started removing the excess, the kitchen immediately felt calmer and more functional.
Linen Cupboards
Towels.
Spare sheets.
Extra pillows.
Old duvet covers.
Many of these items had been sitting untouched for years.
Keeping only our favourites freed up a surprising amount of storage space.
Clothing
This was probably the category we avoided the longest.
Many of us keep clothes for a future version of ourselves.
The dress we’ll wear one day.
The jeans that might fit again.
The jacket we haven’t worn since 2018.
Letting go of clothing that no longer suits our lifestyle has been incredibly liberating.
Sentimental Items
These are always the hardest.
School projects.
Children’s artwork.
Holiday souvenirs.
Old greeting cards.
The mistake we made was assuming every memory required a physical object.
We’re learning that often the memory itself is enough.
Photographs can preserve the story without requiring endless storage.
Furniture We No Longer Needed
One advantage of downsizing is that it forces you to be realistic.
Not every piece of furniture belongs in your next home.
Some items suited a larger family house but simply don’t fit the lifestyle we’re creating now.
Letting go of furniture has helped us focus on quality over quantity.
The “Just in Case” Boxes
Every home seems to have them.
Boxes filled with cables.
Random household items.
Spare parts.
Objects saved for reasons nobody can quite remember.
If you’ve moved those boxes several times without opening them, that’s usually a clue.
Why Starting Early Matters
The biggest benefit of early decluttering isn’t the extra space.
It’s the reduced stress.
When moving day approaches, you want to focus on the future rather than being overwhelmed by possessions.
Every item you remove before moving makes the entire process easier.
And every decision made today is one less decision waiting for you later.
Our Biggest Lesson
Downsizing isn’t really about getting rid of things.
It’s about being intentional about what stays.
The items we choose to keep are becoming a reflection of the life we’re creating rather than the life we’ve already lived.
If you’re thinking about downsizing, my advice is simple:
Start now.
One drawer.
One cupboard.
One shelf.
You don’t need to finish everything in a weekend.
You just need to begin.
Your future self will thank you for it.
What Did You Wish You’d Decluttered Earlier?
If you’ve moved house or downsized recently, I’d love to hear your experience.
What was the first thing you wished you’d tackled sooner?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
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