How To Take the Down Out of Downsizing

A guest post by woman who created her new, beautifully simple home, step by step

Last year I wrote a post about Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I hoped she could help me weed out the belongings I’ve boxed, shelved, and moved from house to house for decades. I was looking for a way to break through the powerful sentiments that guarded each item.

Kondo’s 3rd Rule is “Finish Discarding”, so I briefly tried it out. Then it was on to Rule 4, “Tidy by Category”, which I liked better. I thought, “I’ve been a librarian. I can organize!” So I repacked, re-labeled and reshelved the boxes. Then I took Kondo’s book back to the library.

“I repacked, re-labeled … “

And now, dear reader, the reality is that Sam and I are moving to a smaller house in town.

These are calm words for a life-changing process. It’s downsizing for real, and I feared I would need a lot more than Kondo’s Magic to make this move.

Then we met a friend in the grocery store. “Oh,” she said, “I’ve done that!” And here is what she told me:

Downsizing for me was a slow and difficult process. 

When I realized it was time to put the house on the market, I started looking around at the furniture to evaluate what I really liked and had meaning to me. My large home was packed full of family memories.

“My large home … “

First there was the “staging” process. About a quarter of the furniture and art went to Habitat for Humanity and to Safe, the local women’s shelter, and a few more things went to a consignment shop. I boxed up and put into storage the sort of “stuff” we all accumulate through a lifetime. 

Many of my art pieces and stained glass were stored in a closet, so that I could swap them out from time to time to display in my home. This collection was especially hard to let go of. I kept my very favorite pieces, then I gave my two children what they wanted. 

My house sold, and I let more furniture go to Habitat.  

In town, I found a house that was perfect for a transition. It had a fenced-in back yard for my dog and a large upstairs space for storage . 

“In town, I found a house … “

But soon it was time to move again. Many years ago my husband and had I purchased a small 800-square-foot house in town, which we had rented out. I found myself wondering, could I possibly downsize again? I decided to be brave. 

So, after having the little place freshly painted, I moved in. This required downsizing my furniture again. I put my “stuff” in a garden shed in the yard.

But those things could not stay in an outdoor shed so I finally had to deal with them. This was especially hard. Finally, I had to face the years of memories in that shed. Family pictures, yarn, books, memorabilia, the things we keep from years back. 

I took the pictures out of the big albums and sent them to my daughter who wanted them. I chose only my favorite yarn and gave the rest away. I kept only my favorite books. I started to feel lighter and more free as the momentum of letting go started to escalate.

I now live in a sweet little home surrounded only by my most favorite things. I love it and don’t miss anything that I got rid of. My place is so easy to keep clean. It feels like a gentle hug every time I come home to it.

And when I visit my children, I enjoy seeing “my” art hanging in their homes. 

My friend’s words remind me that the definition of home changes when our life changes. To me, it’s calming to know this and just get to work.

And she makes me think that downsizing is about more than just the things we choose to bring along or leave behind. Downsizing doesn’t have to be “down”. It’s really about creating the right space for a lighter spirit, with what fits us now, and, hopefully, with room to share.

Last year I wrote about Marie Kondo's book …

Photos of boxes, by Deda Edney

Photo of “my large home” by Barbara Wimberly

Thank you, Barbara, for your generosity in sharing your experience in re-sizing!