New beginnings

There is a sense of loss when you move home; but there is also a feeling of renewal

 It is often said that moving house is as traumatic as a death in the family. And while I certainly wouldn’t go so far as to put these two things on par, there are certainly some similarities. There is a sense of finality, of things ending, when both these events occur. There is sorrow, a sense of loss, a feeling of dislocation; it’s almost as if you lose your bearings in the world.

 

But as surely as day follows night, you find your bearings in your new surroundings. There is the sense of a new beginning as you lay down to sleep in your new bedroom and wake up to make breakfast in your new kitchen. And before you know it, this house that seemed so alien when you first moved in, becomes – by some mysterious process of alchemy – a space you call home.

 

There is, however, an added torment to this process when you are downsizing. It could be that the family home is now too big for the two of you now that the kids have moved out. It could be that you are no longer physically up to the task of looking after a large bungalow and garden. But whatever the reason for moving to a smaller space, the problems this creates remain the same. 

 

So, how does one cope? Well, it’s not easy but with a little bit of ingenuity it can be done. Here are some tips, based on my own experiences and that of family and friends. 

 

·       Don’t try to recreate the new home as a miniature version of your old one; treat the house as a new space that you are approaching with a fresh point of view. That means no replicating the drawing or dining room layout from your old house because furniture groupings that work in larger areas make smaller rooms look incredibly cramped and crowded. So, start afresh when you are setting up the house and try for a completely different look.

·       Ditch any furniture that is too big and bulky and invest in pieces that are custom-made – or, at the very least, size-appropriate – for your new home. 

·       The best way to optimize space when working with smaller square footage is to make sure that you have plenty of built-in storage. So, look for box beds, coffee tables with drawers underneath, small cabinets that fit into nooks and corners, and lots of shelving to put your things away tidily. Clutter is all very well when you have large rooms that can absorb it. But smaller spaces call for a minimalist vibe.

·       This may be the right time to unleash your inner Marie Kondo. Chucking stuff out is easiest to do when you are moving house. But you need to be pretty dispassionate when you are moving to a smaller home. Only take the stuff that truly matters. And remember, even things that have sentimental value – but will overwhelm your new space – may not necessarily make the cut.

·       Treat the move not as the end of something, but as the beginning of something new. Celebrate that with a significant new purchase: a painting, a vase, a piece of sculpture. It doesn’t have to be expensive but it should be special – because your new home deserves nothing less.