If you're moving into a new apartment, you're likely taking a step back and thinking to yourself "do I really need all this stuff?". The minimalist movement has been fueled by advice like the Konmari method, which encourages people to only keep things that spark joy.
What better time to practice this than at the beginning of the apartment moving process?
Moving and decluttering can feel overwhelming, but you will thank yourself in the end. Downsizing is a smart idea right now, especially with economic uncertainty looming. Having fewer items to keep up with and less space to clean will make the coming years easier on you and your family.
Read on for a checklist for moving into a new apartment. These seven tips will smooth your transition into a smaller apartment space.
1. Start Early
This doesn't just mean wake up early. This means start packing months before your move, if possible. Allowing yourself to pack in chunks, instead of in a panic, will prevent anxiety down the road.
Once you've settled on an apartment, check the square footage. Try to really understand how much space your belongings will take up. Do this before you even begin packing.
Once you've started to pack, you will quickly decide which items you want to keep. You can donate or sell the items you don't want to keep weeks ahead of your move. This way, on the moving date itself, you can focus on the new space.
2. Call a Moving Company
Hiring a moving company can be a godsend, especially if you work long hours and don't have time to pack every day. Professional movers can help pack your entire home quickly and efficiently. Your moving company will offer efficiency and careful packing, ensuring everything makes it to your new home safely.
Another benefit of hiring a moving company is that they will not only deliver items to your new home, but to long-term storage and donation centers as well. This can make the moving process easier. It also prevents you from having to drive back and forth a hundred times!
3. Make Slow Decisions
This relates back to the idea of packing early. If you're packing and decluttering in a panic, you're more likely to keep things you don't need. This prevents you from parting with items that won't serve you well in the future.
If some items are especially hard to part with, you'll be able to weigh the pros and cons of moving it into your new space. Allowing yourself time to mull things over will prevent impulse decisions. No part of moving should be impulsive!
4. Consider Long-Term Storage
Long-term storage is a great way to keep valuable and sentimental items without cluttering up your home. Instead of taking up space, they sit safely in a temperature-controlled room on the other side of town. These storage facilities are weatherproof and locked, offering total security.
Many long-term storage facilities offer low monthly rates. You can keep your belongings safe for the same price as most streaming services! This is an invaluable investment if you have more stuff than free space.
You'll also be able to return to the storage locker as much as you need to sort through items and decide what to keep or donate. If you have to move in a rush, this is a way you can still make slow decisions. Holding your belongings offsite is a smart idea.
5. Donate to Thrift Stores
Thrift stores accept donations all year round. This is a great way to free yourself of old clothes, kitchen supplies, books, and other items you no longer need. You'll also be helping needy people who will be able to purchase your items at a discount.
Some thrift stores have limits on what they will accept. You may not be able to donate your old VHS player, or a broken tape deck. Check with the store's guidelines before arriving.
Goodwill and The Salvation Army are two popular thrift stores to donate to. They'll take just about anything. But also consider donating to smaller, local thrift stores. You can find independent thrift stores near you using this directory.
6. Leave Your Clothes On Their Hangers
This is less a tip for downsizing than a tip for moving in general. Try to arrange all of your clothes on hangers instead of folding them into suitcases and boxes. This eases the moving process, as you can simply slip bags over your clothes and hang them directly into your new closet.
Hanging your clothes during the move also makes them more compact. Laying clothes flat will prevent needless wrinkles and help you to use fewer boxes when moving. You also won't have to unpack them: just hang them on the bar and go!
7. Wrap Your Items in Sheets and Towels
In order to prevent needless purchases of packing foam and bubble wrap, just pack your fragile items in sheets. Wrap your flat-screen TV in a couple of towels to protect it on the drive. Pack your mugs and plates with clean sheets and blankets instead of newspapers to prevent them from shattering.
This way, you also have to pack fewer blankets, towels, and sheets. On their own, packing all your textiles together would likely produce 2 or 3 more boxes to move.
Packing smart not only saves you money and space, but it's good for the environment, too. You'll use fewer plastics and disposable packing materials. This way, you have even less trash to take out on the first night in your new apartment!
Utilize These Apartment Moving Tips Today
We hope that this apartment moving guide will help you in this exciting time. Downsizing apartments can be daunting, but it isn't impossible. You can make it a lot easier on yourself by packing smart and packing early transitioning between apartments.
