Making the decision to downsize your home isn’t always an easy one but it’s often the right move for many of us later on in life.

Over time we accumulate countless possessions. Home accessories, kitchenware and other small household items seem to increase considerably in number as the years go by. Not to mention our children’s clothes and belongings; reminders of their childhoods and are an integral part of our lives. Each birthday and Christmas brings gifts we want to hold onto and after each holiday, we return with more souvenirs. Such possessions are more than just “things” when they are ours, as they each represent a different time, event or fond memory from our past.  It seems a shame to part with these simply because we are moving home.

In this blog, we look at ways to maximise space when moving to a smaller property. Downsizing your home doesn’t necessarily mean you have to dispose of your possessions. With some careful planning and a bit of organisation, your new home should be able to accommodate these items as comfortably as it will accommodate you.

Think about Function

In order to take the first steps towards maximising space within a smaller property, you must first decide on the ways in which you need your home to function. This doesn’t require much thought when living in a larger property but it’s essential when space becomes limited.

First and foremost, your new property will be your home and the place which provides all of your basic human needs. But for what other purposes will your new home be used for? Will you need to accommodate visiting family members? Do you require a space from which to work from home? Perhaps, you have a passion for crafting and require a dedicated space in which to enjoy it as well as store all the associated materials.

Maybe the box room can be transformed into a guest bedroom or home study. There may be a loft which is ripe for converting into extra storage space or an area which faces the sun and would make the perfect reading nook. Whichever extra functions you require from your home, it’s a good idea to take them into consideration so that you don’t end up with spare space in the places where you don’t need it and vice versa.

More than one Purpose

If downsizing your home means a reduction in the number of bedrooms, it will certainly mean a reduction in storage space, even if there will be fewer people living in your new home. So if your furniture can multitask, then all the better for maximising your space.

For instance, you may wish to include a fitted window seat in your bedroom, somewhere to relax, read a book or just enjoy the great outdoors without venturing out. This will also double as a blanket box, or storage for other large or bulky items. If you do have a spare bedroom in your new home, bespoke fitted furniture will allow you to use the room for storage as well as to accommodate any staying guests.  A fold down bed is an ideal space-saving solution for those who need a multipurpose spare bedroom. If your spare room is needed as a home office, workspace can also be incorporated.  Versatile, streamline and easy to clean; fitted bedroom furniture is perfect for those rooms which are inhabited the least.

Be Specific about Storage

Another benefit of maximising space via the installation of fitted furniture is that you can choose exactly what kind of storage units you want to include. Choosing an off the shelf freestanding wardrobe or chest of drawers will give you storage but it may not be the storage which best suits your needs or your room.  If you have hundreds of books, a bespoke shelving system will cater precisely for your needs and will utilise all available space. If you require as much wardrobe space as possible, built-in wardrobes will again ensure that your room’s dimensions are fully maximised.

In addition to taking up less space than freestanding furniture, bespoke fitted furniture allows you to incorporate a variety of storage solutions such as shoe racks, full length or half length clothes rails, tie hangers, deep or shallow shelving and interior drawers with dividers for the smaller stuff. By tailoring your furniture to your belongings, you maximise its capacity and keep clutter to a minimum, hopefully for a long time to come!

If you have storage requirements you’d like to discuss with us, one of our designers will be delighted to help.  You can either visit our Yorkshire showroom or request a design visit to your home. You can do either of these by contacting us on tel 01756 700471 or at www.hartleysbedrooms.co.uk