Normally when we think of rightsizing, we think of downsizing either to remove clutter or to prepare for a move. But when I look back on my homes that I lived in since I married at 19 (12 so far) almost always they were the right size for me at that time of my life.
My first home was married student housing at OSU. You walked in the front door and immediately there was a small table for two to eat and the rest of that room was our living area. Walk a few paces and you were in the galley kitchen. Turn to the right and you were in the bedroom. The bathroom was off the bedroom. The absolute right size for 2 people starting off. And we had so little stuff that when we moved to Maryland we could move it all in our car.
After a short stay in Maryland in an equally small apartment we were off to Germany for 5 years as a military family. The apartments on the military Kaserne were perfect for us and the two boys that were born there. Back in the states our places were small but adequate. The boys were growing and the last house we had in Virginia was getting tight and we were looking for ways to expand it. But then came a move to Georgia and the house was a perfect size for the larger boys. We lived there until they left home.
Then a divorce (loft apartment), remarried (larger apartment and then a small home), widowed (stayed there) and remarried (moved to a bit larger our home).
The point I am making here is that my home was the right size for each life that I lived. And because I moved often, I shed a lot of items that I no longer needed or loved.
When you think of rightsizing your living space have a vision of who you are now and what your future looks like. Don’t rush.
I have seen people with large homes that they have lived in for years right size to smaller spaces and be very pleased with the results. I have also seen people rush into moving into smaller places while still holding on to a lot of items that worked well in the larger space but are not working in the newer smaller area.
I recently worked with an older couple who upsized their small home that they had lived in for 30 years. They did not want to get rid of a lot of their stuff and instead found more space to display and store their treasures.
Like many people as I peer into my future, I have become fascinated at looking at the tiny houses. But as I also look at who I am now and who I think I will be in the next few years I realize that those homes would not suit me. For one thing, I could never crawl up to a bedspace in a loft so the bedroom would have to be on the ground floor. I love to host people at my home, either for meetings or for parties and want room for that. My husband and I love our time together for lunch and in the evening, but we also like to have our own spaces to go to during the day.
I do continue to shed items in my home that I no longer use or love. Every piece of furniture in my home is regularly used. Each year as I go through my home room by room, I revaluate what I have and always try to let something go. After all, new things do arrive, and I don’t want crowded spaces, closets, or cabinets.
After more than a year of being housebound due to Covid, many people are reevaluating their living space. Look at your current home. Could it be reorganized to work for you? What do you like and not like? What would you like to change? Do you want to upsize or downsize your home? Do you have rooms that you only enter to clean?
What would it take to rightsize your home for you at this time in your life? Take your time. Make it right for you.
If you want help or just some accountability in organizing a space in your home or working any other organizational plan either outside or inside your home, join Diane Quintana and me on our Clear Space For You clutter support group.
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.