Dropping off your youngest child at the campus is a bittersweet feeling. You’re proud and excited about their new chapter, but you realize your home will be much quieter.
There won’t be any gym bags to trip over, no dirty socks in the dining room, or loud music blaring from their rooms. And suddenly, the house starts to seem empty and really big.
What do you do with such a big space, then? A lot of empty nesters consider this an opportunity to downsize and simplify their lives. The large family home that once felt full of life now feels like more to manage—more cleaning, more maintenance, more space that isn’t being used.
Are you also planning to downsize your empty nest? Here are some practical tips that will make the transition smooth.
#1 Start Early and Go Slowly
Don’t wait until the eleventh hour to get down to begin the process of downsizing. Trying to deal with everything at once can drain you emotionally. Take your time and ease into it.
Tackle things bit by bit. Dedicate just a couple of hours each week to sort through rooms or even just one closet—no need to go full steam ahead right away. This will help avoid burnout.
One week, you can go through a few drawers in the kitchen and the next, maybe sort through your closet.
Taking things slowly, organization experts say to Good Housekeeping, will give you enough time to declutter minus the stress of rushing. Another benefit? It will save you from the expense that comes with moving stuff you don’t want anymore.
#2 Sort Belongings into Keep, Donate, and Discard Piles
One tried-and-true method for downsizing is the classic three-pile approach. That is, sort items in keep, donate, and discard piles.
If an item brings you joy and is genuinely useful, put it in the keep heap. Items that are still in good shape but don’t have a purpose for you anymore can go in the donate pile. They will get a second life with someone who can use them. Anything broken, outdated, or just not worth keeping should go in the discard pile.
Country Living advises starting with a small, manageable space such as a small closet or drawer. That won’t overwhelm you.
Be realistic, however. A few maybe items—those that you can’t decide whether to keep or toss—might pop up. Don’t let them stall your progress; set them aside for the time being. Not only will this help clear clutter, but it will also leave you with only what truly belongs in your new, simplified space.
#3 Create a Memory Box for Each Child
Have things that belong to your kids? Store them in memory boxes.
Antonia Colins, the creator of Balance Through Simplicity, has a memory box for each of her kids. A memory box is a thoughtful way to preserve the special items tied to their childhood without holding onto everything.
As you sort through their old rooms and belongings, set aside things that feel too meaningful to toss. That could include baby photos, handmade crafts, or favorite toys.
Find sturdy, good-sized boxes—they don’t have to be huge—and place these sentimental items inside. Their old school projects, awards, and other keepsakes can also go into the boxes. This way, you’re keeping the most precious mementos without cluttering up your new space.
Later, when the time feels right, you can give the boxes to them. That will be a gift of memories for their own homes.
#4 Evaluate Your Furniture for Function and Fit
Large furniture pieces often don’t make sense in a smaller home. Measure your new space and be realistic about what will work. You might find that downsizing is the perfect excuse to get rid of that oversized sectional or the giant dining table.
Instead, opt for furniture that’s functional and versatile. According to Evelyn Richards, a self-proclaimed maximalist, multi-functional furniture can be a game-changer in minimizing clutter and maximizing space.
A sofa, for example, can serve both as a guest bed and seating. Likewise, an ottoman with storage can serve as both a seat and a storage area for blankets and pillows.
Focusing on pieces that serve a dual purpose will allow you to create a more spacious, efficient, and welcoming environment.
#5 Consider Selling to a Cash Buyer
Most empty nesters work with a real estate agent to find the right buyer for their home. But selling your home through the traditional method is time-consuming.
If you want a quick, hassle-free sale, sell your home to a cash buyer. They purchase properties as-is, meaning you can skip the repairs, staging, and endless showings. This can be a huge relief if you’re living in areas where homes are taking longer to sell than they did.
Take the Bay Area, for instance. More than half of homes in the California region are taking over 30 days to sell. In June, nearly 53% of active home listings across San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties were stale this year. That is, they were sitting in the market for more than a month.
If you happen to belong to any of these counties, selling to a cash buyer would be wise. Rather than waiting for the right offer, dealing with open houses, or sinking money into repairs, you could sell directly and move on with your plans sooner.
Companies that buy houses for cash, johnbuysbayareahouses.com says, make fast, no-obligation offers so that you can transition quickly without the usual market uncertainties.
#6 Opt for a Single-Story Home
For empty nesters, a single-level home would be the right choice.
Climbing stairs becomes a bit of a hassle with aging. A one-level home offers easy access to everything without worrying about navigating stairs multiple times a day. That means you can move around freely without worrying about carrying heavy laundry or groceries up and down.
In addition, a single-story home is generally easier to maintain—no upper floors to clean and fewer areas to manage.
Go for an 800-square-foot home. According to Southern Living, it is the ideal amount of space for homeowners looking to downsize. A home of this size can accommodate two bedrooms, one living area, one kitchen, and one bathroom.
Downsizing is a great way to create a space that suits your current lifestyle. But the process is not easy; it can overwhelm you. Approaching it thoughtfully is the key, so follow these tips, and you will be able to create a living space that feels cozier and truly your own.
Thank you for reading.
