TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING FROM CHANGING SPACES, CO-OWNED BY LINDA KAPLAN AND HOLLY MITCHELL IN ATLANTA

If possible, create a floor plan first for where you are moving.

Decide what furniture you would like to take and make sure it will fit. Choosing pieces that have good storage (chests instead of tables) helps when downsizing.

When sorting, work on one area at a time.

For some that might be a room, others might need a smaller goal of a dresser or even one drawer at a time to help you focus. Working with a family member or move manager will often speed up the process.

Separate items into bins with labels and into categories: keep, sell, donate, trash.

Keep only what you truly love or need. Do not keep an item just because someone you love gave it to you. You will still love the person without keeping the item, and besides, someone else might truly love or need it. Changing Spaces likes to use the full-stick Post-it notes in different colors for each category.

For collections that you don’t have room for, choose only your favorite.

Take pictures of the rest. Keep a teacup and saucer on your shelf to remind you of granny. You don’t have to keep the whole set.

Convert your hundreds of photos to a digital frame.

Many pictures can be displayed, and you are preserving them as well.

Safety is a top priority.

Think long and hard about taking throw rugs, glass tables and too much furniture which could end up being a tripping hazard.

Don’t stop the purging. Properly dispose of expired medicines, pantry items and clothing you’ve not worn in a year. As you buy something new, dispose of something. Watch for recycling days organized by non-profits for electronics, shredding and hard to recycle items. You can check keepatlantabeautiful.org for some of these days.

Less is more. The items you really love will be seen in a new light and showcased in a space with less clutter. You will love them all the more. Having less in your living space is calming and freeing.