Moving into a Granny Flat? Here’s How to Declutter and Downsize

Downsizing and decluttering your life is a great way to improve your overall wellness and state of mind. If you’re making the switch to a Granny Flat or Titan House, these declutter and downsizing tips will help you make the most of your new place.

Make a list (and check it twice)

When downsizing, it might be easier to choose what to keep rather than what to throw away. Make a list of all the items that are essential to your life and review it over a couple of days to make sure you got it right. Why do this?

• Some items might not be practical, but they hold sentimental value.
• You might throw something away spur of the moment and regret it later.

Making a list of essential items is a great place to start when downsizing, and can make moving into a granny flat so much easier.

Measure your furniture

Just how big is that old armchair you’ve got? What about the dining table you never eat at, or that side table you only use for storing stuff you don’t need. Measuring the dimensions of your furniture will give you a better indication of just how much (or how little) you can fit into your new space. Armed with this knowledge, you’re better prepared to ruthlessly downsize before moving.

Plan out your space

A granny flat might be smaller than your previous residence, but it does offer some advantages when it comes to layout. Granny flats are typically quite square with easily defined space. This makes it incredibly easy to grab a pen and paper to quickly draw up a floorplan of your new granny flat.

From here, using the measurements you’ve already taken of your furniture and other items, you can start planning out just how your granny flat will look. Try to make use of space along the walls away from the windows (gotta keep that natural light coming in) and organise your space in the most fluent way possible.

Rather than attempting to fit as much as you can into the floorplan, try to design a floor plan that works for you. Whatever is left over can be discarded.

Sell your old stuff

One of the biggest barriers in throwing away unnecessary possessions is letting go of the price we paid for certain items. It can seem like a waste of money to discard things we don’t need, simply because they cost us money.

To break through this psychological barrier, try selling some of your possessions online or even have a garage sale. It’s the perfect way to put a little cash in your pocket, remove the guilt in downsizing, and make it easier to move into your new flat.

Don’t forget to donate

Not everything you want to get rid of is going to get you hard cash, or be worth your time trying to sell it. Donating to charity can be a useful way to put worth into items you no longer need, just remember to only donate items that have actual value.

Function over fancy

Over the years you may have accumulated many items that don’t have any particular function. They may have been purchased on a whim or are superseded by some other item. Ask yourself:

• Is this item necessary in your day to day life?
• Does it serve a function?

If not, it’s probably time to move it on.