Moving from a House to an Apartment: Downsizing with Grace

For whatever reason, you've decided to move from your house into an apartment, which just going to take some adjusting. Not only is size a factor (what will you do with all of your furniture?), but you'll have to get used to neighbors who live on the other side of the wall. Moving from a house to an apartment doesn't have to be an earth-shattering experience, however, so here are a few tips for downsizing with grace.

Compare Homes
Before you start packing boxes and calling utility companies, compare the size of your house with the size of the new apartment. Downsizing with grace means figuring out just how much room you'll have (and how much you'll lose) so you can get rid of things that won't fit. Measuring your new living room and bedrooms is a good start, and make sure to check for cabinet space in the kitchen and bathroom.

Clear Out the Garage
One of the major differences when moving from a house to an apartment is the lack of a front and back yard in the latter. You no longer have a need for the lawn mower, weed eater, garden hose or metal rake, so you'll have to decide what to do with all the items collecting dust in the garage. One of the best ways to start downsizing with grace is to make some extra money by having a garage sale.

Learn to Stack
Regardless of the size of your new apartment, there will be a few things that you can't bear to part with. One of the best tips I have for moving from a house to an apartment is to learn how to stack things to save space. For example, you can hang a tall bookshelf length-wise on the wall of your apartment to save floor space and you can purchase tall plastic drawers for storing toiletries. Pots and pans can be stacked in their cabinets and even office equipment can be stacked on shelves near your desk.

Learn to Hang
Another space-saving technique when moving from a house to an apartment is to hang things from the ceiling. My wife and I live in a house now, but we still have the pot-and-pan rack that hangs above our island in the kitchen. It saves space in the cabinets for things like dishes and baking sheets. You can also hang something on your closet door for your shoes.

Choose an Apartment on the End
Apartment units in the middle of a building are going to be loudest because you have neighbors on all sides. Instead, choose an apartment on the end when moving from a house to give you some peace and quiet. The only bad thing about this strategy is your electricity bill is probably going to be higher.

Check with Family
When moving from a house to an apartment, check with family members and friends to see if they need any of the items you don't have room for in your new digs. If not, see if someone can store those things for them in a storage shed or in their garage so you don't have to pay for a storage unit every month until you move into another house.

Talk with Your Family
Your family---the people who will be moving with you---will need your support for downsizing with grace. Children, in particular, have the most difficulty with these types of moves. Try to make things fun and interesting by thinking (and talking) about the positive aspects of apartment living. For example, make the complex has a pool while your neighborhood didn't.