There are many reasons for downsizing your home, maybe the kids have recently flown the nest, the utility bills are too high, or maybe you just want a home that is easier to maintain.

Whatever your reasons, it can be difficult to decide what type of home you want to move to, especially if your current home has been your family home for many years.

Here are a few tips to help you to narrow the search for your new home, and help you to find the perfect property for your future: 

Think about which rooms you can do without 

Before you begin searching for a smaller home, sit with the family and make a list of what you like and dislike about your current home. Which rooms do you use a lot? Which spaces and pieces of furniture just collect dust? A good rule to use is the 6 times a year rule. Think about each room in your home and if you use them less than 6 times a year, you can probably do without them. 

While you are thinking about your living space, choose which rooms you could use for more than one purpose. If you work at home and require a home office, a good idea is to put a small sofa bed in your office in your new home for when you have guests visiting. If you enjoy hosting dinner parties, why not put a table in the kitchen and create a casual dining space, instead of looking for a formal dining room.

Consider Purchasing Multi-use Furniture 

When you have decided which rooms you can shed without affecting your way of life, consider the furniture you may need. Multi-use pieces like sofa beds, bunkbeds, nests of tables and coffee tables with drawers are saving graces when living in smaller spaces 

If you have large pieces of furniture which are impractical - donate or sell them. If you are moving to a smaller home because your kids have left home, it will not be necessary to have so much furniture. Before you move, tell the kids to take what they want from their old rooms and offer them any furniture which you no longer need.

Once you have decided on the furniture you want to keep, measure all larger pieces and when you are viewing homes take a tape measure with you so you can be sure it will fit into rooms and through the doorways etc.. 

Good Design is Essential 

In a small living space, design is especially important. Look closely at the storage space in any potential new home you look at. There are many older houses that do not have bedroom closets so you will need to bring space saving wardrobes or an extra dresser. 

Don't rule out homes which have less closet space, instead think about the possibility of building shelves and getting under bed storage boxes for seasonal clothes. If you are looking to move into an apartment, ask if there is storage space available to use within the building. It’s important to explore all the options and to keep an open mind before you rule a place out. 

Look at how much light comes into any property you view as light will make any small space look bigger. If there is outdoor living space this adds to a property and gives the feeling of a bigger home. 

Choose an area You Have Always Wanted to Live 

The money you will save when moving from a bigger home, may mean that you are able to move to the area you have always wanted to live in. Look at all locations to see what is available to you within your price range. 

Personal Space

Regardless of how small you decide to go, don't forget that you will still need personal space, one of the main complaints of those who have already made the move is that they feel like they are constantly in someone’s way. Everyone has their own ideas of what personal space is, and it is difficult to adjust to a smaller home at first. Be patient and you will all get used to it. 

Regardless of how small, ensure that you have a place of your own in your new home, it doesn’t need to be a whole room – even just an armchair tucked away where you can read and have some quiet time will be perfect. 

Downsizing is always a daunting process when you are used to having a large family home filled with people, however there are many positives to downsizing and it will not take long to adjust once you have found the perfect home for you.