As we prepare to move into a house that’s less than half the size of our current home, we’re taking a close look at our belongings to decide what to bring and what to let go. Below we outline the systematic criteria we’re using to evaluate every item, share how we’re getting rid of things we don’t need (including donation ideas and a recent successful selling method), and provide an update on how the coronavirus has affected our moving plans. We’ll also answer the frequently asked question about the shutters you may have seen in our exterior photos.
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What’s New
- Our original moving plan was to rent a truck and caravan with my parents, similar to how we moved pieces into the beach house before, and then for them to fly back to Virginia afterward.
- To reduce contact and avoid flying, we rented a POD storage unit that we can load ourselves at our convenience. The POD can be picked up by a machine and transported to our new house, then unloaded by us whenever we’re ready. This minimizes interaction with others and gives us more flexible timing.
Update: Shutters
- We discussed our decision to add shutters in Episode #150, so if you missed that you can hear the backstory there.
- I can’t locate a photo of the massive crate of shutters that was delivered (and later loaded back into the truck), but for scale we referenced the Tom Tom motorcycle with a sidecar that came up in our conversation many times.
Downsizing Our Home
- In today’s episode we explained the four main criteria we’re using to decide what to bring to Florida and what to leave behind.
- 1) Size / fit: Is there room for the item in the new house? Is it a duplicate of something we already own? Would a smaller version work better? For example, our current home has a living room and a bonus room full of living-room furniture. The new house only has one living room, so bringing two sets of living-room furniture would be unnecessary.
- 2) Function: Does the item still serve its purpose well? Is it in good condition? Could a different piece be more useful? For instance, our acrylic entry table offers no storage, so a piece with drawers or shelves would be more practical for the smaller entry area in the new house.
- 3) Style: Knowing the aesthetic you want helps prevent bringing items that clash with your vision. Our Florida house leans modern and beachy, so we’re prioritizing clean-lined, light-feeling pieces and leaving behind darker, heavy traditional items that would feel out of place. Style is subjective — do what makes you happy — but thinking it through ahead of a downsizing move prevents unnecessary clutter.
- 4) Emotional attachment: Sentimental items that bring joy are worth keeping even if they don’t fit every practical rule. Our secondhand dresser is an example — we repaired and loved it, and we’ll find a place for it even if we haven’t decided the exact room yet. Homes should make you feel happy, so cherished pieces can be an exception to other criteria.
- Before the shutdown, we donated many smaller and medium items — winter clothes and coats to local drives, extra pet supplies to an animal shelter, books to book drives, and other assorted donations. The photo below shows our kitchen packed with donation bags ready to go.
- We’ll share another post later with more details about what we kept and what we didn’t, so stay tuned.
We’re Digging
- We’re grateful that spring has sprung in Richmond. With everything happening in the world, it’s been a welcome silver lining to spend time in the yard and walk around the neighborhood.
- We’ve also been enjoying a family card game called Low Down, from the makers of UNO, as a fun change from UNO and UNO Flip. It’s been a nice option for the whole family to play together.
If you’re trying to find something we featured in a past episode but can’t remember where, see our master list of everything we’ve been digging from past shows. You can also view the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They’re offering 20% off everything at AgilityBed.com with code COMFORT20 to help you stay comfortable during these unusual times.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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