Deciding to downsize can be freeing, but it’s usually a process and it can take some time to figure out what items you can or can’t do without. If you’re thinking about downsizing, whether you want to move to a smaller space, want to de-clutter, or just think it’s time to reduce how much stuff you have, getting a storage unit can help.
But wait, aren’t storage units meant to help you keep more stuff?
Well, they can be, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a great tool for helping to downsize as well. It’s all about how you use your storage unit, and what you’re looking for when you get started.
Want to learn more about how you can use a self-storage unit to help downsize? You’re in the right place.
How To Use Storage Units For Downsizing
The biggest thing that having a storage unit helps with is it makes sure you have plenty of space and flexibility while you’re working through downsizing. Here’s how having a storage unit can help you downsize.
Practice Having Less Stuff
A lot of people think that they need to jump straight to minimalism when they want to downsize.
The truth is that getting rid of all of your stuff, especially if you do it quickly, is a recipe for having to replace things and upending your attempt at downsizing. That’s because you’ll often end up getting rid of things you really wanted and needing to replace those things later.
Once you’re getting new things again, it’s easy to build up clutter again so that you aren’t downsizing at all.
Getting a storage unit instead of getting rid of things is a great way to downsize. That way you can put anything you don’t think you need into storage, and you can always pull it back out again if you do need it after all.
Plus, having a storage unit gives you a little more time when you do decide you want to get rid of things. You can sell your old stuff slowly, if it’s in storage, instead of trying to sell immediately, take it to a thrift store, or put it in the trash.
Have A Space For Important Documents and Memorabilia
When you’re downsizing, documents and family memorabilia can sometimes be the hardest to get rid of. Usually, you don’t need memorabilia every day, and most documents are only important on rare occasions.
A lot of people try to part with these things when they downsize, figuring they must not be that important if they don’t need them regularly.
The problem is that memorabilia and documents are often irreplaceable. Even if you don’t want them all the time, it’s hard to recover them once you get rid of them.
Having a storage unit still lets you downsize what you keep in your home, but without losing irreplaceable items and documents in the process.
If, after some time has passed, you still don’t want the items you can always get rid of them later.
Give Yourself Time To Figure Out Your New Space
If you’re downsizing because you’re moving into a smaller space, or just because you need more room in your current home, getting a storage unit can give you a chance to figure out how to make the best use of the space.
Putting things in storage helps to get your space a little clearer, which gives you the opportunity to figure out what you have room for. Knowing how much space you have, and how best to use it, is one of the keys to downsizing successfully.
But figuring out how to use your space effectively is one of the trickiest parts of downsizing. It usually takes a couple of attempts before you’ll find an efficient and comfortable setup, especially if you don’t have experience with downsizing.
With a storage unit, you can store anything you don’t think you need right now, trade out the items and furniture in storage as needed, and play around with different arrangements until you find one that works.
Then, once you’ve got your new space figured out, you can get rid of anything you don’t need that’s still in storage.
Do The 6 Months Test
Usually, when you start downsizing there are a few items that you could probably do without, but you’re not sure. A lot of times people will hold on to those things, even if they really didn’t need them and don’t use them.
It can be hard, when you’ve held on to something you don’t really need, to realize you didn’t need it. It’s easy to get used to something being around, and unless you actively try and downsize again it might not occur to you to get rid of things.
However, there’s a way to fix this problem.
Get a storage unit for all the things you don’t think you need, but aren’t sure of. Put them in storage for a few months. We call this the 6-month test because 6 months is usually a good test of whether you’ll need something. But some people only need a month to decide, and others wait as long as a year before they commit to keeping or getting rid of the different items.
If you wind up needing whatever you’ve put in storage within 6 months, you need it and should keep it unless you really don’t have space. But if you don’t need the things within 6 months you probably don’t need them and can get rid of them with confidence.
Put Away Seasonal Items
One way to help downsize without truly getting rid of everything is to keep a small storage unit for seasonal items.
Things like seasonal clothing, decorations, and furniture you only use at certain times of the year can all be put into storage when they aren’t in use. That way you don’t have as much stuff in your home, but also don’t need to get rid of the seasonal items you love.
Need Storage Solutions In Bend Oregon?
If you’re looking for a storage unit to help downsize, take care of extra stuff for a while, or even just to help manage some of the clutter in your home, we can help.
Contact us to find out what kinds of storage units are available, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about self-storage and our storage units in Bend, Oregon.