Moving into a smaller condo is a big change, like trying to fit all your favorite toys into a smaller, super efficient box - you can't bring everything, so you have to choose wisely. The single best tip I can give someone downsizing to a smaller condo is to only keep your absolute favorites and the things you use all the time. Why This Tip is So Important Imagine trying to play in a room crammed with too much stuff. It's not much fun, is it? A condo unit has less space than a big house, so if you bring everything, it'll feel squished and messy. It's about making your new, smaller home feel comfy and spacious, not cluttered. More Room to Play and Live: When you have less stuff, you'll have more space to move around, play games, and just relax. It lets your new home breathe. Easier to Find Things: No more digging through big piles to find your favorite shirt or toy. Everything will have its own special spot, making your daily life much smoother. Less Chores, More Fun: Less stuff means less to clean up, put away, and worry about. This leaves you with more time for things you enjoy. A Fresh Start: It's like starting a new adventure! You get to decide exactly what you want in your new home, making sure everything there makes you happy and serves a purpose. How to Make the Move Easier (My Approach) When I help people move to a smaller place, we work through it step by step to make the transition as smooth as possible. Measure Everything Like a Pro: Think of it like building with LEGOs - you need to know where everything fits. We always recommend getting exact measurements of the new condo unit, including the rooms, walls, and even door frames. This helps you figure out if your big furniture, like your sofa or bed, will actually fit and if you'll have space to walk around it comfortably. Sometimes, it's better to sell a big, old couch and get a new one that's just right for the smaller space. The "Super Favorites" Game (Decluttering): This is the most important part! Go through all your belongings like you're picking your all-star team. For every single item, ask yourself: "Do I use this all the time?" "Does this make me super happy?" If you haven't used something in a long time (like a year or more), or if it doesn't bring you joy, it's probably time to let it go. You can give it to someone who will use it, donate it to a local charity, or find a new home for it.
What is one tip you would give to someone who is downsizing and moving into a smaller condo unit? How did you manage the transition? If I had only one piece of advice it would be this: Design the space around how you live now — not how you used to live. When most people downsize, there tends to be an attempt to make a smaller condo work by "fitting" their past life into it rather than embracing a different way of living. That can result in clutter, frustration and rooms that don't flow. When Danielle and I were hired to help a couple downsize from a 3,000-square-foot home to an 850-square-foot condo, it began with us walking through how they lived — morning coffee, work calls, laundry, having grandkids over — to create zones that would support those behaviors. We even replaced their bulky dining table with a built-in banquette, with hidden storage and a drop-leaf edge. Thereupon the space-saver, providing them with the comfort they wanted, after all. We also learned the hard way- on our own - that not everything would have to come with us to the new apartment when we'd temporarily be living on the road between project homes. Instead, we focused on making one closet work overtime as a multiuse space — the pantry, the linen closet, the office supplies. It was a mystery, but the answer was liberating. Downsizing doesn't so much mean losing space as it means redefining how that space serves you. And when you stop trying to recreate what you had, the design spaces start to open up in unexpected places.
Downsizing felt a lot like when I first got into real estate back in 1985, I didn't know what I didn't know. At first, I thought landlording was just collecting rent checks, but I quickly learned that poor planning leads to big headaches. The same goes for moving into a smaller condo. The best tip I can give is to approach it with intention. I treated the transition like prepping a rental or flip. I took inventory of everything I owned, kept only the essentials, and made sure the new space was clean, functional, and efficient. Having systems in place made all the difference. Just like I rely on contractors and tenant screening processes in my business, I relied on checklists for mail forwarding, utility transfers, furniture downsizing, and storage. The transition went smoothly because I planned it like a project, and in the end, I enjoyed the shift. Focus on quality over quantity, and make sure your new space supports the lifestyle you want, not one that weighs you down.
My best advice when downsizing to a smaller condo is this: treat it like a creative challenge, not a compromise. I approached the transition by designing vertically custom shelving, wall-mounted storage, and multifunctional stone surfaces that added utility without clutter. One reclaimed marble island I installed served as a dining space, prep counter, and hidden storage unit. The key isn't what you leave behind it's what you repurpose with intention. Downsizing isn't about having less it's about elevating what stays. Thoughtful design turns limitations into luxury.
My best tip for downsizing into a smaller condo is to focus on keeping what truly adds value to your daily life, rather than what just takes up space. When I coached clients through big moves, I encouraged them to start with a single closet or room—breaking it into manageable pieces makes the process less overwhelming and helps you prioritize what matters most. Remember, letting go of the extras can actually make your new place feel more like home, not less.
Downsizing as an Opportunity and a New Beginning I have always considered every time I've had to relocate as a sacred opportunity - an invitation to pause, reflect, and realign. A chance to ask myself: What do I want now? What is ready to be released? I see the process of moving to a new place as a moment of conscious crafting - a chance to update my life in a way that feels more aligned with who I am in the present and who I am becoming. Over the years, I've found a few guiding principles that helped me make each transition more graceful and conscious, and I'm happy to share them here. One powerful tip I'd offer is this: to use the downsizing process to listen deeply to yourself. For every object or piece of furniture, ask: is this needed? Does it currently make me happy? Does it support the life I want to create now? These simple questions can be a really good compass. It's amazing how many things we keep out of habit - objects that reflect an older version of ourselves. A bookshelf filled with books we no longer read. A chair we never sit in. Gifts we feel obligated to hold onto. When letting go of these items, we are not just decluttering - we are also clearing old energy and identities that no longer serve us. Whether you're moving to a smaller condo or simply relocating to a new home, the process can be approached as a chance to gain something meaningful and positive such as more clarity, simplicity, or more freedom and lightness. As I sorted through my belongings, I asked: is this truly needed? Does it make me happy? Does it reflect who I am now? For objects I couldn't keep but held emotional value, I created a photo album, a visual archive of memories, that helped me honor the past without feeling burdened by it. When organizing a new space, we can choose what to keep based on how we want to feel in our home. A smaller space also means less upkeep, which opens time and energy for what we may value most - whether it's creative work, new meaningful connections, more time for ourselves, friends, and family. And a new environment can give us a chance to reimagine how we want to live and focus more on what is truly important for us. So if you're in the process of downsizing, let it be more than a logistical step. Let it be a conscious clearing. A conscious new beginning. A chance to align your outer space with what is currently meaningful to you and your life journey.
One tip I always give someone downsizing into a smaller condo is this: measure your new space *before* you move anything—and be ruthless about editing what you bring. When I went through this with a family member, we sketched out the layout, measured every wall, and mapped where each major piece of furniture would go. If it didn't have a place, it didn't make the cut. We treated the move as a fresh start rather than a sacrifice. That mindset helped us focus on what really added value to the space and our lifestyle. We prioritized multifunctional pieces—like a storage bench near the entry and a wall-mounted desk in the bedroom—and donated or sold items that no longer served a purpose. It made the new space feel intentional rather than cramped. The key is being realistic about what you *need* and letting go of the rest. Downsizing isn't about losing space—it's about gaining clarity and comfort in a home that truly fits.
For me, the biggest tip I give to anyone downsizing into a smaller condo is this: be ruthless with what you bring and intentional with what you keep. When I've helped clients make this transition, or even experienced it myself, the key has always been planning for the space you actually have, not the space you used to have. One practical step I always recommend is creating a floor plan of the new condo ahead of time. In my opinion, this helps you visualize what furniture fits, what doesn't, and what needs to be replaced with more compact or multi-functional pieces. Things like storage beds, wall-mounted shelves, and fold-out tables can make a huge difference. Emotionally, downsizing can feel like giving things up, but I always frame it as gaining simplicity. Less stuff, less clutter, less stress. If you approach it with that mindset, it's not about shrinking your lifestyle, it's about streamlining it. And don't forget to purge early and often. I usually suggest starting at least a month in advance so you're not rushed into decisions. That breathing room helps make the move smoother and more empowering.
What is one tip you would give to someone who is downsizing and moving into a smaller condo unit? If you're going to streamline things, why stop with your stuff — consider your relationship with space itself. Too often, we try to cram a bigger life into a smaller life footprint without adapting our attitude. The single most important lesson I learned while watching hundreds of vacation rental conversions is that multi-functionality is not a gimmick — it's the ground floor. Consider your furniture, your storage, even your wall space, working members of your household. A Murphy bed with shelves, a bench with drawers and a drop-leaf dining table could unlock flexibility you never knew you needed. My wife and I moved to a smaller space after our kids left for college, and what was most surprising about the experience was how liberating it was to be unburdened by things that had overstayed their welcome. I distinctly remembered how we had donated cases of untouched board games and duplicates of kitchen tools — those we clung to not because we needed them but out of habit. Once we stopped looking at the condo as a downsize, and we began thinking of it as a space that could be curated for the next chapter in our lives, the process became less about loss and more about intention.
What is one tip you would give to someone who is downsizing and moving into a smaller condo unit? How did you manage the transition? Another key piece of advice for downsizing to a smaller condo: When it comes to your belongings, lean into functionality over sentimentality, whenever possible. It's human nature to want to cling to things with sentimental value, but the key to a successful move is to recognize that not everything merits a place in a smaller living space. Keep it simple and decided what you really need as part of your new lifestyle. The aim is to create a space that feels open, uncluttered and efficient, even if it means parting with some beloved items. I've found in my own life, that taking a good hard look at each and every piece you bring into your home while considering both its usefulness and it's emotional weight makes a big difference. I, for instance, chose to sell a huge, family-heirloom wood dining table that just wouldn't comfortably fit in my new condo. As hard as it was to say goodbye to that meaningful piece, the space immediately felt so much more warm and and useful to me once I replaced it with a slim, extendable solution that just worked for me without overtaking the room. This process of thoughtful pruning, for pieces that could be used in multiple ways or that brought me daily joy, made the transition easier and more satisfying in the long run.
One tip I'd give someone downsizing into a smaller condo is to be ruthless about decluttering. When I made the move, I focused on keeping only the essentials and things that truly added value to my life. I sorted everything into categories—donate, sell, and keep—and was surprised at how much I didn't need. The transition was easier once I realized I didn't have to bring everything with me. I also invested in smart storage solutions, like multi-purpose furniture, to maximize the limited space. Planning ahead and being intentional about what stays and goes made the process smoother and less overwhelming. The key is to embrace the change and see it as an opportunity to live more simply and efficiently.
If you're downsizing, don't try to take everything with you—it won't fit, and you won't need it. Ask yourself, 'Do I use this?' or 'Would I actually buy this again?' If not, let it go. Snap a pic if it's sentimental, give it to someone who'll use it, or donate it. The whole point is to keep what matters and ditch the rest.
Downsize your stuff before you move. If anything, get rid of more stuff than you need. This is going to make the packing, moving, and unpacking process a lot easier, and also give you the chance to find items that work best in your new space. Especially if you're downsizing in retirement, now is the time to get rid of all of those keepsakes you want going to your children or other family members.
One tip I would give to someone downsizing and moving into a smaller condo is to prioritize and declutter your belongings beforehand. This helps create a more spacious and organized environment, making the transition smoother. I managed the move by working with Aleks Moving, which provided efficient packing and moving services tailored to small spaces. Their expertise made the entire process stress-free and allowed me to settle into my new home quickly.
Start downsizing your belongings well in advance. In the months before the move, begin making decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of, and try to start selling the items you aim to sell as early as possible to give yourself time. If you wait too long to start downsizing your belongings, you may end up having to rent a storage unit for some time to store what you can't fit in your smaller condo, which is money you may not have wanted to spend.