At some point, some of us may decide that moving to an apartment is the next step in our living arrangements. Packing for a move to an apartment is especially challenging. For starters, there are just as many people who move to an apartment from a larger living arrangement as those who move from apartment to apartment. Obviously, when apartment moving from a larger home, a certain amount of downsizing is required in order to be able to fit all of your personal belongings into a smaller space. But even those who move from apartment to apartment must face the specific configurations of their new living space in order to pack appropriately.
Determine new space with measurements
Packing for such a move comes down to organization, plain and simple. If you are not organized right out of the gate, you are likely to run into quite a few obstacles along the way. Moving to an apartment entails really understanding the space that you will be occupying so that you can fill it with an eye towards form and functionality. Begin by getting accurate measurements of each and every room in your apartment. From those measurements you can create smaller scale drawings of each room (enlist the help of a creative friend if drawing more than a straight line makes you nervous). Such drawings can help you do a “test run” of furniture placement as well as organizational systems that will hold your possessions. Facing the reality of your space can help you make much-needed decisions before you actually make the move.
Separate your possessions into piles
Once you have determined where your furniture will best fit – or if the new space requires you to purchase smaller scale furniture that is more appropriate – you can begin to make decisions about what to pack. Boxes are great for packing; but before you actually put anything in the boxes you need to decide exactly what you’re taking in an organized and efficient manner. Separate your possessions into piles – things you are absolutely taking with you and will fit appropriately, things you are giving away, things you are selling, things you are discarding, and things you are putting into storage.
Pack your piles and consolidate the rest
Begin by packing those things that you are absolutely taking along with you and seal the boxes. This is incredibly helpful in curtailing your desire down the road to change your mind and add more things to the boxes. Once your boxes are packed you can deal with the other things; decide how you are selling certain items – perhaps have a yard sale or sell the items online; drop off giveaway items to a shelter or thrift shop; discard those items that you have deemed to be trash; and rent a storage facility space for those things with which you can not part but that will not fit into your new space.
Here are some resources for downsizing from a larger place:
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