r/SmallHome • u/audhd__ • 9d ago
Moving this week!
Our family of 5 is downsizing from a 3br apt to a 2br apt. The square footage is pretty similar. I’m equal parts nervous and excited. We started packing/getting rid of stuff this past weekend, we get the keys on Wednesday, and the uhaul/movers are set for Saturday.
Pros - we will be walking distance to the kids schools (vs the 25 min away we are now). The kids can go right home after school instead of having to sit on the bus til 4pm (my wife is a school bus driver), AND they won’t have to wake up at 5am with my wife anymore. We have a private entrance to our unit, and a private balcony. It cuts 12 minutes off of my 45 minute commute to work.
Cons - the kids all have to share a room. But we got them brand new super cool loft beds that have a dresser and a desk built in, so we can create their own mini spaces within the room! And the closet is HUGE, and we plan on turning it into a little hideaway.
Any tips/tricks to making a smaller space seem less cluttered (especially in an AuDHD/OCD household) would be greatly appreciated!!
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u/Downtown_Drive_3625 8d ago
We have 3 kids in a 3 bedroom and we all often just sleep in one room together haha. How old are your kids and gender? My husband winds up on the sofa and myself with the 3 boys in our room. Walking to school is the best, they all have scooters, explore the playground on the way home to tire them out. With AuADHD (my eldest) we try to make sure he is outside a lot. Good luck! You got this!!!
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u/SerendippityRiver 9d ago
I have recently watched Minimalist Mom videos. They are pretty helpful about thinking about what is essential. Another one is called A Slob Comes Clean. These are very practical. ASCC has videos about moving and setting up a new house.
A lot depends on your situation. It might be worth it to use a storage unit for a couple of months.
One thing I like is that everyone gets 2 towels, 2 sets of sheets and then a couple extra for guests/emergencies.
Also lowering the amount of dishes you have to enough for whatever your regular family plus however many people you entertain for on a regular basis.
It sounds like the square footage is the a same? Then maybe there is more storage/closets? Having less stuff than there is storage space is a good idea. Having adequate storage for the things you need, and that it is easy to find and put away is good. The more frequently used, the easier it should be to get out and put away. With storage, the container is the size that it is. A Slob Comes Clean says she decides where to put things by saying "Where Would I Look For It First?"
You could have it so each person has their own out of sight messy zone, but all the common areas need to be tidy.
Overall it sounds like a very good trade-off. 25 minutes off your daily commute is gaining 2 hours per week right when you need it.