60% of Americans living in homes that are 2,000 square feet or over say they are considering downsizing the next time they buy a house.

Older adults are not the only ones thinking of downsizing. Small homes are becoming more and more popular helped in part with shows like HGTV’s “Tiny House Hunters,” which pairs people with homes of about 600 square feet.

If you are planning on downsizing your home, read these downsizing tips to help you make the process as simple as possible.

Take Inventory

One of the most helpful hints for downsizing is to take stock of what you already have. That means going through every box and tote and seeing what is there.

Then you can sort what you will keep, sell and donate. It can be hard to let go of emotions when looking through a lifetime of belongings. You might consider asking a friend who is impartial for help identifying wants versus needs.

When you are downsizing your home you likely will have a variety of things that you will give away to friends and family. Consider sending an email or posting on social media what you are giving away. Also, set a must pick-up date to ensure that you clear out the items efficiently.

Any leftover items can be donated to a thrift store or put on your curb with a sign that states the items are free. Many thrift stores will even collect your items from your home to save you a trip to the donation center.

As you take inventory, consider what needs doing in order to sell your home. Check out advice for home sellers.

Minimize Duplicate Items

One important tip for downsizing is getting rid of doubles. The kitchen is the number one place where items seem to multiply. You don’t need 2 potato mashers and sets of measuring cups for example.

You also don’t need 3 sets of night tables if you are moving into a 2-bedroom space.

If you plan on entertaining regularly, you will want to keep enough cutlery and glasses for everyone. Yet, you might be surprised at how much you can safely get rid of.

Sell the Big Stuff

Chances are your new space will be smaller in terms of individual rooms. Your oversized couches and dining room table may no longer work in your new space.

There are many ways to sell furniture online including Facebook marketplace, eBay, Craig’s List and so on. People are happy to buy items that are in good condition and at a fraction of the cost compared to retail stores.

Use that cash to buy furniture that will fit better in your new home. Remember to be judicious and not buy for buying’s sake. Only get items you actually need.

You probably no longer need a hutch in the dining room. Try to find multipurpose items that can be used in a variety of ways. Storage ottomans used as a coffee table can serve as extra seating when you have guests.

If you are considering moving into a tiny house, check out picture galleries to get a sense of a typical tiny house and what can fit.

Digitize What You Can

One of the hardest parts of downsizing is figuring out what to do with the mementos, pictures, and physical memories.

You can convert VHS, DVDs and printed photographs into digital versions. These can be stored in the cloud and allow you to preserve these memories for future generations.

You’ll also be saving yourself a ton of closet and garage space by getting rid of the clunky physical copies.

Downsizing Tips Conclusion

We hope you found these downsizing tips helpful. Not only is downsizing your home a great way to help sell your home faster, but it will also help you avoid clutter in your new space.