Contrary to its name, “downsizing” is a lifestyle trend that has many upsides in today’s modern world. Sometimes referred to as decluttering, minimalism, or “living small,” downsizing refers to reducing the number of items you own. People are drawn to this lifestyle for many reasons. For some, downsizing brings the opportunity to save money on rent and utilities (not to mention, saving time spent cleaning) by moving into a smaller and more energy-efficient space. For others, downsizing presents an eco-friendly option for living with a smaller carbon footprint. Meanwhile, for some people, downsizing brings the freedom of the “digital nomad” lifestyle, which involves traveling full-time, often while living in an RV, tiny house, houseboat, AirBNB, or other small space.

Whether you simply want to reduce clutter in your current home or hope to relocate into a smaller home, downsizing can appear to be a daunting task at first. If you’ve never decluttered or downsized before, you might be overwhelmed and uncertain of where to begin. Adding to the difficulty of downsizing, the thought of parting with your favorite keepsakes can really tug at your heartstrings.

Luckily, downsizing doesn’t have to be so difficult. From first time home buyers to seniors looking to move into a smaller home, here are some general downsizing tips that are helpful for anyone — including beginners:

1. Repurpose Sentimental Items. Can’t bear to part with your wedding dress even though you know you’ll never, ever wear it again? Find a crafty friend who’d be willing to help you turn it into a keepsake pillow. You might also save pieces of fabric from your wedding dress for a shadow box that you can proudly display in your home. Repurposing sentimental items not only makes them smaller so they take up less space; it also gives you a creative way to work them into your home decor rather than storing them out of sight in a closet.
2. Consider Your Needs. Sure, downsizing is the latest lifestyle buzzword. However, that doesn’t make it a great fit for everyone. There are different ways to live the minimalist life, and most of them are much less intense than selling everything you own and moving into an off-grid camper. In many cases, simply organizing your belongings in a more efficient way can significantly reduce clutter and the anxiety that comes with it. A room-by-room strategy may work best, according to HomeAdvisor. Adding roll-out shelves like these in the kitchen and closets, utilizing vertical wall space in living and office areas, and “containerizing” in the playroom and bathroom are all tips to make your existing space and stuff feel less burdensome.
3. Don’t Do It All Yourself. To be clear, I truly love a good Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project. However, that doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. This is especially true when it comes to organizing and decluttering your home. You could hire a professional organizer to help you determine which items you want to keep or part with. Or, if you are downsizing in preparation for an upcoming move, you might consider hiring professional movers and packers to help ease stress. Either way, be sure to do your research and check out local prices and reviews beforehand. The bottom line is that you will reduce stress and overwhelm by asking for help when needed.

There are many benefits to downsizing and decluttering. By reducing the number of items in your home, you free up your time, effort, and finances so that you can focus on the things that really matter in your life. Eliminating any unnecessary clutter can bring you feelings of accomplishment and calm. Downsizing could be one of the most effective self-care steps you could take in reducing stress during this next chapter of your life.

Harry Cline

Author of The A-Z Home Care Handbook

Owner of http://newcaregiver.org

Aging in place is a more popular goal today than ever before. Approximately two-thirds of baby boomers plan to stay in their home through their golden years. The rise in long-term care costs (i.e. retirement communities, independent living, assisted living) has a lot to do with it, as do technology and available services like meal and grocery delivery.

If your goal is to maintain your independence and stay in the home where many of your memories were made, you need to think about modifying your home to ensure it stays safe and accessible. Here are some necessary home modifications for seniors who wish to age in place.

Ramps

One of the most basic changes to make to your home is installing threshold ramps. These ramps help prevent tripping and allow for easy maneuvering by scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and foot traffic. They can be placed in the main entry, as well as over any small rises or steps throughout the home. You may want to consider having a modular entrance ramp installed. Aluminum modular ramps are lightweight and can be installed over all outdoor steps and rises.

Bathrooms

As we age, bathrooms can become the most dangerous areas of the home. It’s essential to assess the risk factors in your bathroom and to be open-minded about making any necessary changes — particularly to the shower/bathtub. For instance, grab bars can make your tub safer and more accessible; they’re typically inexpensive and can be installed in a few hours. Shower/bathtub chairs and benches are also relatively inexpensive, and they can go a long way in making your shower or bath safe, relaxing, and pleasant. Adding walk-in and zero-entry showers can also be a great option, though they can get quite expensive.

Doorways

While widening your doorways is not the easiest of projects, it’s essential for keeping you able to move around in your home. This is especially true if you use or will use a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility aid. You may need to hire an experienced contractor to widen your doorways, as well as an electrician to relocate light switches, but you may be able to modify some doorways yourself. For instance, if there are any doorways where you don’t need a door, you could remove the door, door frame, and trim to gain about four inches in width.

Floors

Many trips and falls happen because of loose carpeting and/or rugs, so you should replace any worn out carpeting or rugs. While carpeting is a comfortable option, it’s important for it not to be over a one-half inch tall because a long pile can make it hard to maneuver when using a mobility aid. Cork, vinyl, rubber, linoleum, hardwood, and laminate flooring can all be good options for seniors, and each has its advantages. Try to steer clear of natural stone, ceramic/porcelain tile, area rugs, and transitions.

Cabinets

Along with making space and relocating appliances to make daily necessities in your kitchen accessible, modifying your cabinets is one of the best things you can do for aging in place. Cabinets should be easy to reach, so lowering them may be necessary (three inches for standard cabinets). Also, installing cabinet slide out shelves like these can help ensure you have easy access to the items in your cabinets. Such pull out shelves will also help you maximize storage in your lower cabinets and can significantly reduce back strain.

Modifying your home is a necessity if you plan on remaining there in your golden years. Start looking into installing ramps, widening doorways, and changing out your floors. Also, consider making vital modifications to your bathroom and cabinetry. The sooner you start planning and making changes, the more likely you’ll be able to age in place safely and comfortably.

Harry Cline

Author of The A-Z Home Care Handbook

Owner of  http://newcaregiver.org

1. Get Organized

One of the reasons that people hesitate to downsize is they look around their homes and can’t imagine packing up and moving all of it. Keep in mind that downsizing involves more than moving to a smaller home; it means decreasing the amount of stuff you have so you can comfortably live in that smaller home. The key to getting started is getting organized.

A cluttered home is more than an eyesore; it’s a living environment that hinders your creativity and contributes to your stress and anxiety. Indeed, Psychology Today examines five ways that clutter negatively affects you:

• Clutter makes you feel like your home environment is hostile instead of friendly
• Clutter leads to unhealthy eating
• Clutter harms your mental health
• Clutter leads to less efficient visual processing
• Clutter hinders your ability to think

Thus, decluttering is the first step toward getting organized; you have to determine what you want to keep before you can determine where to put it.

It’s best to start your decluttering and organizing mission in the bedroom. As HomeAdvisor puts it, “Your bedroom should be a clean, clutter-free, serene space where you can relax. Too often, it’s a catch-all for clothes that don’t fit in the closet, laundry that needs to be done, and stored items seem to keep creeping out from under the bed where you thought they were out of sight, out of mind.”

Tackle the piles in your bedroom. Be honest about which clothes you no longer wear and donate them. If you have things under your bed, there’s a good chance you don’t use them often and likely don’t need them. Sort your stuff into three piles: keep, donate and trash. Once you’ve decluttered and organized your bedroom, move on to the next room until you’ve done your entire home. After all, you have to complete this process to know exactly how much space you will need in your new home.

This also is the time to involve your family in your mission. If you have items that you want them to have, arrange for them to collect them sooner, rather than later. Be prepared for your family to decline your offers, however. As the Boston Globe reports, baby boomers are finding their adult children don’t want their possessions. Try not to take it personally, as your family members are trying to downsize as well.

2. Make Moving Go Smoothly

 Fortunately, you will save yourself hassle and money by downsizing your belongings before moving to your smaller place. One option is to pack and label boxes as you sort your stuff and organize your existing home. Another option is to hire a full-service moving company that will pack, move and unpack your belongings.

No matter which option you choose, keep in mind that you should have help on moving day. When you hire movers, you not only ensure that you stay safe by not lifting items that are too heavy for you, but you also give yourself the freedom to oversee the move and make sure fragile items are handled properly. Also, be sure to double-check that your furniture and appliances are where you want them before your help leaves for the day.

3. Take Advantage of Storage Options

Downsizing can be emotional for seniors who find it difficult to leave a family home and part with items they’ve owned for a long time. If it’s hard to part with some things, rent a storage unit. You’ll rest easier knowing that you did not part with all of your belongings, and you will have a better idea of which items you can live without. In fact, if you can go for six months to one year without using something, it’s time to donate, sell or trash it.

Downsizing is doable for seniors. Start by getting organized. Then, hire help to make moving go smoothly and rent a storage unit if you have some reservations about downsizing.

Harry Cline
Author of The A-Z Home Care Handbook
Owner of  http://newcaregiver.org

Here are 3 Different Roll Out Shelving Solutions You Might Not Know About

1.  Undersink Kitchen and Bathroom Drawers

Every home has at least one kitchen and one bathroom, each including it’s own sink usually with a cabinet underneath.  This means if you have a kitchen or a bathroom in your home, you’re wasting good storage space right now!  Due to the presence of plumbing pipes under sink storage areas are not the easiest space to organize nor is it easy to maximize the storage space with all the piping and a sink in place.

To say it bluntly, undersink cabinets and cupboards are a challenge to organize!

This is why undersink roll-out shelves exist!  They allow you to fully utilize the space under your sink by having a notch built-in, or smaller shelves to clear the piping or the sink.  If you’ve got more than one bathroom in your home, roll out shelves for under the sinks would be an excellent storage upgrade.

2.  Garbage and Trash Can Drawers

Under Sink Trash Can Roll Out Shelf

For many households, the garbage can is either located underneath the kitchen sink or within fairly close proximity to the kitchen sink.

When items are getting tossed under the sink they aren’t always making it into the trash can (especially if you have little ones!) and it leaves quite a mess for someone else to clean-up, usually on their hands-and-knees as it’s a difficult to reach space.

With a roll out shelving solution for the trash can, it will be easily accessible and the trash can can be slide out, over your kitchen floor while garbage is thrown in.  This helps keep things clean under the kitchen sink.

3.  Roll Out Shelves For Pots and Pans

Organizing pots and pans is always a challenge, and even then it’s usually a game of carefully stacking everything so it fits.  Whenever you need something you find yourself going through the stack, or reaching way into the back of the cupboard just for that one, special item.

We make roll out shelving and drawers that are strong enough to handle the heavy load from pots and pans and cookware.  They can even be customized with special dividers and compartments so you can have a place for everything!

As you can see, there are a variety of different roll out shelf storage solutions that can be used in any kind of cabinet or cupboard to help you better utilize the space and make it more convenient when you need to grab something from under the counter.

Why Choose The Drawer Guy For Your Custom Roll Out Shelving?

When you choose The Drawer Guy for a custom rolling shelving or drawers you’re going to be getting a high quality and convenient storage solution that will meet your individual needs perfectly.

All Wood Construction

The Drawer Guy doesn’t use any particle board or MDF in the construction of our rolling shelves and drawers.  Instead we use 100% clear (clear – meaning it has no knots – just the wood grain) Birch or Maple hardwood of the highest quality.

High Quality Drawer Runners (rollers)

We sell and install Blum hardware as an additional option for our custom shelving clients. These are the best drawer runners in the industry and they ensure that whether the drawers are fully loaded with pots and pans or empty, closed carefully or slammed shut with force, they will operate smoothly, quietly, and effortlessly every time for a very long time!

If you’d like to receive a consultation and estimate for a custom shelving and rolling drawer solution please call (339) 206-7000 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

Are you remodeling a kitchen or bathroom?  Maybe building your own custom home?  Have you given much thought to how you’re going to organize everything in your new space?  There are so many storage solutions available on the market today, but in order to appeal to a large enough market to sell successfully in big box stores and the like they need to make these solutions so they can make the crowds happy.  This doesn’t always work for the homeowner who has cabinets or shelving needs that don’t fit the norm.

Custom rolling shelves and drawer solutions can be added into any room in the home, almost any type of existing cabinetry or cupboards can be retro-fitted with a rolling shelf solution.  If you’ve been considered rolling shelves or custom drawers for your home, here are 5 more reasons you should consider them.

#1.  Tired Of Searching For Items

A common problem with standard cupboards and drawers is that everything is just crammed into wherever it will fit and as you move one item around, or bump another you are continually re-arranging your cupboard space.  Nobody enjoys having to bend over just to dig around in their cupboards looking for a specific pot or pan, tupperware lid, ingredient or other item that should be at their fingertips the moment they need it.

If you’re tired of searching for items in your cabinets, drawers or cupboards then a rolling shelf solution would be a perfect addition to your kitchen remodel or even better for a new installation into your new construction home.

#2.  Maximizing Your Available Cabinet Space

Rolling shelves for underneath a bathroom sink with a notch cut out for the plumbing.

Standard drawers and cupboards don’t exactly maximize space in the best possible way, especially when you’re storing items of different heights or widths in the same space.  There is storage gaps that are just “dead space”.  What if you could have a storage solution that eliminated all that dead space in your cupboards?  Or how about adding storage somewhere like under the kitchen or bathroom sink, where plumbing and piping are commonly in the way?

Custom drawers can easily be made to fit in these difficult places such as underneath your kitchen or bathroom sink.  These drawers are custom built, after taking measurements of your space and they are built with a special notch in the back to get around your plumbing.

Rolling shelves and custom drawer solutions exist for any cabinetry, drawers or shelving in your home, there are many ingenious ways to take advantage of the empty spaces.

#3.  Improve Accessibility For People With Mobility Issues

If you or someone you love has mobility issues, has trouble bending over or cannot stand on stools or chairs (to reach high cupboards) then rolling shelves would be a good solution.  Common in “accessible” home design, organizational solutions such as rolling shelves make it easy for people with mobility issues to access the items they need without having to be a contortion artist or put themselves into positions that will hurt or worsen any conditions they might have.

#4.  More Enjoyment Out Of Your Home

When your kitchen, bathroom or other room in your home is well organized, you’ll get more enjoyment out of it.  Nothing is worse than adding a few extra minutes onto every meal-time because you’re digging around or re-arranging items in your cupboards!

The Drawer Guy works with our customers on an individual basis to come up with custom shelving and drawer solutions that will improve your daily life, make things easier for you.  We come to your home, listen to your needs, accurately measure your space and provide you with many different options.

#5.  Stay Organized For Your Hobbies and Crafts

Do you have an entire room of room of your home, a garage or a workshop devoted to your crafts or hobbies?  Custom shelving and organising solutions are an excellent way to stay organized and keep your work area clean and uncluttered.  Maybe it’s a home based business that you operate?  In this case, your custom shelving could be a tax write off for your business (check with your account to make sure).

Why Choose The Drawer Guy For Your Custom Shelving and Drawer Solutions?

When you choose The Drawer Guy for a custom rolling shelving or drawers you’re going to be getting a high quality and convenient storage solution that will meet your individual needs perfectly.

All Wood Construction

The Drawer Guy doesn’t use any particle board or MDF in the construction of our rolling shelves and drawers.  Instead we use 100% clear (clear – meaning it has no knots – just the wood grain) Birch or Maple hardwood of the highest quality.

High Quality Drawer Runners (rollers)

We sell and install Blum hardware as an additional option for our custom shelving clients. These are the best drawer runners in the industry and they ensure that whether the drawers are fully loaded with pots and pans or empty, closed carefully or slammed shut with force, they will operate smoothly, quietly, and effortlessly every time for a very long time!

If you’d like to receive a consultation and estimate for a custom shelving and rolling drawer solution please call (339) 206-7000 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.