In my experience with clients, many “I’ll-look-at-them-later” boxes kept in storage units contain items that are ultimately unwanted. I generally discourage keeping long-term storage units for housing items that need to be reviewed. If you have beloved framed photos that you don’t want to dispose of but don’t have the space to display, consider saving the photos only and donating the frames.
If you’re losing any outdoor space, you can perhaps pass along your outdoor decorations to a neighbor who will appreciate them. If you have much less wall space, your artwork and wall decor may not all fit. What worked in your old home may not work in your new one. Sometimes decor and holiday items can be very home-specific. If you’ll have just a living room instead of a living room and a family room, you may be able to reduce some pillows, throws and artwork in addition to the more obvious furniture, such as couches and chairs. For example, will your dining table also serve as your work desk? Will your bedroom also include an exercise spot? If so, consider if there are any duplicate items you may be able to eliminate. If your new home is much smaller or if you’re losing rooms, the new spaces may need to do double duty and cover multiple activities. Social gatherings took place in restaurants, and it didn’t make sense to keep home entertaining items such as punch bowls and large platters, or multiple sets of dinnerware and glassware. When I was young and my family moved from a New York suburb to a small Hong Kong flat, we could no longer host Thanksgiving dinners because there just wasn’t enough space to accommodate many people. If downsizing reflects a lifestyle change for you, such as moving to a retirement community or splitting households due to divorce, your new home will serve you differently.