Settle in—this is a deep dive. Pour a cup of coffee and come along as we reflect on downsizing: what we kept, what we replaced, what actually worked in a smaller home, and the lessons we learned packing and moving.
- Practical tips and observations we’ve gathered about downsizing
- Which items from our larger house made the move and have worked well
- Why certain pieces survived the transition
- What we wish we’d known about packing for the move
We started thinking about this when we noticed how much of our sitting area was furnished with items bought after the move to better fit the smaller footprint—loveseat, chairs, and coffee table were all chosen for this particular space. Other things, like the rug, tray, some art, and a bookcase did come with us from Richmond and have continued to work here. That contrast made us ask: after three years in a downsized home, what pieces stayed, which didn’t, and why?
Downsizing is never exact—measurements help, but nothing replaces living in the space and experimenting. We sold a lot of furniture with our last house because it simply wouldn’t fit. We anticipated some trial and error: some pieces would settle in and stay; others would be replaced once we understood how we actually used the rooms.
There’s nothing wrong with buying new pieces tailored to a smaller home—sometimes it’s essential. We went from a 3,150 sq ft house to about 1,400 sq ft, so we replaced, reimagined, and simplified. Our selection process for what moved with us boiled down to a few practical rules:
- Measurements—if it didn’t fit, it didn’t come.
- Use—if we hadn’t used it regularly, we let it go.
- Predictions—educated guesses about what would work in the new space.
- Function—would the piece serve the realities of the new home (for example, sand-friendly rugs for a beachy house)?
- Gut—would we regret letting it go?
- Sentiment—selectively keeping meaningful items.
No formula guaranteed perfect choices, but that framework guided what went into the moving pod and helped us evaluate decisions later.
First tip for anyone downsizing: let the house evolve. We tried things, moved pieces around, and eventually settled on layouts that actually worked. The sitting area downstairs is a perfect example—initially it looked odd, but with time and small purchases it became cozy and functional.
Some pieces quickly found permanent homes; others moved room to room until we accepted they weren’t the right fit and sold or donated them. Narrower dressers, for instance, proved more versatile than the deep six-drawer models we brought initially—three-drawer dressers doubled as nightstands and fit the smaller rooms much better.
The Upstairs Family Room
Upstairs ended up absorbing much of the furniture from our previous home. It’s the largest living area here, so it could accommodate bigger pieces and even combine functions that used to be split across three rooms: the old office, the main family room, and the kids’ art space.
Our Previous Home’s Office
We recreated our old office setup within the larger family room—our Parsons desk flanked by shelving. That desk has been with us for years; its classic design keeps it relevant, and a small tweak (removing rear legs to recess it into a window ledge) made it even more functional in the new layout.
We passed along a few items too—the metallic cowhide rug moved downstairs because its size and neutral tone make it versatile. Small, impactful items like rugs and lamps helped the new house feel familiar quickly.
Our Previous Home’s Family Room
The upstairs TV area houses many anchor pieces from our old living room—sofa, lamps, and throw pillows moved with us. We also mixed in items from other spaces (leather stools from the beach house, a woven mirror from the old office) to create a layered, functional room.
Our Previous Home’s Art Room
We recreated the kids’ art and homework area using much of the original setup, but adapted it to the new home by removing one storage base and replacing two shorter counters with a single longer top—same durable laminate, but tailored to the new footprint. Slimmer armless chairs replaced bulkier ones to function better at the desk.
Smaller items—lamps, frames, baskets, art supplies—were easy to integrate and helped the house feel lived in right away. Our rule of thumb: bring the small pieces you love; ditch the filler.
Our Outside Spaces
Outdoor furniture traveled well—our porches and decks are ample, so we brought over larger items like the woven egg chair, outdoor sofa, and vintage metal chairs. Outdoor pieces from the old house continue to serve us here and have adapted to new layouts.
Our Bedroom
We kept a treasured blue inlay dresser from the beach house because it’s meaningful and versatile. It now occupies a corner that was once planned as a second bathroom—plans that are on hold because sharing one bathroom has worked fine for our family so far. If that reno ever happens, the dresser could be repurposed into a vanity—another benefit of choosing pieces with lasting potential.
We kept only a handful of dressers in the whole house—ones we truly love and that multitask as storage and nightstands. Thoughtful choices like these keep the house feeling intentional and uncluttered.
Our Bathroom
A capiz mirror that once lived in our foyer now hangs over the vanity and gets daily use—keeping pieces that are both functional and special is a smart move. Small unique items tend to outlast the trendy or purely decorative belongings.
The Kids’ Rooms
We moved beloved books, toys, and functional furniture into the kids’ rooms—mirrors, dressers, rugs, and baskets that continue to work well in new ways. The inlay dresser got a new life as bedside storage for our daughter, showing how pieces can be repurposed in a smaller home.
Our son’s room used built-in solutions (floating desk and shelves) to save space while reusing rugs and baskets from the old house. Small, everyday items—kitchenware, tools, favorite dishes—traveled too and are the backbone of daily life here.
What We Learned About Packing For A Move / Downsizing
1. Know the big spaces that need big pieces
We filled the pod with a few large items that didn’t have permanent places—like oversized six-drawer dressers—that we later sold or donated. In hindsight, prioritizing outdoor furniture for multiple porches would have been a better use of space in the container.
2. Bring the small things you love
If space is limited, don’t leave behind lamps, art, and personal items that make a house feel like home. We crammed plants and framed photos into the pod, and those small items helped personalize the new place immediately. The guidance: bring small items you truly love; discard or donate the rest before packing.
3. Stay flexible and embrace evolution
Don’t force items into the same function they had before. A decorative shelf can become kitchen storage; a dresser can become a nightstand. Flexibility lets more meaningful pieces survive the move.
4. Think cohesively
A consistent style across the home increases flexibility. We intentionally packed pieces that fit our light, beachy aesthetic—light wood, neutrals, inlay, capiz, marble, brass, and lots of plants—so most items could be moved from room to room without clashing.
5. Be patient
Downsizing is a process. It took us years to get the house feeling right. Give yourself time to test layouts, live with choices, and revise. Many things you donate won’t be missed; if you do later want an item again, you can replace it. We found freedom in letting go of unused possessions and focusing on things we loved and used daily.
A few simple staples—like basic white Ikea planters—have been unexpectedly useful across multiple homes and years. Practical, durable items often become the unsung heroes of a move.
Final thought: if an item isn’t actively part of your life when you downsize, it’s usually safe to let it go. We donated seldom-used appliances and didn’t miss them. Downsizing is about keeping what matters and releasing the rest so your home supports the life you actually live.
If you want more of our downsizing story, this site has additional posts, a podcast episode, and a six-month reflections piece exploring how we felt after the move.
- Photo gallery and background
- Podcast episode about our downsizing mindset
- Six months after downsizing: how we felt
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