{"id":7715,"date":"2019-01-31T18:12:47","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T02:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=7715"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:56:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T19:56:33","slug":"downsizing-home-with-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/downsizing-home-with-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Downsizing Your Home With Family in Tow: 10 Ways to Make a Smaller Space Work for the Whole Gang"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-does-it-mean-to-downsize-your-home\/\">Downsizing the house sounds idyllic<\/a> when you\u2019re flying solo or about to embark on the Tommy Bahama lifestyle of your retirement dreams (less space, more freedom and all that jazz.)<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019ve got 3 kids and a pet or two in tow&#8230;.well, downsizing feels like a stressful game of Tetris, but that\u2019s not to say it isn\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n<p>Are you strapped by steep housing costs that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/when-to-downsize-your-home\/\">exceed 30% of your income<\/a>, writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/find-plumbers\/\">checks to the plumber<\/a> every other week, and spending the majority of your spare time scrubbing down the bathrooms? Then a smaller, more manageable space could be just the ticket for a happier life and family.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, many families found that they became stronger and more tight-knit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/life\/home\/2018\/01\/02\/family-five-downsized-tiny-house-changed-minds\">after downsizing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nahb.org\/blog\/2026\/01\/Single-Family-Home-Size-Continues-to-Decline\">average square footage<\/a> for single-family homes is on the decline.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople downsize to save money, reduce clutter and minimize stress,\u201d says 17-year veteran agent <a href=\"https:\/\/sales.homelight.com\/agents\/margaret-ann-alger-tx-0492868\">Peggy Alger<\/a>, who achieved a Best of HomeLight Award in 2018 for being in the Top 1% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/corpus-christi-tx\/top-real-estate-agents\">agents in Corpus Christi, Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s no getting around it: the actual business of downsizing your home with family is painful especially if you\u2019re not prepared. So get your game plan ready with these 10 tips to make the transition go smoothly, sell the big old family house, and find a smaller place for your crew you\u2019re thrilled to call home.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7726\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7726\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Family organizing clothes in downsized home\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family-64x35.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family-128x71.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family-192x106.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family-432x239.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clothes-downsizing-home-with-family-500x277.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7726\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (rawpixel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>1. Figure out how just how small you want to go<\/h2>\n<p>Downsizing doesn\u2019t mean you need to fully embrace the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/downsizing-tiny-house\/\">tiny house movement<\/a>. Before you pack your family into a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tiny_house_movement\">500-square-foot home<\/a> like you\u2019re trying to outdo sardines, take the time to figure out just how small your family can stand.<\/p>\n<p>Years ago, you just had to roll the dice and hope your family could handle whatever minimal square-footage home you purchased.<\/p>\n<p>But these are the days of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/\">Airbnb<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homeaway.com\/\">HomeAway<\/a>, and dozens of other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripping.com\/industry\/rental-companies\/9-airbnb-competitors-that-you-should-know-about\">vacation rental<\/a> websites that let you rent typical suburban homes right in your own backyard.<\/p>\n<p>Just pack your bags and spend a few days living with your whole family in a fully-furnished home in your desired neighborhood and in the size you\u2019re considering buying into. It won\u2019t take long to figure out if your family can cope with those closer quarters.<\/p>\n<p>Downsizing for your family might mean going from 2,500 square-feet to a 1,200 or even an 1,800 square-foot home, but there\u2019s so much more to a home than just square footage. So instead of picking a random square-footage number out of a hat, first make a list of exactly the kind of space you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<p>How many bedrooms and bathrooms are absolutely necessary? Do you need a formal dining room or space for a home office? Are you set on a specific lot size?<\/p>\n<p>Listing each feature you want in your next home ranked by order of importance will help you narrow down which ones you absolutely need to remain comfortable while you\u2019re living cozy.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Partner with a top real estate agent in your area to find the right home<\/h2>\n<p>Knowing your family\u2019s space requirements doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019ll find a house that matches every item on your list.<\/p>\n<p>Unless you have one custom built, you\u2019re going to have to compromise on some points.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you may be willing to have two kids share a bedroom if it means buying a house with an extra bathroom. Or perhaps you\u2019ll find the perfect layout in a home that has less square footage than you thought you needed.<\/p>\n<p>Figuring out which home features you can give up and which are deal breakers, requires the help of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/\">real estate agent who knows the lay of the land<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody&#8217;s story is different, so you need an agent willing to listen to your downsizing story,\u201d recommends Agler.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cYou need one who\u2019s supportive and has the knowledge to give good suggestions and provide the best downsizing resources.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Top real estate agents stay on top of housing inventory like glue, so once they know your list of wants and needs, they\u2019ll send you links to houses that would be a good fit as soon as they hit the market and contact the listing agent to get you in for a showing right away.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7727\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7727\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"toys take up a lot of space in a family home\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family-64x33.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family-128x66.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family-192x99.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family-432x223.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/toys-downsizing-home-with-family-500x258.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7727\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Rick Mason\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>3. Downsize your stuff so you have less to move into your smaller home<\/h2>\n<p>Downsizing to a smaller house requires downsizing the amount of stuff you own, too\u2014or you won\u2019t have room to move in your little house.<\/p>\n<p>The internet is overflowing with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/books\/page-turner\/the-origin-story-of-marie-kondos-decluttering-empire\">decluttering gurus<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/morningchores.com\/downsizing\/\">downsizing experts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/deborahweinswig\/2016\/09\/07\/millennials-go-minimal-the-decluttering-lifestyle-trend-that-is-taking-over\/#621864553755\">minimalist living advice<\/a> to help you figure out how to pare your belongings down to just the essentials. Plus, there are plenty of tips telling you how to turn that stuff into cash.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDownsizers need to get rid of stuff they don\u2019t need, the things they wouldn\u2019t replace if destroyed. Sell it at a garage sale or online. There are even apps on your phone that let you sell stuff,\u201d advises Alger.<\/p>\n<p>But this process isn\u2019t always easy for your little ones. Moving is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/essential-guide-to-selling-a-home-with-kids\/\">tough enough on kids<\/a>, especially if the new house means a new school and new friends, too.<\/p>\n<p>When downsizing requires youngsters to give up toys and other stuff that won\u2019t fit in the new house, that can push kids into total meltdown mode.<\/p>\n<p>However, you can save yourself from those tantrums if you change their perspective, like explaining how their things will benefit a needy child, or making the giveaway process entertaining.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHelp little ones let things go by making a game out of it, or making a little savings account for them,\u201d says Alger. \u201cFor every one of their toys or belongings they sell, put the profits in the account as an incentive. Every child loves to put pennies in a piggy bank.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>4. Figure out where everything will fit in advance<\/h2>\n<p>The last thing you need on moving day is finding out that your furniture won\u2019t fit where you thought it would.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe the closet door won\u2019t clear the bunk beds you bought for the bedroom your girls are sharing. Or perhaps you traded in your bulky living room set for a sleek sofa sectional\u2014only to discover that the chaise lounge section is too long for the wall you wanted to put it on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlanning ahead is important,\u201d says Alger. \u201cOnce you find your smaller location, measure it. Then use a virtual room design tool online, like <a href=\"https:\/\/planner5d.com\/\">Planner 5D<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/home.by.me\/en\/\">HomeByMe<\/a> to see what you have room to keep, what you need to give away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found your perfect home, use one of these online tools to create a layout of its floor plan so you can play around with how your existing furniture will work. They can also show you where you\u2019ll need new pieces that are a better fit for the space.<\/p>\n<p>These are also great tools to help prepare kids for what life will look like in the new place. However, your kids may already have a way to play with the layout of the new home themselves.<\/p>\n<p>If your kids own a version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ea.com\/games\/the-sims\">The Sims<\/a>, they can mockup a (not-to-scale) version of the new home and experiment with decorating their new space. They can even create virtual versions of the whole family to experience what\u2019s it\u2019ll be like to have a family living in a house with only one bathroom.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7720\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7720\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Family heirlooms taking up space in a downsized home\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family-64x36.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family-128x71.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family-192x107.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family-432x241.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heirlooms-downsizing-home-with-family-500x279.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7720\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Roman Kraft\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>5. Store memories in bytes instead of boxes<\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0030993\/\">You Can&#8217;t Take it With You<\/a>,\u201d isn\u2019t just the title of the fabulous 1938 Frank Capra film, it\u2019s an age-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/browse\/you-can-t-take-it-with-you\">proverb<\/a> that reminds us that possessions won\u2019t mean much once we\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s comforting advice when you\u2019re faced with the reality that all of those albums of precious photos, files of favored art projects for each kid, and boxes of treasured memorabilia simply won\u2019t fit in the new place.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, digital files, external hard drives, and USB flash drives hardly take up any space. Since you can\u2019t take it all along to the new house, simply snap a photo of every item that holds a precious memory and upload it to your computer so you can go strolling down a virtual memory lane any time you choose.<\/p>\n<p>Upload a second set of those precious digital images on a hard drive or flash drive and store it in a fire-proof safe to ensure those memories are preserved no matter what happens to your phone, camera, or computer.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Repurpose keepsakes to serve a new purpose<\/h2>\n<p>If a few boxes of paper artwork won\u2019t fit into your downsized house, chances are there\u2019s no room for family heirloom furniture, either. So what are your options?<\/p>\n<p>You could give it away to extended family members who have more space, or donate it to a charity that can auction it off if it\u2019s valuable.<\/p>\n<p>If the heirlooms aren\u2019t valuable, you may be able to repurpose the pieces so that they\u2019re functional enough to keep them in the family.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7719\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7719\" style=\"width: 1458px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"775\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-775x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"infographic from Mayflower showing generational statistics on heirlooms when downsizing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-775x600.jpg 775w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-64x50.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-128x99.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-192x149.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-432x334.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-500x387.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15-800x619.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/image15.jpg 1458w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7719\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayflower.com\/tips\/movers-insights\/infographic-decluttering-trends-2018\">mayflower.com)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/creative-reuse-upcycling-repurposing-ideas\/?utm_source=googleutm_medium=organicutm_campaign=organic\">Repurposing<\/a> is not only practical, it\u2019s a fun project that can bring your family together with teamwork. So roll up your sleeves and transform that grandfather clock into a storage cabinet, turn grandpa\u2019s ladder into a bookshelf, and great-grandma\u2019s worn-out silverware into cabinet pulls for the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>You can even make artwork out of smaller heirlooms with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/125749014581071145\">a wall-mounted shadowbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Don\u2019t waste any space in the new place<\/h2>\n<p>Downsizing puts space at a premium, so don\u2019t let any inch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/downsizing-your-home-with-style\/\">go to waste<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>How you plan to store things is important,\u201d advises Alger. \u201cThere are all kinds of multipurpose furniture out there to maximize storage, like beds and ottomans with hidden storage inside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All of those wasted-space nooks and crannies that you didn\u2019t think twice about in your big house become storage when you don\u2019t have space to spare. Even the unlikeliest of areas\u2014such as those extra inches alongside the refrigerator\u2014can be put to use if you find the right storage furniture.<\/p>\n<p>Think outside the box, and you can find a ton of creative ways to use containers, racks and other storage equipment in original ways.<\/p>\n<p>Take the standard shoe organizer. Hang one on every door in the house, and in the kitchen, it\u2019s a place for pantry items, canned goods, and small cooking utensils. The same organizer in the bathroom can free up precious vanity space by organizing the preferred toiletries for everyone in the house.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7718\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7718\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Shoe organizer used as helpful tool in downsized family home\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family-64x36.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family-128x73.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family-192x109.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family-432x246.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/organize-downsizing-home-with-family-500x284.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7718\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (littlenySTOCK\/ shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>8. Designate exclusive space for every person<\/h2>\n<p>Shoes by the door, toys on the floor\u2014no matter hard you try to live with less, there\u2019s still going to be tripping over stuff everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>While there\u2019s no real solution short of limiting your family to the clothes on their backs, you can minimize the chaos with clever organizing strategies that put each family member in charge of their own property.<\/p>\n<p>You can do more than just write your kids\u2019 names in their underwear. (Although that\u2019s a good idea, too!) Assign each child their own dresser drawers, closet space, storage bins, and pockets in the bathroom door organizer, and make them responsible for keeping things where they belong.<\/p>\n<p>Kids aren\u2019t the only one who can benefit from labels. Whether it\u2019s kitchen shelves, storage jars, or clothes closet bins, it\u2019ll be much easier to keep things where they belong if everyone knows where everything goes.<\/p>\n<p>How you store your stuff is just as important as where you store it. For example, keep your tight quarters tidy by using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onekingslane.com\/live-love-home\/marie-kondo-book-declutter\/\">space-saving folding<\/a> techniques for clothes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7729\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7729\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"child helping mother with chores after downsizing home with family\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family-64x36.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family-128x73.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family-192x109.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family-432x246.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chores-downsizing-home-with-family-500x285.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7729\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Africa Studio\/ shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>9. Make chores the norm<\/h2>\n<p>Speaking of responsibility, those organization tools you\u2019ve spent hours putting in place only work if your kids follow through and use them.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, you can go crazy in the mess of small-house living if your kids aren\u2019t in the habit of picking up after themselves. Once the mountains of junk left around the house gets to be too much, too many parents give in and just pick it all up themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, there\u2019s a creative way to keep your kids\u2019 clutter out of your way while still putting the responsibility of picking up on them. Just create a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/285486063852838382\">stuff bucket<\/a>\u201d for every kid, set them in an out-of-the-way spot (like unused stair space), and revoke privileges whenever they start to overflow.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, picking up after themselves is just the tip of the iceberg. Kids <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/parenting\/features\/chores-for-children#3\">as young as two<\/a> can help out around the house to make downsize living pleasant for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Giving your kids chores isn\u2019t about taking work off of your plate (face it, you could probably do them faster and better yourself), it\u2019s about teaching them discipline, responsibility, and it gives them a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/thinking-about-kids\/201102\/chores-are-good-kids\">contribute to the family<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7724\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7724\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"child in downsized house coloring in map and planning experiences with family\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family-64x32.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family-128x64.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family-432x216.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/experience-downsizing-home-with-family-500x250.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7724\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (rawpixel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>10. Refocus family goals toward experiences instead of ownership<\/h2>\n<p>Downsizing isn\u2019t just about economizing space, it\u2019s about using your monthly income economically. Living with less space (and stuff) provides oodles of financial freedom.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re willing to live in a budget-sized house, you \u2019ll have the budget to buy a smaller home in a better school district (where high demand makes homes more expensive). Plus, you\u2019ll be able to put away <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/investing\/real-estate\/reasons-to-buy-less-house-than-you-can-afford\/\">more cash monthly<\/a> for things like the kids\u2019 college funds, family vacations, and your own retirement plans.<\/p>\n<p>Having less stuff also provides time and money to do more together as a family, too.<\/p>\n<p>No longer will you have to use vacation days on stay-cations because your house is demanding too much attention. And your housing costs will no longer leave you with just enough for a weekend at the local 3-star hotel.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re spending less on your little house\u2019s monthly utilities and annual maintenance expenses, you can afford to take your family on life-altering trips, like a cruise to Alaska or a 10-day train tour of Europe.<\/p>\n<p>And according to the experts, this less stuff, more experiences lifestyle will make for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1057740814000631\">happier family<\/a>. It\u2019ll improve everybody\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/anxiety-zen\/201612\/minimalism-when-living-less-means-more-mental-health\">mental health<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<h2>Downsizing your home with your tribe: Worth it in the end!<\/h2>\n<p>Completely transforming your family dynamics to a less-is-more lifestyle may not be easy. But if you tackle downsizing with a clever strategy, you\u2019ll have a happier, healthier, more organized home.<\/p>\n<p>When the going gets tough&#8230;remember more bathrooms means more plumbing problems. More rooms mean more dusting and vacuuming. More windows mean losing more heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. More yard means more trees to trim and grass to mow.<\/p>\n<p>Pretty soon it starts to feel like you\u2019re living <b>for<\/b> your house, rather than in it. And while you\u2019re wasting all that time taking care of your house, you\u2019re missing out on spending quality time with your spouse and kids.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately\u2014unless you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0088763\/characters\/nm0000502\">Doc Brown<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/b006q2x0\">Dr. Who<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pottermore.com\/explore-the-story\/hermione-granger\">Hermione Granger<\/a>\u2014once that time is lost, you can never get it back.<\/p>\n<p>When you pictured living in a big family house with your significant other and a couple of adorable kids, you didn\u2019t realize how much work it would require. Now you do, so don\u2019t be afraid of the opportunity to make a change. Embrace it!<\/p>\n<p><em>Article Image\u00a0Source: (roungroat\/ rawpixel)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to make sure the transition goes smoothly and tips to find a smaller place for your crew you\u2019re thrilled to call home. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":7728,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[328,319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-families","category-selling-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Downsizing Your Home With Family: How to Make the Whole Gang Happy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to make 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