Late summer is a popular time to move before the school term starts. Several of my friends have moved house recently, some downsizing from large period style homes to modern conversions. Having moved quite a lot over the years, I’ve been thinking about how to approach it in the most stress-free way. Here are my tips to help make your house move go as smoothly as possible.

A time to plan
First up, plan an overall vision and mood for your new home. Visualise your new lifestyle; think about creating a moodboard with swatches of your favourite fabrics, paint samples and inspirational images.

Draw up a floorplan and measure your existing furniture so you can plan your new space and see what will fit from your current home. Think proportion, scale and balance. Then create a budget for any new items you will need.

Decluttering
It’s important to declutter before you pack. There really is no sense in taking rubbish and clutter with you to your new home. Use the mantra ‘if you don’t love it or use it, lose it’.
It can be an emotional process, especially if you are downsizing from a house you have lived in for a long time. My advice is to stay focused, have a practical approach and take it room by room. You’ll be amazed how truly freeing it is to get rid of the things you no longer need.

Sustainable options
Be mindful about where you want your unwanted possessions to go. Make piles of items to keep, toss, sell or donate. There are so many online options for selling your stuff – Facebook Market Place is a popular choice – then you can build up a fund for buying items for your new home.

Give treasured items you no longer want or need to family or friends. I am a big fan of giving things to charity. As a volunteer in a local charity shop, I have many lovely stories of once cherished items finding sympathetic new homes.

Smart storage
Once you have pared down to the essentials for your new life you can start to think about planning storage in your next home. It makes sense to build in cupboards where you can to make the best use of your new space.

If you can afford it, bespoke is best, so try searching out local carpenters. Friends of mine have built a beautiful unit in their new living area for their books and music collection. For a more cost-effective solution, try IKEA’s online/in-store storage planning tool.

A fresh start
Now you can look forward to filling your new home with the things that tell your story. Having your treasured possessions around you will ensure your unique personality shines through. Two friends who have recently downsized have even found space in their living rooms for their much-loved baby grand pianos. Enjoy turning your new house into a home!