How to Adjust to a Smaller Home

Whether you've been forced to move because of a change in jobs, a divorce or just to save a little money, it takes time to adjust to a smaller home. When you have less space, you don't have as much room for furniture or for entertaining. Some people even develop bouts of claustrophobia if they significantly reduce the size of their homes because of a move. Whatever the case, following are a few tips on how to adjust to a smaller home.

Get Rid of Furniture
Your new home will appear much smaller than it actually is if you try to cram all of your furniture into those rooms. You might want to just downsize by getting rid of some of your furniture, or you might prefer to buy all new furniture that suits your new home. Either way, your new home should have as much floor and wall space as possible to seem larger and more open, which will soften the blow of adjusting to a smaller home.

Use Collapsible Furniture
One of the easiest ways to adjust to a smaller home is by using collapsible furniture. For example, even if you move into a one-bedroom studio apartment, a sofa bed would give you both a bedroom and a living room. If you don't have space to spare for a kitchen table, use collapsible cardboard tables or even TV trays to compensate. You won't want all of your furniture to be collapsible, but be flexible with furniture that you don't use all the time.

Use Light-Colored Paint
Rooms with dark walls often appear smaller than they really are, so choose a light-colored paint for your smaller home. Pale blues, greens, reds and yellows create a bright, sunny atmosphere and create the illusion of more space. It is often said that two-tone walls can appear larger than those painted a single color. Hang pictures and prints with several feet in between each and choose a home with lots of windows around which you can hang drapes rather than blinds.