How to retain the character of a home while downsizing

Our research has found that 40% of those aged 45+ were either considering downsizing or would consider it in the future.

Downsizing presents opportunities to reduce time spent on upkeep, lower bills and have more time to do the things you love as you look towards retirement . We know that moving is a significant live event and the upheaval and unfamiliar surroundings can cause stress. 

Many people wish to feel comfortable in a new home as quickly as possible. Some ways to do that include decorating in a similar style to a previous home and putting sentimental objects on display. We have partnered with Emma Gurner, founder of interior design firm Folds Inside (@foldsinside), to devise ten tricks and tips that share insights on how to retain the character of a beloved family home when downsizing.

Wide range of tips from how to begin downsizing to styling your new home

The ten tips cover the preparation for a downsizing move: when to start and how to ease yourself into the process with a focused and dedicated timeframe. Emma provides helpful advice on how to identify the items to keep that give you pleasure and that will help to make your new house a home. She delves into how to approach sorting furniture –how to give away furniture you don’t want and crucially how to say goodbye to those items held on to for years unused and unwanted. 

When it comes to making the move, the guide also provides helpful advice on measurement and planning, and where to start with mixing your old and new pieces. For example, make your beloved vintage pieces of furniture the limelight in a room by mixing them with modern pieces of furniture. New multi-functional pieces can ensure rooms have dual-purpose. A sofa bed for example in a spare room can double up as a study or reading room, as well as a guest bedroom. 

Styling too, is taken care of, with some thoughtful words drawn from the breadth and depth of Emma’s interior design experience on how to display sentimental items to make your house feel homely yet uncluttered. A well curated collection can become a feature, for example, a gallery wall of prized China plates or pictures. 

Phillip Hulme, Sales Director at Anchor, said: 

The prospect of downsizing from a large family home to a one- or two- bedroom apartment can feel daunting, but a move can offer a host of advantages. These top tips on downsizing, with design front of mind, offer practical advice on how to approach it with consideration and purpose, without having to comprise on personal style or home comforts. 

At Anchor, we provide a great deal of support to our customers through the moving process depending on need – including independent support to sell your current home or personal interior design services for your new home. For those who’ve decided it’s time to downsize, Anchor has a great deal to offer.

Emma Gurner, Founder and Interior Designer, Folds Inside: 

The items we collect and cherish wherever we might live are what makes that place a home. For those looking to downsize, figuring out how to hold on to those items that bring joy, comfort, and that carry our memories can be a tough ask. It’s been a pleasure to work on this guide with Anchor, which I hope can ignite the excitement of a move in later life, which has such huge potential to present an opportunity to declutter a home as well as a mind!

Download top tips guide here. To learn more about the benefits of downsizing, click here.