Carol admits that moving can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to transitioning from a large home. However, once she started to think about it as an opportunity rather than a chore, she found joy in letting go of some things and creating a tidy, inspired new home.
Now, she’s known among friends and neighbors as the community’s go-to organization expert.
Making a move to senior living or downsizing to a smaller home and wondering where to begin? Here are Carol’s top 10 tips to help make the process less daunting and more fun.
As a self-proclaimed “list person,” Carol relies on detailed lists to stay organized. From tracking what furniture you’re keeping to sorting items for gifting or donation, lists can help keep you on track and minimize last-minute stress.
Carol emphasizes the importance of not taking on too much at once.
"I did it piece by piece. When you break things up, you're not so overwhelmed," she said.
Focusing on smaller tasks, like organizing one room or even one section of a closet, can make the process more manageable.
Take a deeper dive: Room-by-room downsizing tips
Furniture can be one of the trickiest parts of moving, especially for those moving from a large home to a smaller apartment.
Carol recommends studying your new floor plan carefully and using it as a guide for what pieces will fit. Once you've made decisions on larger items like furniture, everything else (clothes, kitchenware, accessories, etc.) will feel easier to organize.
Bonus tip: Repurpose your furniture! If the entryway table from your previous home doesn’t fit in your new foyer, perhaps it can work as a console or media table in the living room.
One major benefit of senior living is access to shared community spaces and amenities. Carol notes there are certain household items you won’t need as much anymore.
“You probably won’t be doing as much cooking,” said Carol.
With Vi at Aventura’s full-service restaurants, well-stocked library and on-site, state-of-the-art fitness center, she suggests that new residents minimize kitchenware, books (which are heavy and costly to ship!) and workout equipment they no longer need.
Letting go of keepsakes and family mementos is often the hardest part of downsizing. Carol faced this challenge with her grandparents’ antique bedroom furniture.
“It was really difficult to part with because of the family history,” she said.
Her advice? Offer them to family or friends first. If that doesn’t work, consider donating the items to give them a new life and purpose. (More on that in a bit!)
Bonus tip: Take photos of heirlooms before parting with them and create a photo book—a space-saving way to preserve their memories.
Once you’ve decided what to bring, Carol recommends packing items in a way that’s ready for the move. This method saves time and ensures your new space feels organized from day one.
“If you pack similar items in containers you’ll use after moving, they’re ready to just go on the shelf,” said Carol.
Carol designed her closets to meet her specific needs—something that was easy due to the moveable shelving units that were already in her closets when she moved to Vi.
She recommends using open shelving and labeled containers to make things not only easy to reach but also easy to find.
Her number one organization gadget for seniors? A “grabber” to safely and easily reach items on higher shelves.
For Carol, organization is anything but boring. She encourages experimenting with decorations or using colorful labels and accents that make you happy. When you find the joy in organizing, it stops being a chore.
Bonus tip: Use colored contact paper (from your local discount store) to cover the inside of clear drawer fronts or containers. Instead of seeing unsightly items like electronic cords or chargers, you’ll just see a pop of your favorite color!
No matter how much work you put into decluttering before the move, you may still end up with more than you need once you’ve unpacked in your new home.
Carol and her friends at Vi at Aventura help collect extra items from residents and donate them to local charities like homeless shelters, schools and animal rescues.
Carol suggests researching which organizations in your area are most in need if you find yourself with extra things and want to give back.
For anyone hesitant to take the leap and move to a smaller space in retirement, Carol offers reassurance: “You’ll be glad you left some things behind.”
In addition to volunteering, Carol enjoys attending shows, lectures, classes, lunches and dinner outings and playing games such as canasta and Siamese Mah Jongg with friends.
Said Carol: “All of the planning and decluttering has given me a feeling of freedom to enjoy hobbies and activities that are so plentiful at Vi.”
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