Before downsizing your furniture, measure the rooms in your next home. A piece you love may fit against the wall but leave too little room to open a door or walk past it. A simple floor plan helps you choose what to bring before booking movers.
The downsizing guide explains the wider process. Use the room plan below to make a keep list for your movers, family and estate sale team.
Begin with the new home’s everyday needs
List what each space must do. A bedroom needs room for the bed and the way you move around it. A dining area may need to seat two most days and accommodate guests occasionally. A living room may also need space for a desk or a hobby.
Ask the person moving what matters to them before drawing the plan. A familiar chair, a reading light, or a place for a favorite collection may contribute more to feeling at home than keeping the largest matching furniture set.
Measure the space and the furniture
Use measurements from the actual home when possible. Note door openings, windows, built-in storage, radiators, and other fixed features. Measure each candidate piece at its widest points, including arms, handles, or decorative trim.
For furniture that opens or extends, record both positions. A dining table may fit when closed but block a passage when extended. A cabinet also needs space for its doors and for the person using it. Treat those as part of the furniture’s footprint.
Draw a simple layout before arranging the move
Graph paper is enough. Choose a scale, such as one square for six inches, and use that same scale for the room and paper furniture shapes. Move them around until the room has usable routes between doors, seating, and storage. Do not rely solely on the total square footage of the two homes.
For example, two sofas may each fit against a wall but leave no comfortable route through the room when placed together. Testing the arrangement lets the family decide which piece to bring before paying to move both.
Check the route into the home
Check the route from the unloading point to the room as well. Measure relevant doorways and discuss stairs, tight corners, elevators, and building access with the mover. Ask about any booking requirements or delivery restrictions at the new residence.
Let the mover evaluate difficult pieces. Do not assume legs can be removed or a cabinet can be dismantled without checking. If access remains uncertain, mark the item “confirm with mover” instead of treating it as a settled keep decision.
Give family gifts a destination and date
A relative saying “I might want that” does not yet settle where a piece will go. Confirm the recipient, whether they have space, and who will arrange pickup. If they need time to decide, agree on a date that works with the sale preparation plan.
Record the final choices in the room-by-room downsizing worksheet. Keep separate notes for items going to the new home, gifts with confirmed recipients, and items to discuss at the walkthrough.
Take the keep list to the walkthrough
Bring the keep list to the walkthrough and flag any undecided items. Leave the other contents in place for review. If you cannot hold a sale at home, ask whether an offsite estate sale at our Berry Hill venue would suit the belongings you are leaving behind.
If you are helping a parent, leave room for a second conversation. They may want time to think about a favorite piece before deciding to part with it. Our guide to helping parents downsize offers a starting point for that discussion.
Talk through your downsizing plans with Estate Greats and tell us your moving date. The keep list can still be a work in progress.
More resources for downsizing.