A minimalist approach to moving house

Moving house can be an exciting and stressful time. There's so much to think about and organise. It's also an excellent opportunity to ditch excess stuff that you have accumulated and no longer need or use.

Taking a minimalist approach ideally means sorting through your stuff before moving so those excess items gathering dust in the back of wardrobes or stacked in a corner of the garage don't become useless clutter in your next abode.

While it may sound like just another job to do, you'll be more organised and may even pay less in removalist costs because there will be less stuff to move.

If you are selling, remember that houses sell faster when they look like show houses - reducing clutter and depersonalising can help your prospects of a quick sale.

Spending the time sorting, throwing out and making the tough decisions before you move makes unpacking at the other end much more pleasant according to Mimimalista, Carly Willoughby-Rolls. Carly specialises in helping people let go of everything that no longer serves them so they can live less complicated lives.

Mimimalista, Carly Willoughby-Rolls

A less complicated approach to moving house is a notion that most of us would embrace wholeheartedly. Carly shared with Living Smart her top tips for moving house like a minimalist boss.

How to move house minimalist-style

1. Sort through your stuff before moving
2. Throw out or donate any items that do not serve a purpose
3. Take time to go through clothes and donate to charity any quality items that have not been worn recently or don't fit
4. When packing, have a charity box and a rubbish bin in the same room so unwanted items are easily discarded and not thrown in the destination box because you are unsure what else to do with them
5. Pay particular attention to "dust-gathering"; items in garages and corners as well as junk drawers or rooms. Assess the usefulness of each item before packing.
6. If you are moving into a smaller house, don't take furniture that won't fit. Donate it to charity before you move instead.
7. Pack boxes marked "urgent" for basics like kitchen, bedding and toiletries so they can easily be unpacked first on the day of moving

After moving and unpacking the essentials, Carly recommends systematic approach to tackling the remaining boxes to avoid unwanted items returning to their familiar locations in the corner of a wardrobe or the garage.

"Take it slow, perhaps just one box a day. Consider whether you need each item and give everything a place. Avoid having junk rooms or drawers," Carly advises.

Sure, it might be easier said than done. If it all sounds too overwhelming, try this approach with just a couple of cupboards or one room and see how it goes.

Good luck!