6 Unconventional Ways to Downsize Your Home

Downsizing your home is one of the ways people finance their retired lifestyle. It’s not just for financial peace of mind.

There are many reasons people choose to downsize, such as saving money, simplifying life, or adapting to new circumstances.

It might be that you want to shed the responsibilities of repainting the flaky ceiling, mowing the lawn, and fixing the squeaky door.

Or maybe you’re an empty nester looking forward to that dream retirement lifestyle. Your empty home now feels like a millstone in the guise of the place where you live. Downsizing can also affect your kids—perhaps your grown children have moved out, or you’re thinking about creating new memories with grandchildren in a more manageable space.

Perhaps it’s a combination. You’re worried that your home is now really beyond your means. And, you want to feel free as air. Suddenly, it comes to you. Upsize your life by downsizing your house! Use the released equity to fund the adventurous life that you dreamed of for your retirement, while planning for the future and considering how these decisions will impact your long-term goals. Or just buy into a new way of life.

You want to do something gloriously different. But what and how? Having a plan is essential when approaching unconventional downsizing. Take a look at these 7 wacky and unconventional ways to live life differently in retirement.

Downsizing

Downsizing your home can feel like a daunting task, but it’s also an incredible opportunity for a fresh start. Whether you’re moving from a larger home to a smaller space, or simply want to create a more clutter free home, the downsizing process is about more than just getting rid of stuff—it’s about making room for what truly matters in your life. By planning carefully and focusing on your well being, you can save money, reduce stress, and create a living space that feels organized and welcoming. Downsizing your home gives you the chance to rethink your living space, prioritize your family’s needs, and enjoy the freedom that comes with less clutter and more intention. With the right tips and ideas, you’ll find that downsizing isn’t just about letting go—it’s about creating a new space that supports your goals, your happiness, and your sense of home.

Assessing Your Belongings

Before you dive into the downsizing process, take some time to thoughtfully assess your belongings. This is your chance to decide what truly deserves a place in your new space. Start by sorting through your items and ask yourself: Do I use this? Does it bring me joy? Is it worth the cost of storing or maintaining? Sentimental items can be especially tough to part with, but remember, you don’t have to get rid of everything—just focus on keeping what’s most meaningful and useful. Consider donating items that no longer serve you, so they can bring value to someone else. By making informed decisions and involving your family in the process, you’ll create a plan that works for everyone. The goal isn’t to strip your life bare, but to create a clutter free home that feels comfortable, organized, and uniquely yours.

The AirBnB Retirement Lifestyle of Travel 

My admiration goes out to the senior nomads, Michael and Debbie Campbell from Seattle, who are a great example of unconventional downsizing. Way back in 2013, they took off to live in AirBnB’s for their retirement. They loved it so much that in 2015 they sold their house! They say on their blog seniornomads.com, “Our goal was to live our daily lives in other people’s homes just as we would if we’d retired in Seattle – so far the experience has been everything we’d hoped for.”

Their story is one of amazing travel and adventures. They’ve now stayed in over 265 AirBnB’s in more than 300 cities in 85 countries. And Michael told me that the pandemic has not stopped them. They are looking forward to many more years on the road.

Read more about this great way to downsize here. It’s incontrovertibly unconventional!

Downsize to a Boat

When my husband and I became empty-nesters, we did up the house and then decided that it didn’t really work for us. We wanted to downsize so that we could travel without having the problems of a garden.

We didn’t find anywhere that was just right. But I did see an advert for a houseboat. We found a Dutch barge in Germany and took it on a nerve-wracking journey down the Dutch canals to Harlingen where we had it refitted to modern standards.

The main living space was an open kitchen living room with central heating, built-in German kitchen with appliances like the dishwasher, fridge freezer, and washing machine, gas hob and full-sized, built-in fridge freezer, bathroom with bathtub, shower, washing machine and drier, and two cabins with built-in wardrobes.

When moving onto the boat, we had to pack our belongings into boxes and carefully decide what could be stored on the boat versus what needed to be left behind. Only essential items were stored on the boat due to limited space.

We took the boat back across the English Channel and up the River Thames to moor it in Docklands, right in the heart of the new financial center for London.

Then, we gave her up after we moved abroad. We still live on a boat for 5 or 6 months of the year when we can. And we have a number of friends who live on boats either part or full time.

Focusing on One Room

When the idea of downsizing your entire home feels overwhelming, the best way to start is by focusing on one room at a time. Pick a single space—maybe the kitchen, a guest room, or even just a closet—and begin there. Breaking the process into smaller, manageable steps helps you avoid burnout and makes the task feel less intimidating. As you work through each room, you’ll build momentum and confidence, making it easier to tackle the rest of your home. Celebrate your progress along the way, and remember that every box packed or item donated is a step closer to your clutter free home. By concentrating on one room, you’ll see real results quickly, and your new space will start to take shape before you know it.

Try an RV to Realize Your Travel Dreams

If you’re not so keen on water but your dream is to roam the country, then the RV lifestyle could be for you. Apparently, more than 1 million Americans have retired to the road and AARP has lots of advice on how to do it.

Margo Armstrong thinks the ‘RV lifestyle is a dream come true’. (And that just happens to be the title of one of her books.) She has been living in an RV for 26 years and 11 of them have been on her own. She has two websites and a podcast, all about the RV life. She’s written 10 books, all available on Amazon.

Before moving into an RV, many people sell unneeded belongings, which can provide extra money for travel or other financial goals. Moving into an RV also means adapting to a much smaller place, so making the most of limited space with creative storage solutions is essential.

She’ll tell you exactly how to go about the RV lifestyle. She knows all about special opportunities for RV-ers, the best rigs, the best parks, the best places to see. She tells you how to earn extra income or live rent-free by working in National Parks or RV parks.

Margo is a walking advert for the joys of the RV life.  What a way to fulfill that dream of traveling. Why not take it for a test drive?

Seeking Help

Downsizing doesn’t have to be a solo journey. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help from family members, friends, or even professional organizers. Sometimes, an outside perspective can help you see your belongings—and your space—in a new light. Loved ones can offer support, share memories, and help you make tough decisions about sentimental items. If emotional barriers are holding you back, a professional can guide you through the process, offering expert tips and strategies to make downsizing easier. Whether you need help sorting, packing, or just a little encouragement, reaching out for support can turn a daunting task into a fun way to connect and create a clutter free home together.

Snowbirds in Reverse – Winter in the Mountains and Summer by the Sea

Florida and Mexico are filled with snowbirds running from the cold of the winter to a warm winter in the south. Our Swedish friends are similar, spending the winters in Portugal and the summers in the beauty of those Swedish islands in the Baltic Sea.

But friends Pierre and Jadranka do exactly the opposite! They downsized from a large house in London with many rooms after all the children had left home, which required careful consideration of what to keep. Now, they have a beautiful apartment in the mountains in Switzerland and an apartment on the stunning coast of Croatia. Living in two apartments means adapting to less space and enjoying a simpler lifestyle. Their new homes are perfect for family and friends to visit during different seasons.

And, they enjoy the snow in winter and swimming in the sea in summer.  It’s the kind of healthy life that encourages longevity.

Organizing and Decluttering

Once you’ve decided what to keep, it’s time to organize and declutter your new space for maximum comfort and efficiency. Make the most of your smaller home by investing in built in storage solutions, multi-purpose furniture, and clever organizing tools. Store only what you truly need and use, and find creative ways to keep your living space tidy—think under-bed storage, wall-mounted shelves, or hidden compartments. Regularly review your belongings to prevent clutter from creeping back in, and make it a habit to donate or sell items you no longer need. By staying organized and embracing the decluttering process, you’ll enjoy a clutter free home that feels spacious, welcoming, and perfectly suited to your new lifestyle.

The Co-housing Movement

Imagine having friends nearby to do things with and all the maintenance of your own place taken care of. It could make life as you age a whole lot more fun.

Based on a Danish housing concept from the 1960s, the cohousing movement is designed to foster connections with people with whom you share values. The idea is gaining ground both in the US and in Europe.

Take a look at these case studies. Some projects are intergenerational, others are designed to be green, some are only for women and some are specially designed for older people.

Residents own their own homes but pay towards communal expenses for communal facilities. Residents often share or repurpose furniture and other items, including multifunctional furniture and adaptable storage solutions, to make the most of communal spaces. The residents are responsible for how the community functions and achieving the right balance between privacy and community for that group.

The unifying idea is to build connections and community, to help people live satisfying, rich lives, where all the members are nurtured and thrive, whatever their age.

Build or Move to your Own Eco-house

If you are concerned about the environment and climate change, try downsizing your consumption of the planet’s resources with an eco-house. If they are built to the highest standards, they are carbon neutral. You can generate your own electricity, selling excess to the electricity company.

Or you can take on the project of a lifetime and build your own eco-house. An engineer friend of mine built himself a beautiful house from wood that looked like a traditional farmhouse.

It’s quite possible to make one from traditional materials such as cob, mud, straw, cork, or soil. I even saw one in Spain built into the rock.

You benefit from tiny running costs, as the cost of utilities and maintenance is much lower in an eco-house. By choosing an eco-friendly home, you can save a significant amount of money on energy bills and upkeep, with many homeowners surprised at how much can be saved over time. Plus, there is the bonus of a splendid feeling of moral superiority! Find out more here.

Your Downsizing Retirement Lifestyle

The big question is how you’re going to live after you’ve downsized. It’s important to decide what kind of retirement lifestyle you want, as this choice will guide your future plans. So, dream up your dream retirement lifestyle and fund it by downsizing your home.

Imagine that you’ve let your imagination run riot on what you could do in that dream retirement. Maybe you could be like Margo and travel in an RV. Or like my husband and me, go for a life on the ocean wave.

If your environmental conscience pricks you (as ours does), then try an eco-house. Or if you worry about feeling isolated and lonely as you age, look for a co-housing community.

There are so many ways to make your life in retirement more interesting, and making informed decisions about where and how to live can help you achieve your dream retirement lifestyle. Downsizing can be the way to realizing your dream retirement lifestyle.

Do you have questions about the downsizing lifestyle? Ask your questions at the bottom of this page. We want to hear from you!

This article was written by Rosemary Bointon. She helps older people work out what to do now to live longer, in better health with more fun and adventures. She’s a certified content writer. You can find her at https://writer.me/rosemary-bointon/,  www.longlifefunlife.com, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

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