Downsizing? Start With How You Actually Live

Downsizing looks different for everyone. Some people want a kitchen that can host the extended family, and some live on freezer meals dropped off by the extended family. Some need room for three vintage cars, and some don't drive at all.

That's why there's no one right answer. We're here to help you work through what matters to you and find the solution that fits.

To get you started, here are the questions worth asking yourself, plus a few things worth planning for whatever your answers are.

Part 1: Questions worth asking yourself

Who comes over, and how often?

If birthdays, Christmas and Sunday roasts happen at your place, the kitchen and dining area might be where you keep the space, with an island and room for a crowd. If the family tends to gather elsewhere, a more compact kitchen frees up room for something you'll use more.

What's in your garage, and what will be?

For some it's classic cars, a workbench and a collection of tools. For others it's one small car, or no car at all. A big garage is worth every square metre if you'll use it. If you won't, that space could become a hobby room or a studio, or simply come off the footprint.

How much are you bringing with you?

Some people are moving a lifetime of treasures, and others are ready for a clean slate. Be honest about what's coming with you, and plan storage to suit, so you're not short of cupboards or paying for ones you'll never fill.

What do you want to stop doing?

For a lot of people, it's mowing lawns and keeping on top of a big section. For others, the garden is the whole point of the move. Knowing which camp you're in shapes the section you choose and how the outside is planned. Because we take care of everything from earthworks to landscaping, either way it's sorted when you move in.

Part 2: A few things worth planning for

Make the spare room work twice as hard

If you'd still like somewhere for the grandkids (or the kids) to stay, a guest room that sits empty most of the year is a lot of floor space doing nothing. Plan it as a sewing room, office or hobby space that converts easily for sleepovers, with a wardrobe and enough room for a bed or sofa bed. You get a room you use every week, plus the spare room for when the family visits.

Plan for the campervan or boat now

If there's a campervan, caravan or boat in your future, plan for it from day one. That means side access wide enough to get it through, a gate that suits, enough height clearance, and a power point nearby to keep the battery topped up. It's much easier (and cheaper) to sort at the design stage than to retrofit later.

Think about the next 20 years

The home you build now should still work for you down the track. Single-level living, a level entry, comfort height toilets, a walk-in shower and wider hallways and doorways are small decisions now that make a big difference later.

Follow the sun

On a smaller section, orientation matters even more. Think about where you'll spend your mornings, whether that's a cuppa and the paper or the daily sudoku at the dining table, and make sure that spot gets the sun. Set up your outdoor space somewhere sheltered from the prevailing wind too. A warm, sunny home is cheaper to heat and much nicer to spend your days in, especially once you're home more often.

Final thoughts

There's no one-size-fits-all downsize, and that's the point. Your answers to those questions are where a good design starts.

That's what Design & Build is all about. We sit down with you, work out what matters and what doesn't, and design a home around it. If you'd like a starting point, our plan library has everything from a cosy one-bedroom to a five-bedroom lifestyle home, and every plan can be customised to suit.

Thinking about your next move? Flick us a message and we'll talk it through. We've got this.