Thinking about making the move to a smaller space? Our expert shares smart tips on how to downsize without sacrificing the things that make your home feel like you.

Kym Lackmann is the founding director and principal designer of Melbourne-based Luxe Domain. With the rapid growth of the downsizing market, Kym has focused her expertise on the apartment sector, launching her acclaimed book, The Art of Luxury Downsizing. She and her team help empty-nesters and single-person households live “bigger” lives in smaller residences.

For many people, downsizing is viewed with great trepidation. They know it’s the right move, but it stirs up mixed emotions: leaving the family home and all of the memories attached to it, while also facing the reality of the maintenance, cleaning and ageing furniture that comes with owning a family-sized house.
Think of it this way. When we go on holidays, whether it be staying at a hotel or even in a caravan, one wonders at how easy and simple life can be and then the realisation that you do have a yearning for a simpler and updated lifestyle.
So, should you move into one of the new apartments being built in the neighbourhood or into a smaller house with a smaller garden, or is a townhouse better? Aside from the decisions around real estate, very real and often quite emotional decisions need to be made about the contents of your existing home.
Of course, all this is best addressed when you still have the energy and the emotional inclination to adapt to new circumstances rather than when you reach the point of having to move later in life.

When the time comes, it’s important to give yourself the chance to manage all the practicalities (selling your home, financing, temporary storage or accommodation) calmly and without the stress of sorting all your possessions at the same time.
With thoughtful planning and a discerning eye, downsizing really can feel more like an upgrade than a compromise. Here’s how to make the transition seamless, while keeping both your style and favourite things intact.
Remember your ‘why’

What prompted you to decide to downsize? Is it tied to how big your current home feels now that the kids have moved out, or is it all the accumulated ‘stuff’ that’s taking up so much space? Is it the style of the house and its maintenance, the size of the backyard and garden, or do you just want a change of scenery?
Whatever your reason, you just need to keep your eye on the goal and keep moving forward.
Start with the non-negotiables

Before doing anything else, consider which of your possessions you’ll want to keep no matter what.
Start writing a list of the pieces you can’t imagine living without, for example, a favourite armchair, a treasured artwork or beautiful fine china.
Later, when arranging items in your new home, these will be your design anchors. Deciding on these from the start helps ensure your new space feels unmistakably yours.
Curate, don’t just declutter

In the same way that Michelangelo chiselled away at a huge slab of marble to finally reveal the David, think of downsizing as curating your life’s story rather than simply getting rid of things.
We can outgrow collections we started when much younger, and let’s face it, cookbooks, magazines, clothes, toy soldiers, sports equipment, you name it, can all date and become irrelevant. A collection of real value is refined over time, so if you have items of intrinsic value, keep your favourite 3-5 pieces and sell the rest to someone who will appreciate them.
And remember to release the guilt. You shouldn’t feel obligated to keep family heirlooms you don’t love. Pass them onto other family members, sell them or donate them to someone else who will treasure them – if you wouldn’t buy them yourself, it’s OK to let them go.
From this point on, only keep the useful, beautiful and much-loved, and let go of what no longer serves your new lifestyle. Aim to use and display the pieces you keep beautifully in your new home.
I cannot stress enough how cathartic this process can be.
Plan for your new lifestyle, not just your new floor plan

Consider what your daily activities will be when you move. Will you continue cooking and entertaining as much as you do now, or will you do more? Are there interests you’d like to pursue now that you’ll have more time?
Your next home may have a smaller footprint, but it should work more efficiently for you. Consider storage solutions, multipurpose furniture, home automations and enhancements such as built-in shelving or a statement fireplace to maximise both function and style.
Blend the Old with the New

Let’s face it, a successful downsize isn’t about starting from scratch; it’s about blending your non-negotiables with new items like custom cabinetry, contemporary lighting, or updated upholstery. All of these items will breathe new energy into cherished items and help them to be more relevant to the architecture of the building you’re moving to.
This balance creates a layered, lived-in elegance.

You’ve earned the right to have a home that truly reflects your style. Having support with both the downsizing and the decorating can make your transition so much smoother and more joyful.
From helping you reconfigure cabinetry in an off-the-plan apartment to handling the sale and distribution of unneeded items and arranging white-glove relocation services, having expert guidance means you arrive in your new home fully settled, beautifully styled and ready to enjoy your next chapter.
This liberating and exciting experience gives you a chance to curate a home that reflects who you are now, not just who you’ve been. You’ll step into a new home that feels fresh, elegant and entirely your own and one you’ll love sharing with your family and friends regularly.
Are you dreaming of downsizing, or dreading the whole process? Leave us a comment below.
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- 27 Aug 2025
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