Get More From Less: Downsizing to a Condo

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WHEN RODY SAMSON'S 83-year-old mother began having trouble getting around the two-story house they shared in Rockville, he began to consider other living arrangements. He thought a one-level condo might be a better option for them, but he was worried a smaller home might prevent him from hosting family get-togethers.

In the end, though, he didn't have to give up as much space as he had feared. The 3,300-square foot condo he bought in Potomac provides his mother with a more comfortable living environment but also has enough space for gatherings. And the benefits, such as the lack of yardwork, outweigh the downsides, such as limited parking.

"For the most part, I really enjoy it," says Samson, 54. "Plus, I do get a little privacy now. My family has to think twice and call before they show up. I kind of like that. I get a little bit of a warning before they ransack my place."

Samson, who had to toss some furniture before moving from his larger digs into his condo, discovered what many downsizers learn: Making do with less can have its own rewards. However, the initial re-organization and de-cluttering involved in downsizing is a challenge.

"Most people who are downsizing need to get rid of a lot of stuff they've acquired over the years, and that can be very, very hard for people," says Elizabeth Blakeslee, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in D.C. "They need to start doing it the minute the idea comes into their head. It's generally a lot of work, and it can be very emotional, relieving yourself of memories [from] your life."

"I've found that with a lot of my clients, a lot of items they tend to hang onto are either passed down from relatives or are impulse purchases," says D.C.-based interior designer Emily Bishop (923 L St. NE; 202-232-4161; Emilybishop.com). "They tend to hang onto them because they have the room. But when you move into a condo, not every condo has a storage space in the basement. You have to think about where everything will go."

That doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything and start fresh. Before you move, do an inventory of what you own. Determine which items you absolutely must bring with you, and get rid of any multiples and things you just don't need.

Measure your existing furniture and your new spaces to assess what can fit where. "I can't stress enough how important that is," says designer Taniya Nayak, one of the experts on HGTV's "Designed to Sell." "It's more stressful to move a big hunk of furniture from one space to another and then find out it doesn't fit. Measure everything first. And keep a few key pieces that are meaningful to you to bring in no matter what."

When it comes to storage, be resourceful. Install cabinets or shelving overhead to hold items that aren't for everyday use. "In smaller spaces, you're going to want to really get creative with your closet space," says Reston,Va.-based designer Michelle Pilon (11909 Escalante Court; 703-391-0008; Michellepilon.homestead.com). "So, professional organizers are great resources."

Opt for furniture that can do double duty, like storage benches and ottomans. And look for opportunities in wasted space. "A lot of D.C. condos have weird cutouts and angles in them," Bishop says. "My brother and sister-in-law moved into a two-bedroom condo in Columbia Heights, and I was able to extend a wall and build it out so it became a closet for them."

When Arlene Silverman and her husband, Ivan, moved from a five-bedroom home in Rockville to a two-bedroom condo in North Bethesda, they needed a place for their wine collection and two sets of china. Working with Bethesda-based designer Wendy Danziger (7212 Taveshire Way; 301-365-3300; Danzigerdesign.com), they bought some custom units for their living and dining rooms to give them the storage they needed.

"She was just so good with space," says Arlene Silverman, 66, a math content coach at an elementary school in Rockville. "We wound up with what I think is a beautiful home that has everything we want in it. It has a very open feeling and is very uncluttered, yet we have room for everything."

An empty nest helped lead the Silvermans to a condo. For others, it's a financial decision or a desire to shorten their commute. And for folks such as Nayak, who's in the midst of moving from a house to a condo in Boston, it's a chance to simplify your life and live in a more eco-friendly way.

"Moving into a smaller home is great because it forces you to get rid of a lot of stuff," she says. "We live excessively at times, and it makes you kind of pare down and keep only the necessities."

Written by Express contributor Beth Luberecki
Photo by Kevin Dietsch for Express