Downsizing

I have no advice to offer as we are looking at doing this ourselves soonish, and will therefore follow the replies you get, with interest.
The one thing I have done is started a monumental declutter: cupboard cupboard and room by room.

We have just downsized from a large four bedroomed house in London to a small bungalow. I was quite ruthless in getting rid of furniture and other possessions before we left and could even have left behind more if I'd thought about it. The main problem now is storage for things like linen and towels which I used to keep in the spare room built in wardrobes. You also need to think about decor and furnishings. Don't bother to bring lots of curtains or blinds with you because the chances are they won't look right or even fit in your new property. Downsizing to a new place isn't better or worse, it's just different and focuses the mind.

Eli Anne, thank you for your final sentence, I am going to write it on a piece of card and stick it on the wall so I can read it when I get my attacks of cold feet.(frequent).

I'm glad I downsized, but regret not buying a bungalow.
Ten years ago, I moved from a very large house and large garden, to a not so large house with a very small garden.
I wish I'd bought a bungalow instead.
I could probably sell up again and buy a bungalow, but the thought !!!!!! So I shall stay here.
A very wise old friend who had a really rickety old house, with a rickety old staircase, told me, when asked why she didn't move to a bungalow, that going down the stairs in the morning and up the stairs at night was the only exercise she had all day. Bless her !

We’ve had threads about this before on gransnet, and I think the consensus has been that the reality is a lot better than the prospect. What helped me, downsizing from the family home of 30+ years to a two bedroom apartment, was Marie Kondo’s book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying.” One of her recommendations was to sort by type rather than by room or cupboard. It also addressed the emotional aspects. I was lucky in that I could afford to sell or donate nearly all of my furniture and buy new to fit in a smaller home. But it really is my home, and I am very happy here. It’s a good idea to future- proof your home too: can you walk to shops etc or use public transport, are there enough facilities and places of interest easily accessible, will you feel safe if you are on your own. I’ve attached a photo of my living room nicely tidied after grandchildrens’ visit!

That's what I want - easy clean floors instead of dust filled carpets. Nice room Doramarr.