Short answer: measure first, plan on paper, and place the large pieces before anything else. Deciding what fits before packing saves time, money and stress on moving day.
Step 1: measure the new home
Get a floor plan from the seller or agent, or measure each room yourself. Note the doors, windows, radiators and sockets, because they limit where furniture can go. Measure doorways, stairs and hallways too, so large pieces can actually get in.
Step 2: measure what you own
List the big items you would like to keep: bed, sofa, wardrobe, dining table, favourite chair. Write down the width, depth and height of each.
Step 3: sketch a simple plan
Draw each room to a simple scale on squared paper, with each square representing a fixed distance. Cut out small paper shapes for the furniture and move them around. Leave clear walking space, especially if mobility may change.
Step 4: decide what does not fit
Anything without a place is a decision. Sell it, pass it to family, donate it or let it go. Our guide on what to do with unwanted furniture when downsizing covers the options, and the downsizing checklist gives you a sorting method.
Step 5: plan the first day
Mark which room each box and piece of furniture will go to, so the removal team can place everything straight away. We label boxes by destination room and, with Silver Comfort and above, unpack and set up the new home.
For the wider picture, see downsizing to a bungalow and our downsizing help for older people.
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