Costco Connection - July 2007

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By Judi Ketteler

WHEN VALERIE RYAN’S four kids left for college, she suddenly found herself with way too much space. The Cannon Beach, Oregon, Costco member downsized from 6,400 to 2,400 square feet—a drastic change that left her pondering what to do with all of her stuff.

“I started by getting rid of bulky things that made no sense to keep,” Ryan says. “But I also thought about ways to maximize every inch of space.” Ryan brought about 70 percent of her things with her—and gave the rest to her kids or to charity.

Careful planning

Today’s empty nesters are wrestling with a common conundrum: After raising their children they finally have the house to themselves again—except now it’s too much space to maintain. “I’ve worked with a lot of empty-nester couples who are moving back to the city after raising their families in the suburbs,” says Chicago interior designer Lauren Enslin. “I always advise them to do three things to make the transition: Assess, edit and plan.”

Assess by making three lists: ( 1) furniture or accessories that you definitely have to take; ( 2) pieces you might take; and ( 3) pieces you definitely don’t need. Hold on to the “maybe” pile, but donate or sell everything in the third group. “I always say that when you downsize

into a new space, there’s just no room for dead weight,” Enslin says.

To plan best, you need two things: the dimensions of the furniture you want to keep and the floor plan of your new space. This helps you look at your situation more objectively. And don’t forget: Just because that dresser was in your living room at your last place doesn’t mean it has to stay there. “Throw your furniture in the air and see where it lands,” says designer and Costco member Lyn Peterson, author of Real Life Renovating (Clarkson Potter, 2006)

Smart shopping

“What’s the fun of starting anew if you don’t get to buy some new pieces?” asks Peterson. In helping many empty nesters transition, she’s noticed that most don’t have an appropriate entertainment/TV console unit. “Getting your husband a great flat-screen TV will soften the blow of any move. Now he can be a cool guy! And put the old boxy TV in the spare room,” Peterson advises.

The Costco Connection Costco warehouses feature a selection of versatile furniture and décor items this month. Additional pieces are available at costco.com.

If you’re a computer user (and what better way is there to stay in touch with family?) Peterson also recommends investing in an ergonomically designed computer desk, versus the old table where the keyboard is practically falling off the edge.

It’s probably time to update your bedroom set, too. “Look for a good solid bed frame that gets the mattress a bit farther off the floor. This leaves room for storage under the bed, plus it’s easier to get up into bed than down into bed,” Peterson says. Think big: Filling a smaller bedroom with a few large pieces (versus lots of smaller ones) makes your space look and feel less cluttered. Case in point: Instead of dainty bedside tables, get a substantial bedside desk or cabinet that has good storage and ample surface space.

Blending old and new

Maybe now is the time to get that great piece you’ve always wanted—such as a leather sofa. However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to buy all new stuff just to match. “Nobody matches anymore. It’s so very last century!” Peterson says. Don’t be afraid to blend types of wood, or set your new, modern-looking leather piece alongside a beloved antique.