For many Vancouver homeowners, downsizing eventually becomes part of the conversation. The children have moved out, bedrooms sit unused, maintaining the garden takes more time than it once did, and a house that worked beautifully for 20 or 30 years may simply be more space than you need. Moving into a condo can offer a simpler lifestyle with less maintenance, greater security and the freedom to travel without worrying about a large property. But after more than 30 years designing and renovating homes in Vancouver, I’ve found that successful downsizing isn’t simply about finding a smaller home. It’s about finding—or creating—a home that works for the way you want to live next.
Start With How You Want to Live
One of the easiest mistakes to make is deciding how many square feet you want before determining what those square feet actually need to do. Someone leaving a 3,000- or 3,500-square-foot house may assume that a 900- or 1,000-square-foot condo should be more than enough for two people. Mathematically, perhaps it is. From a lifestyle perspective, it can be a much more dramatic transition than expected. Think about what happens when children or grandchildren visit, whether you still want to host dinner for eight, where the furniture and artwork you’ve accumulated over several decades will go, whether you need a home office, and how much storage you realistically require. You may discover that 1,400 or 1,600 square feet gives you the simplicity you’re looking for without requiring you to give up things that remain important. A smaller home can certainly work extremely well, but good downsizing should begin with the question, “How do I want to live?” rather than “How small can I go?”
Look at the Floor Plan Before the Finishes
When people walk into a beautifully presented condo, it’s natural to notice the kitchen cabinetry, countertops, flooring and bathrooms first. As an interior designer, however, I’m usually looking beyond those things because most finishes can be changed. I’m looking at room proportions, ceiling heights, natural light, window locations, circulation, storage and whether the furniture arrangement actually works. These issues become particularly important when downsizing because every square foot needs to perform. A 1,500-square-foot condo with an efficient floor plan can feel more comfortable and useful than a larger property with long hallways, awkward rooms or poorly planned storage. This becomes even more important when purchasing a presale condo from drawings because dimensions on paper don’t always communicate how a finished room will feel once you put a sofa, dining table, chairs and other furniture into it. Before making a major purchase, it can be worthwhile having a designer review the floor plan and help determine whether the property can realistically support the way you want to live.
Include Renovation in the Buying Decision
Another mistake is treating the purchase price as the final cost of the move. Suppose you purchase a 10- or 15-year-old Vancouver condo for $1.5 million. It may look perfectly acceptable during a viewing, but once you begin imagining yourself living there, you realize you want to replace the flooring, improve the lighting, renovate two bathrooms, update the kitchen and add custom millwork and storage. That $1.5-million condo may require a significant additional investment before it becomes the home you envisioned. This doesn’t mean an older condo is necessarily a poor choice. In fact, an older property with excellent proportions, good natural light and a strong underlying floor plan can sometimes be a much better candidate than a newer property with attractive finishes but less usable space. The important thing is understanding the renovation possibilities and likely costs before you buy, rather than discovering them after you move in.
The same thinking applies to the house you’re leaving. If you expect to sell within the next six to 12 months, it may be worth having both a realtor and designer assess the property before deciding what to renovate. You probably don’t need a major renovation before selling, but strategic improvements to paint, flooring, lighting, kitchens or bathrooms can sometimes change the way buyers perceive a dated home. The objective is not to create your dream house for the next owner. It’s to identify where a relatively focused investment might improve presentation and marketability—and where spending additional money simply won’t produce an adequate return.
Downsizing should ultimately be about gaining something rather than simply giving something up. You may have fewer square feet, fewer rooms to maintain and less property to look after, but the home itself can be better aligned with the way you live today. When the floor plan, storage, lighting, furniture and finishes are thoughtfully considered, a smaller home can feel comfortable, generous and highly functional. The goal isn’t simply to live with less space. It’s to make the space you keep work considerably harder for you.
INVITATION TO A NEIGHBOURHOOD TALK
Thinking of Downsizing?
Get practical advice from local experts before you make your move.
Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Kerrisdale Community Centre
5851 West Blvd, Vancouver, BC
Featured Expert Panel
George Verdolaga
Design Principal, Flowform Design Group Ltd.
Interior Design & Home Renovation Expert
Alisa Aragon-Lloyd
Mortgage & Financing Expert
Mortgages Made Simple
Tracy Theemes
Financial Advisor & Wealth Management
Plan Today for Tomorrow
Carolyn Della
Real Estate Expert
Guiding You Home
Della Gough
Real Estate Expert
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Topics include:
How to right-size your home • How to finance your move • How to manage your mortgage • How to renovate or prepare your property
Limited seating — RSVP today!
All are welcome. Bring your questions!
