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Letting go of space, stuff and sentimentality opened the door to a lifestyle better matched to our empty-nest reality
Author Colleen Brannan and husband took the leap and downsized from their family home to a Plaza-Midwood apartment. (Photo courtesy of Colleen Brannan)
by Colleen Brannan
For five years, my husband Scott and I talked about downsizing the way people talk about taking a vacation from social media or canceling the Peloton family membership: confidently with zero follow-through.
We had a great five-bedroom, five-bathroom house for 10 years. It was perfect for raising kids, hosting holidays and storing things we were saving “just in case.” Then the kids moved out, one to Atlanta, the other to Los Angeles. They were fully launched and thriving, which is exactly what you want — until you realize you’re still living in a house built for a life that no longer exists.
So, after five years of talking about it, we compressed the exercise into five weeks. We decluttered, donated and put the house on the market in time for spring. Surprisingly, it worked. There is a real upside to downsizing.
If you’re on the fence and considering the same, here’s our five-step plan for inspiration:
Step 1: Talk about it for years
Before anything changed, we spent years casually toying with the idea. This included:
Not going upstairs in our own house. On the rare occasion we did, walking into empty rooms saying, “Man, this is a lot of unused space.”
Opening a closet, shaking our heads at the “Prom-posal” poster that greeted us, and closing it again.
Agreeing it makes sense… someday, but what if one of the kids moves back home?
Nothing happened, but it felt like progress just thinking about it.
Step 2: Compress five years into five weeks
Then something shifted when we realized we were spending a lot of time in other areas of town and maintaining museums of our children. Suddenly, it was go time. We started asking better questions:
“Why do we own this many charging cords, cutting boards and colanders?”
“Is there still a chance we’ll use our wedding china and crystal?”
“How many grade school art projects should be kept?”
“How is the centerpiece from our wedding 26 years and eight moves ago still with us?”
At that point, life became a fun game of Keep. Trash. Donate. Everything got assigned, not always correctly, but decisively. We also called the kids home to go through their things, expecting hesitation. There was none. Items we thought were untouchable, like pottery art and hand drawn world maps, were met with a calm, “Yeah, that can go.” Their discard pile looked like what we would have kept. Turns out Mom and Dad were the sentimental ones.
Step 3: Move first
We had lived next to our kids’ school since the elementary years, and life there felt comfortable. But we were stuck in a chapter that had ended. So instead of living in the house while trying to sell it — which is mostly hiding evidence our family of four ever lived there — we moved out first.
We traded our 4,000 sq. ft. house for a 1,400 sq. ft. luxury apartment at The Rowe at Commonwealth in Plaza Midwood. We signed a one-year lease to make sure the neighborhood was right before buying another house, which will be our ninth overall and third in Charlotte. This meant no scrambling to clean up for last-minute showings and learning to share small spaces again. Our first house in Atlanta was smaller than the apartment!
Our house went under contract in 10 days, and we got the offer on Master’s Sunday, while sitting on the patio at Moo & Brew. Now, mornings are full of coffee at The Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters, happy hours on the roof of Whiskey Warehouse and impromptu dinners at Uchi and Supperland.
Step 4: Redefine what ‘downsizing’ means
Downsizing sounds like loss, but it isn’t. We both work uptown, so our commute is now five minutes, down from 15-20. We now enjoy less planning and Lyfts, more walking and a lifestyle that matches our empty-nester stage. Sometimes that looks like popping over to The Workman’s Friend or discovering new places like the speakeasy at El Malo called Hermanita. It’s less about losing space and more about finding your next adventure.
Step 5: Stop worrying about whether you belong
We moved smack into the center of one of Charlotte’s trendiest neighborhoods with just one question: Are we cool enough to live here, or do people think we’re visiting our children? Turns out no one cares. People are too busy living their own lives to judge ours.
We didn’t downsize because we were ready. We did it because we were honest about how we live and what we want.
The upside of downsizing isn’t less house. It’s more life in the right place, at the right time, with places to walk without planning, a senior dog who adjusted faster than we did, two full storage units and far fewer boxes labeled “just in case.”
We even let go of the dusty, petrified wedding centerpiece — along with the South Beach Diet book, Big Mouth Billy Bass and George Foreman grill. The hardest thing to get rid of isn’t the stuff. It’s the version of your life you’ve already outgrown.
Colleen Brannan owns BRANSTORM PR and is a 30+ year public relations veteran. She has written humor columns for The Charlotte Ledger since 2020, drawing from her own experiences and observations. Find her on Instagram and LinkedIn or drop a line to colleen@branstorm.com.
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This week in Charlotte: Spirit Airlines goes out of business, Parents push for play-based learning; Atrium plans merger with WakeMed; Charlotte Ballet proposes affordable housing for artists; Truist to add tech hub in India
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Push for play-based learning: (Ledger🔒) Families and teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say academic demands are crowding out play-based learning, with tight schedules leaving little time for hands-on activities.
CMS magnet plan may face delays: (WFAE) During Tuesday’s meeting, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education members raised concerns about limited demographic data from community feedback sessions, saying it’s unclear whether all areas were represented.
UNC opens Washington D.C. office: (Press Release) UNC Chapel Hill is launching a new Capitol Hilloffice to give students and alumni a base in D.C. and strengthen its presence in national policy discussions.
Politics
NC Democrats propose cost-of-living bills: (NC Newsline) Democratic lawmakers introduced measures to raise the minimum wage, expand housing development and regulate data centers as part of an effort to address rising costs for North Carolina families.
Charlotte names new deputy city manager: (Press Release) Rebecca Hefner has been appointed deputy city manager after more than a decade with the city. Dr. Raquishela Stewart will step into Hefner’s previous role leading Housing & Neighborhood Services.
N.C. lawmakers switch to unaffiliated after primary loss: (NC Newsline) Nasif Majeed left the Democratic Party days after colleague Carla Cunningham did the same. Their moves could impact upcoming veto override votes, where Republicans may need their support.
Local news
Limits on using water to start May 15 (Ledger): As drought conditions worsen, Charlotte Water will impose its first mandatory restrictions since 2007–2009 starting May 15 — limiting lawn watering, banning at-home car washing and threatening $100 fines — to cut water use by up to 10%.
A grand leap forward on North Tryon: (Ledger🔒) The Charlotte Ballet is proposing an $80M project to expand its uptown campus and add 78 affordable housing units for artists, aiming to boost space for performances and revitalize the North Tryon corridor.
Calls for I-77 toll project pause: (WFAE) The Charlotte City Council is considering a resolution asking state transportation officials to halt any irreversible work on the Interstate 77 toll lanes until further analysis is completed.
Art meets accessibility: (Ledger🔒) A new one-mile “Braille Trail” in north Charlotte will feature interactive, multi-sensory art designed for both sighted visitors and those who are blind or visually impaired. The project is spearheaded by Lions Services and will debut its first of four installations on May 21.
Business
Spirit shuts down: Spirit Airlines, which had up to 10 flights a day out of Charlotte’s airport, is winding down its operations and has canceled its flights effective today, according to a message posted on its website this morning. It said “guests should not go to the airport” and provided information on how to request refunds.
Truist to add tech hub in India: (Charlotte Business Journal, subscriber-only) Truist has awarded a $500M+ contract to Infosys Ltd. to build and operate a tech hub in Hyderabad, India, that will employ at least 4,500 people, supporting IT, operations and potentially HR and finance functions as the bank expands and brings more work in-house.
Atrium plans merger with WakeMed: (Ledger/N.C. Health News) Atrium Health’s proposed combination with WakeMed Health & Hospitals would expand its reach into the Raleigh market, strengthening its scale and bargaining power as it continues a rapid growth strategy.
In memoriam: (Ledger) Chris Thomas, a longtime executive at Childress Klein and key figure in SouthPark’s development, passed away on April 29, after a brief battle with liver cancer. He is remembered for his leadership in commercial real estate and deep involvement in Charlotte community organizations.
Sports
McIlroy coming to Quail Hollow: (Press Release) The PGA Tour said Masters champion Rory McIlroy is confirmed to play in next week’s Truist Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Small businesses brace for water restrictions. Plus: Big plans for prominent uptown plaza; Myers Park High golf cart heist; Charlotte Observer is hiring an editor; Review of "Horizon of Khufu” VR exhibit; Charlotte tech company to merge; Lebda mansion for sale
Wednesday (🔒)
A lift for North Tryon. Plus: Luxury uptown hotel guests complain about street noise; 'Braille Trail' to debut near NoDa; Hospital board schedules 4-hour closed session; McIlroy in for Quail Hollow
Friday (🔒)
The push for play. Plus: Mandatory water restrictions expected; Apartment construction hits 11-year low; Tips on college admissions; Toppman reviews Mint's Caravaggio exhibit; Possible delay for CMS magnet changes
Ways of Life (🔒)
In memoriam: Jerry Peppard, always up for fun. Also remembered: The national editor at The Charlotte Observer; a head nurse at the emergency room in Mercy Hospital; a longtime bus driver with CMS; an accountant and frequent speaker at tax conferences
Striking out in goal production. Plus: Defensive issues showing, Banner departing, Leagues Cup announced, advancing New England and more
Caravaggio goes for Baroque: The “Caravaggio/Revolution" exhibit runs through Oct. 25 at The Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon St.
Apartments on hold. Plus: Crescent CEO steps down; Averitt to establish large campus in Steele Creek; Charlotte’s short-term rental market heats up; Microunit project for South End; Golftec tees up another Charlotte location