Decluttering sentimental items is tough! Learn how to get rid of things with sentimental value so you don’t have clutter in your home.
Do you have boxes full of sentimental items scattered around your home? Bins full of your kid’s baby clothes and toys or even furniture inherited from a loved one?
How often do you pull those things out and look at them?
I’m guessing the answer is seldom, if not, never.
And that’s the problem. These items hold a special place in your heart but if you never look at them or use them and they’re just taking up precious space in your home, then they’re clutter.
I totally get how easy it is to attach feelings to an item. I’m a very sentimental person and I like to hold on to things. But, I’ve realized that getting rid of physical items doesn’t get rid of the memories. Those live on in your heart and mind.
It’s hard to decide you’re going to let go of things with meaning but we’ll work through it together.
Here’s how you can go about decluttering sentimental items. There’s a free printable at the end of the post that you can download and use to help this process.
Decluttering Sentimental Items – How to Let Go
1. Give Yourself Time
Getting rid of things with sentimental value is never an easy process. It’s especially difficult if the items belonged to a loved one who has passed or a dream that never quite came true e.g. a child you couldn’t have.
Give yourself time to grieve and to process what has happened. If you need to, box up all the items and label them clearly. In a few months, come back to them and start to go through them.
2. Ask For Help
Sometimes, the sheer size of the decluttering project itself is overwhelming and you just can’t physically manage on your own. This can happen when you’re sorting through the estate left behind by a loved one or even when you’re downsizing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family or friends.
It’s also a good idea to get help when you know it will be tough for you to make decisions about parting with sentimental objects. Ask someone who will have no problem “cracking the whip” and helping you get rid of things.
3. Work In Short Bursts
Sorting through your treasures can be both physically and emotionally draining. Work in intervals of just 2-3 hours at a time. Frequent breaks will allow you to recharge and come back to the task at hand with a fresh mind. Ultimately, you’ll make smarter decisions when you’re not mentally depleted.
4. Limit Space For Things With Sentimental Value
When decluttering sentimental items, determine how much space you want to dedicate to storing them. This can be one storage bin per person in your family or one small storage unit in the garage or basement. Whatever you decide, the objects you keep must fit neatly in that area.
5. Stop Hoarding Sentimental Clutter Because of Guilt
Are you holding on to items because you feel guilty just thinking about getting rid of them? This is a powerful question to ask while purging.
It’s completely normal to feel obligated to keep items you inherited or were given. But, if they serve you no real purpose or you don’t even like them, then they have just become a burden. The burden is on you to find space to keep them and I’m sure the guilt of not enjoying the items is weighing on you as well.
I don’t think whoever gave you those things intended to burden you in any way. I’m sure that they would not want to make you unhappy either. Give yourself grace, let go of guilt and get rid of them.
6. Keep Only The Best
There’s no need for you to get rid of all of your keepsakes but try keeping only the best. We often decide to hold on to an entire collection of things when just one or two pieces will do. For example, if your grandmother gave you her entire fine china set, keep your favourites to display and get rid of the rest.
Baby items are another prime culprit that mothers hold on to. Select a few small pieces that represent very important moments and let go of the others e.g. the blanket you brought them home in and maybe their first pair of shoes.
The important thing to remember here is to be selective. Ask yourself the following:
- Does it have true emotional value?
- Will I display this or will it be in a box forever?
7. Find a Better Home
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, right? Just because you don’t want something doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who will love and cherish that same item.
Ask your family and friends to take a look at any mementos you’ve decided to get rid of. Let them know they can take whatever they like and if there’s nothing they want, then no hard feelings. You don’t want to pressure your friends and family into taking things they don’t want. That would be repeating the vicious cycle you’re currently trying to get yourself out of!
When that’s done, donate whatever’s left. You can easily Google facilities in your neighbourhood.
8. Take Photos or Scan Paperwork
Taking pictures is a great way to hold on to the memory of an item without it taking up physical space in your home. Admittedly, it’s not the best option because you can’t touch the object. But, at least you can still see it and you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged.
If you’re clearing an entire estate, take photos of rooms before you move anything. This is one way to preserve what used to be.
When you have kids, you might have boxes full of your kid’s artwork. Scan them or take photos and store them by year. If your kids are still young, let them know you’re creating a catalogue of their work. This might help soothe the blow when you dump the hard copies. You can even get creative and make holiday cards, digital slide shows or a collage for your desktop wallpaper using the photos.
Taking pictures is also a more convenient way to share memories of sentimental things with multiple people. Consider an album on Facebook or a shared folder in Google Drive.
9. Repurpose and Recycle
You don’t have to keep every single item as is. Think of creative ways to repurpose items as you’re purging. You can makeover furniture so it complements your decor, turn items into jewelry or even create artwork out of objects.
I once watched a TV show where a family was downsizing to a tiny home. They had an old piano that no longer worked but they didn’t want to get rid of it. Instead, they cut the back off, turned it into a headboard and used the section with the keys as the foot of their bed frame. It was very cool and original and you could still clearly see what it used to be. Check out photos of the tiny home here.
Below is a list of 15 creative ways for repurpose and upcycle keepsakes.
Click here to download this list of 15 Uses for Sentimental Objects.
10. Repeat the Decluttering Process
Decluttering is a marathon. Take your time, go slow and get it done.
Every once in a while, sort through your things and get rid of stuff. Over time, you’ll find that the sentimental attachment to objects will fade and it will become easier to let things go.
Decluttering sentimental items is not an easy task. You will have to dig deep. Focus on what you’re gaining instead of what you’re losing i.e. space to store stuff you actually use.
Now, take a deep breath and get started. You can do this!
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