}); Your email address will not be published. Pick a favorite old trophy (remember tip #2! Press some flowers from your significant other. Letting go is hard but can also bring peace and healing. Does this object still have life? And it might make the process of letting go easier if you know someone will be benefiting from getting your lightly-used stuff inexpensively or for free. Learn more about becoming a Certified Consultant and sharing your love of tidying with the world. Youre probably familiar with that feeling too. Well get you started with the right storage plan for you. That means taking personal responsibility for deciding what sparks joy and what we can discard from our lives. If you are just finding this post and youre new to the Konmari method, please go back and read this introductory post to help you get acquainted with what Im talking about and why its so effective. Ceremoniously trash them. Keep your favourite 5 snow globes from your childhood or your favourite 3 broaches you inherited from your grandmother. The sentimental stuff takes longer to go through and the decisions are harder than other decluttering projects. Youll feel a lot better, and that stuff wont be taking up any more space. Its best to keep them on two different hard drives and somewhere in the cloud, to make sure all your bases are covered. Once youve reached out to the person and taken a photo of the object, let go of that object. Your email address will not be published. Tips, tricks, and endless ways to make more space in your life. Try keeping them in a nice box or album and storing them in a place that sparks joy, like a bookshelf or coffee table, Marie suggests. Cards from past Valentines Days? Baby toys, baby clothes, band t-shirts from exes, artwork, and furniture are just a few examples of sentimental objects that can easily be given new life. He or she can also help keep you focused and stop you from going too far down memory lane. You will also receive bi-weekly emails highlighting the latest blog posts, organizing products and practical tips that maximize space, optimize time and simplify life. If deep inside you know an item has already served its purpose. If youre decluttering your home and need some help, check out my workshop 30 Days to a Tidy{er} Home. If you have old photos, follow these rules for making sure they remain undamaged in storage. The belongings ARE NOT the person. that successfully tidying up requires that we keep the focus firmly on ourselves. Could someone else get something out of it? Heres why you can trust us. While this may seem obvious, its often forgotten when dealing with sentimental items. Let your imagination go wild on this one. We can still honor our past while letting go of excess. Let them serve as a reminder of how far youve come and encourage you to reach new, joyful heights. With this week complete, weve gone through the entire Konmari method and it feels so good! Do I feel connected to this item or to the memory it represents? Could you take a photo of the item? Let's do it together! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Overwhelmed by DIY? to make saying goodbye easier. That is not the case truly precious memories will never vanish even if you discard things associated with them, Marie says. I'm Amanda, and I live in the suburbs of Austin, Texas with my husband and two sons. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Being selective is key. If your grandfather loved to fish, rather than keeping all his gear unseen in boxes in the garage, honour his memory with a shadow box of his favourite items. If you have a very large amount of things, find a local organization that you value and want to support with your donations. And, for the sentimental items that you decide to keep, Marie reinforces an important step from her living room and kitchen storage ideas. Weve got you covered with those special items you just cant bear to let go of. Check our comprehensive guide on where to donate clothes, books, furniture, toys, cell phones, and more. Clutter is a registered trademark of Clutter, Inc. Will I forget a part of this memory if I let this go? In most cases, I advocate for decluttering all of the other areas of your house first and saving the room that has most of the sentimental items last. If you cant fathom getting rid of sentimental items in your home, dont! Next,schedule a Clutter pickup, pack your stuff, and leave the rest to us. It can be hard to think rationally as we look over items that are emotionally charged. Once you let go of the idea that displaying something has to mean its visible to everyone, youll find that there are a million way to repurpose your sentimental items into things around your house that youll see and love every day. Joy at Work| from Amazon (opens in new tab). Ask yourself the hard questions like: Do I need all these Mickey Mouse sculptures my grandma gave me displayed on the coffee table? Sometimes we are hanging on to the past. Below are 8 tips that will help you declutter sentimental items so you can enjoy your memories and your space. This is a topic that many of us want to avoid in decluttering. Giving sincere thanks to an item will significantly reduce or even eliminate any guilt you may feel when you decide that you will no longer have it in your home, she explains. The strong feelings attached to these things make it difficult to let them go. Of course, some mementos inspire us to work on becoming the best versions of ourselves. Sharing her beloved storage ideas exclusively with H&G, Marie reveals how to achieve any organized home whilst preserving the memories of a loved one. Just make sure you store the photos somewhere secure, and back them up too. Decluttering all sentimental items at once will leave you physically and emotionally drained. We definitely dont condone lighting anything on fire definitely not outside, in a controlled, well-ventilated area . However, that thought process actually diminishes the impact the person had on our lives. If that helps you, thats fine. You can donate clothing, furniture, dinnerware, and a whole lot more to charities and other organizations that help people in need. If youre ready to give, but your friends dont really need anything, donating is another great option. We honor our loved ones legacies by remembering who they were, the experiences we shared, and what we learned from them. As always, Id love to hear how its going for you leave a comment here or shoot me an email to let me know how youre doing! Choose an album over a photo box, so you can easily revisit these memories during quiet moments or share them with visiting friends and family. It takes up very little space, and Jackson and I like to look through it a few times a year. Printed photos that are too hard to keep? Lets choose not to burden each other with stuff. What do you do with all of the items you now know you wont use and dont want to continue to hold on to? 6 of the Best Articles on Decluttering | Live Organized, Live Simple, How the buy nothing project helps me simplify - The Simplicity Habit, Reasons you keep clutter and how to overcome them - The Simplicity Habit, The best ways to responsibly donate your clutter - The Simplicity Habit, Methods for decluttering your entire home - The Simplicity Habit, What simplicity looks like - The Simplicity Habit, Easy things to declutter from your home - The Simplicity Habit, Why emotional clutter is difficult and how to let it go - The Simplicity Habit, Why minimalism is the right fit for me - The Simplicity Habit, How to help kids who struggle with decluttering - The Simplicity Habit, Decluttering lies and the truths that will set you free - The Simplicity Habit, The most popular decluttering and simplifying posts of the year - The Simplicity Habit, How to simplify and organize paperwork in your home - The Simplicity Habit, Decluttering mistakes you need to stop making - The Simplicity Habit, How to declutter when you love your stuff - The Simplicity Habit, How reverse decluttering can help you downsize - The Simplicity Habit, What extreme decluttering is and how to know if it's for you - The Simplicity Habit, The best ways to dispose of your clutter - The Simplicity Habit, 5 Steps to Declutter Your Attic and Repurpose the Space, How to Make Your Home Feel Like An Airbnb, 7 Ways Sustainability and Minimalism Go Hand in Hand, How to Start Decluttering Your House: A Room by Room Guide, How to Streamline Your Kitchen to Maximize Efficiency. Make whatever you do into a sort of ritual. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Have a trusted friend help you if needed. If so check out our Consultant Certification Course and see if its right for you. In addition to creating albums for your photos, I also have always loved the idea of creating photo albums of kid artwork and crafts! What To Do With Sentimental Items (And How To Store Them). It might even feel therapeutic. A collection of pretty photo albums will look great sitting on any shelf in your home, and youre much more likely to enjoy the photos that way. Click here to learn more and if youre interested in a quick sample, CLICK HERE to get the first week for FREE! We cant count the number of times weve opened a dusty box of memories determined to free up space, just to find those special long-forgotten objects (like your grandmothers dish set). Learn more about becoming a certified KonMari Consultant and sharing your love of tidying with the world. As you move through the category, dont force yourself to let go of anything youre not sure about. The reason behind this is decluttering gets easier as you go. Another option is to post in your local buy nothing group. We find its easiest to separate things into three piles: Once youve sorted your sentimental items into categories, its time to figure out the best way to either give them new life, or send them on their way. The whole idea is that you should purge all of the things that dont really bring you any happiness so that you have more room in your home for the things that do! If youre ready to do the former, read along. Lets live lightly, freely, courageously, surrounded only by what brings joy, simplicity, and beauty. Shauna Niequist. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a441aae40770c7414ee077d63a1ad9c6" );document.getElementById("b9e048ea92").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Plus, Marie offers her advice for disregarding pieces sustainably suggesting that you look towards ethical resources including The Junkluggers (opens in new tab), Terracycle (opens in new tab), Freecycle (opens in new tab)and Earth911 (opens in new tab). The feelings reside in you. To read about Heathers journey, from criminal prosecutor to professional organizer, click here. Even if you just tuck it inside a kitchen cabinet where youll see it every day but no one else will, thats better than leaving it locked up in the attic and never looking at it! Now, lets jump in and chat about sentimental items and mementos! Make sure youre in the right mindset and ready to let go. Check back on July 16th when Ill be ending the decluttering series with easy tips to keep your space clutter-free. Theyll love seeing their artwork in a book and youll love that its not taking over your entire house! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To find out more about Heather, click here. To push past any lingering uncertainty, try asking a few additional questions like: Why is it hard for me to let go of this heirloom? But how do you achieve this mindset? Much like you used the KonMari Method to handle other categories in the home, we recommend collecting them together in one place. window.fd('form', { Follow the development of Maries philosophy and the method she developed to organize the world. Marie often reminds KonMari Method beginners that successfully tidying up requires that we keep the focus firmly on ourselves. Place a piece of fabric from a favourite fishing shirt, a photo of him fishing, and a lucky lure in it. These are the sentimental items that spark joy and they deserve a designated place in your home. Aside from the ceremoniously trash stuff tip, this might be the most fun option. A native New Yorker, Marc has covered some of entertainment's biggest events, including The Grammys, Met Gala, MTVs Video Music Awards, VH1s Trail Blazer Honors and Varietys Women of Power luncheon. Note: If you are reading this in a feed reader, you may need to click over to the full blog post to see the video! When we have a clearout, most of us tend to focus on what were going to throw away, but what we should concentrate on instead is what were going to keep, she says. I'm Julianna. Thats great for digital photos, but what about the old printed photos that you dont have the heart to get rid of? But if something is buried in a box or at the bottom of a drawer, its not honouring anyone or anything. Hold on to the rest with absolute certainty! We create a yearbook for our family each and every year that contains aaaaall of the sweet memories from the year. It allows you to consolidate a lot of memories into a smaller footprint, and the photo book is much more likely to stay preserved than the papers alone would. When letting go of an item associated with a lot of memories, its important to say a heartfelt thank you. All that being said, Id like to recommend you watch this weeks video to learn about how I keep sentimental items in my home without taking up too much space. In addition to contributing celebrity content to Homes & Gardens, Marc serves as a weekly co-host for iHeart Radio's 'Naughty but Nice' podcast. Let me know in the comments below. The mere act of holding one of your possessions can cause you to become more emotionally attached to it. Similar to how youd evaluate what clutter is in other areas of your home, ask yourself the following questions: Often the reason we keep sentimental items is based out of pure emotion. Am I honoring the past by holding onto this object, or am I avoiding the present? Read on for my best tips to declutter sentimental items so you can enjoy your keepsakes in a clutter-free space. Maybe you cant let go of the paintings your partner made for you, or the sheet music of the song he/she wrote you, or perhaps a burger wrapper from your very first date. Make the task easier by saving sentimental items for last when youve experienced some decluttering successes and built momentum. Sign up below and also receive the Declutter Plan of Attack worksheet! Use or display the sentimental items that have a strong positive emotional connection for you. That can often be a storage area, basement, or garage. That is not to say that everything needs to go. If you are holding onto things for that reason, have an open conversation with the family member you think wants it. Not sure where to donate a specific item? The big fear we all have is that if we throw away these objects, we will somehow be losing the precious memories and legacy that goes with them. As with all decluttering, this allows you to see just how much you have and makes it easier to choose your favourites. Learn more, 2022 Clutter, Inc. California, CA Terms and Conditions apply. I wanted to get these posts out to you quickly so you have them to reference when its time, but this is a process you should absolutely take your time with. Were not saying its easy, but its necessary. formId: '5d839e061f3845000f2e624c', With some of the items that are more meaningful, see if a friend or family member wants them and will make use of them. Finally, if youre having a particularly difficult time with an item, dont let it slow you down. }, Copyright 2019 - BirchTree Organizing -. We get it, sometimes you just cant bear to part with that special item. Of course, some mementos inspire us to work on becoming the best versions of ourselves. While looking at photos of said sentimental items because we can also create an online catalog of everything you have in storage. Another option is to keep a box of items that are meaningful for your familys history. If not, look into local museums and historical societies to see if they would be interested in the items. Although I finally accepted it didnt make me feel good anymore because the fit was so bad, I didnt want to let it go either. var $ = ml_jQuery || jQuery; This is a game-changer if you struggle to get your home organized. Once youve decided to take a look through special belongings, take a deep breath before you dive in. These decluttering tips help you properly preserve your memories so you can actually enjoy them. Approach this category with an understanding that, by organizing these mementos, you will feel more grounded in the life youve built a life that is worth celebrating. She highlights the importance of finding a permanent home for your object to ensure your space remains organized long after cleaning. When sorting through sentimental items, some things youll immediately see and think, Why did I hang onto this for so long? Other things youll come across might take you a moment to figure out if youre ready to let go. For many of us, certain photos of a wedding, our childs first year, or a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation will fall into this category. Kids love to create and they often want to keep everything. ), so you may still have a few to go. I'm a wife, mama, and professional declutterer. We make it easy to store your stuff by supplying packing, heavy lifting, and driving. It accomplishes the same thing, just takes up less space and, lets be honest, probably looks nicer too. This article was written by Hannah Van Arsdale, a freelance writer and dog person based in Portland, OR. Weve got nine tips on how to store your not-so-easy-to-store sentimental items. Instead of piling everything into a box where youll never look at it, use your phone to take a photo of their best creations and once you have enough, you can create a photo album with all of the photos. I know many of you arent working at the quick pace that I was (Ive been doing one category a week! #1) An Object Is NOT The Person Or Memory Associated With It. To find out how you can declutter your life, talk to one of our space experts. If you have some plates your ex gave you that you absolutely hate, take a hammer to them and make them into something you do love. An exception to doing sentimental items last would be handling sentimental items when a close relative or friend passes away and you are responsible for dealing with their belongings. With the sentimental items category, in particular, you may find that you have stored certain items in spaces that no longer belong to you perhaps in the attic or guest room of your childhood home. (You can even take photos of photos.). Duis iaculis vel magna tristique amet iaculis: We'll let you know when we come your way. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Bring all your unwanted love stuff to a dumpster, close your eyes, tell your ex you finally release his/her energy, and then dump it. Offer valid in the United States only for a limited time. Sometimes you just cant make up your mind on whether or not you want to hang on to an item . Check out the Shutterfly x KonMari collection. Were not saying this is the easiest option, but it might be the most cathartic. As you work through how to decide what sentimental items to keep, give yourself some grace and be patient as you make decisions. Did this story spark joy? But do it safely. A good rule in general and the first step in storing sentimental items is: letting go. Its about keeping the items that truly bring you joy and preserving them in a way that honours the memories and people associated with them. By discarding what doesnt spark joy, we free up space to reflect more deeply on our past experiences and to recognize how theyve prepared us for whatever comes next. Get handy organizational tips and space-saving hacks delivered straight to your inbox. While Ms. Kondo admits that parting with emotional objects can be hard, it is possible to clear them without guilt. View our Privacy Policy. Even though you might have sentimental attachment to an armchair doesnt mean your friend does. But once you realize your memories are independent of the objects you associate them with, its much easier to let the physical reminders go. Keeping your favourite 1-5 items almost always invokes all the same memories as keeping the whole collection. That can be from our own past experiences or from people who are no longer with us. Lets do a quick recap of everything weve talked about so far. This method is perfect if you feel guilty about getting rid of a large grouping of things that are important to you but you also dont want to put them on display in your home keep just one of them and find somewhere to put it that will make you smile. Youll likely never feel like you want to go through these things, but paring it way down from the get-go will lessen the burden. That persons imprint is on our lives even when you dont keep all of their things. If you have stuff thats too hard to keep emotionally, someone who doesnt have that attachment will be able to use it in a practical way. All rights reserved. 2022 The Simplicity Habit Privacy Policy & Contact. If you need to keep everything, figure out what you want displayed, what can go in hiding, and what can go in more long-term storage. Hang old posters or artwork in your closet, or line drawers with them. If that means youve now taken a ton of pictures that you will never do anything with that will further burden you, then dont do it. Sometimes we hang onto sentimental things that are sentimental in a bad way. Tidying sentimental items is a tall order but doing so makes it easier to live more fully in the present. Or call Clutter! Of course, sometimes youre unable to. If you have a collection of something that was gifted to you or even just a large grouping of sentimental items (like kid crafts, your old rock collection, or sentimental figurines that youre no longer displaying), consider choosing a favorite and keeping only that one. Okay, as mentioned before, no one said this would be easy. Rather than leaving it unworn in my drawer, I remembered my daughter needed a new art smock. Initially, it may be challenging to figure out how to decide what sentimental items to keep. Homes & Gardens is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Need inspiration on how to showcase your special photos? Let them serve as a reminder of how far youve come and encourage you to reach new, joyful heights. A collection of items that spark joy for Marie and enhance your everyday routine. Here are our tips for finding your way forward while still celebrating the joys of your past. But now that youve built a strong foundation and mindset, its time to tackle the hardest KonMari Method category. Join me on this journey of simplifying & creating margin so you can say yes to the great. But at some point, you either need to face the memories and determine a new life for them, or get right with the fact that theyre going to keep taking up space, rent-free in your home. Join BirchTrees mailing list and receive a FREE Organizing Guide & Worksheet: a step-by-step outline to organize anything that is FULL of insider tips to maximize your time, effort and results.

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