Many of us come from a long line of people who find sentimental reasons to hold on to things. And with that long line comes heavy guilt to let go of something that you or someone else finds special.
In 2024, we have access to everything, and with big homes with big garages, we can easily save sentimental things. But what if we started to change the conversation?
I’m here to tell you there is another way. Over the years, I have helped people find new ways to keep or let go of items and repurpose them to maintain the sentiment and clear the boxes in the garage.
Here are some of my favorite ideas for preserving, enjoying, and not passing along more stuff.
Baby Clothes
For many parents, letting go of baby clothes is one of the hardest decisions they make. They are special and some of those items are sentimental. But how often do you pull them out of a box and recount the long nights and birthday parties? My guess is not often.
Instead of holding on to clothes that may never be worn again or passed on, create something new as a keepsake or ask another family member if they want to have it. From stuffed characters to new blankets, Little Sleepies shares a great blog post on different ideas for repurposing children’s clothing.
Souvenirs
Your collection of shells, magnets, or shirts from vacations and other milestones are great reminders (even the half marathons you ran in your 20s were good memories, I’m sure). Instead of placing them in a spot that creates clutter, here are other ways to showcase your collectibles:
- T-shirts: have you considered a t-shirt blanket? Whether it’s your collegiate shirts or kids’ teams, you can easily clear out 20+ shirts by creating a blanket. Etsy has talented artists ready to help.
- Concert, train, or other tickets: those stubs mean something to you but they’re stored in a box under your bed. Adding them to a shadowbox (like this one with a slot to easily drop a ticket or this one with the world map!) will be an easy way to drop them in after a show!
- Magnets: it was a fun thing to start before you had stainless steel appliances. Now that you’re in your decluttering era, consider moving magnets to the garage or a space where you create, or even the side of the fridge to admire while drinking coffee.
Children’s Artwork
You have a lot of feelings about this. There are two types of parents: the ones who recycle the artwork when the kids aren’t looking and the ones who can’t find the refrigerator because the artwork has taken over. Pick your fighter.
The best advice I received about this one: don’t save them all and don’t expect your kids to want any of that stuff when they’re older. Save a few each year in a tote, write down a story or two if they have meaning, and toss the rest. Create a family tradition of reading them during the holidays or at the end of the school year. Live and love the artwork.
Furniture
If you inherited a valuable china cabinet salvaged during the Civil War and love it, find a sweet corner in your home that will match or blend well with your style. But for everything else, if you don’t love it, ask a family member or close friend if they would love to have it.
Don’t feel guilty about this one. Your home is yours and holding this burden will take energy and create resentment. Have a conversation with your family and let them know you love their items but think they will be a better fit in another home.
Dried Flowers
Did you save your corsages and bouquets from boyfriends past? If you did this when you were 16 years old, you likely did it later in life with wedding bouquets and other special flowers.
Instead of trying to keep something this fragile, here are ways to preserve this memory:
- I have seen unique projects where flowers are added to resin to create a beautiful piece of jewelry or furniture.
- While they’re still fresh, ask a vendor like White Poppy Presses to have them pressed in a beautiful frame. The Etsy store does a beautiful job adding dried versions to a shadowbox or jewelry pieces.
- Have them professionally painted. This Etsy artist will recreate your wedding or other memorable bouquet as artwork to enjoy for years to come.
Collection of <insert your thing here>
I once saw this beautiful collection of vintage clocks carefully placed on a shelf in someone’s office. It wasn’t overwhelming and did not scream, “DUST MAGNET!” It was classy and charming.
Whatever you collect or hold on to for sentimental reasons, I’m certain there is a way to showcase it in a way that makes you happy. Get it out of the box, and Google how others have found ways to love stamps or baby blankets or family jewelry.
It’s your home and your decision to surround yourself with stuff you love. The recommendations in this post are from a stranger who cares about you. But the decision on what stays and goes is yours. Just be open to change if someone you love doesn’t love it back, and be easy on yourself for letting something go.
Need more inspiration? The Minimalists share how they dealt with sentimental items and how they realized items did not mean memories.
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Header image: Photo by Photo by Baby Natur on Unsplash
