We all have those items that we hold onto not because they are useful, but because they have a special place in our hearts. Unfortunately, too many nostalgic items can make your home look cluttered.
How can you let go of precious memories? Let’s look at how to declutter and organize nostalgic items.
Decluttering
Get Rid of Items That No Longer Have Meaning
We all have that box or trunk of treasures that we’ve held onto for decades. But how many of those items still hold meaning? Do you really need the friendship bracelet to a friendship that ended years ago or all the pictures from a past relationship? Go through your nostalgic items and let go of pieces that no longer speak to you.
Take Pictures
Do you have items that are so big they’re taking over your home? It might be that oversized teddy bear your husband won you at the fair ten years ago or your cookie jar collection that has gotten out of hand. Take pictures of these items and let those items go. You’ll have so much more room in your home, but you’ll always have the memories.
Let Go of Items That You’re Holding Onto Out of Guilt or for Sentimental Reasons
Chances are you have items you don’t even like, but you’re keeping them because someone gave them to you or they belonged to someone. Don’t let these items weigh you down. It’s okay to let go of that ugly sweater your mom gave you or an ugly piece of art that belonged to your grandmother.
Give the Items Away
There’s always someone who is happy to get the items you no longer want. It might even be someone in your extended family. Check with them first when it comes to items that belonged to family members before donating.
Organizing
Display Your Items
Once you’ve decluttered, work on displaying the items you love so that you can actually enjoy them. Purchase a cabinet to keep them in or a shelf to display them on. There’s no use in letting these items stay in storage.
Take Time to Properly Store Photos
You don’t have to hang every photo in your collection, but get some photo boxes and organize them so that you can find the photos you want, when you want them. You may also want to consider scanning your photos so that you can have them stored digitally. That way, the memories are truly forever.
Choose One Area to Store Things
Instead of allowing yourself to store nostalgic items all over your home, choose one area. When that area gets full, it’s time to declutter again.
Just because something has special meaning, doesn’t mean we have to hold onto it. The memories aren’t in the piece itself. You’ll always have those memories, no matter what happens to the item. Learn to let go and then treasure the items that you could never part with.
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