Sentimental Clutter – Where to Start?

Decluttering is all about making decisions and it’s relatively straight forward what stays and what goes if you’re clearing out a kitchen cupboard or a bathroom cabinet. However, when it comes to possessions you hold an attachment to; it’s not so easy to part with things.

There are numerous reasons why you may need to part with objects which hold memories. You may lack room to store them, you could be downsizing or you may be clearing a house of a loved one. Here are some pointers to help you make decisions…

Display your memories

Many of us keep boxes of sentimental items in the loft or garage. A sort through will help you realise which items mean the most to you. If you select a small number of items to display, memories of a loved one or a special time in your life will always be visible instead of being hidden away and forgotten.

Share the love

Often when a loved one passes away, whoever has the biggest garage or loft ends up storing their beloved possessions. Once you’ve gone through the items and decided what to keep, make a list of what’s left and contact friends and family members asking them if they’d like a keepsake. Give them a time limit – say 6-8 months – to make a decision, that way they can organise to pick anything up they want. After sending reminders, sell or give away any remaining items.

Shutter stock

When you have made the emotional decision to let go of possessions, it helps to have a reminder which takes up far less space. Taking photos of everything you pass on gives you an everlasting reminder which you can access at any time or even put up on the wall as a collage.

Inclusion in your daily life

You may have an old chair of no financial value, but when painted brightens up a room. Or transform some old fabrics/clothes/a baby blanket you’re never going to use again, but could be made into a quilt or throw. Being creative means your treasured memories aren’t collecting dust.

Tell the story

Writing down the stories behind the objects can not only be therapeutic, but is a pastime everyone can join in on. Why not start a blog that family and friends can dip into and contribute? If you include photos, it will result in a written and visual documentation of memories all ages can enjoy for generations.

These are just a few ideas to help you honour memories while decluttering. Of course, there will always be some possessions you would never let go of, we all have those…

If you’re feeling daunted by an emotional decluttering/downsizing project and need some help, please contact Make Space for a free initial consultation.