Organizing Tips for Sentimental Items
We all have those items that are sentimental for various reasons and sometimes these items can become over whelming. There are many reasons we may have attachments to these items, our late Grandmothers Tea set, our Children’s first outfit they ever wore, just to list a few. But what do we do with these items?
Be very choosy about what exactly you keep. Keeping every piece of art our children make is not necessary and will for sure become too much. We suggest really asking yourself if you truly value every single item you’re keeping. If you end up taking in and keeping every single item your grandma and great aunt pass down your home will for sure become overrun with items. Ask yourself these questions, “Will this hold as much meaning to me in 10 years from now?” as well as “Do I really have the space for this in my current life?”
Shadow boxes are a great way to store sentimental Items. They are used for wedding dresses as well as storing items from children’s childhoods. They allow you to have a limit of how many items you can keep as the items must fit into the shadow box. Anything that doesn’t fit it is time to let go.
Do not keep items just for the memories. Make sure the item in question has significance. Marie Kondo in her book The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up says, “Truly precious memories will never vanish even if you discard the objects associated with them”. She also states, “The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past”. Always ask yourself if the items you are keeping are aligned with who you are today or if it aligns with who you were in the past. If the answer is the past, pass it along so someone else can enjoy it.
Take photos of items you want to keep just for memories. Some people take photos of all their children’s art throughout their childhoods. Later in life they will turn the photos into either a photo album or put them all onto a drive so that the children can have the option to view the photos when they want. This is a fantastic way to save space but keep the memories if you choose.
Sentimental Items are the hardest category to go through as it really tugs at our emotions. It is usually the last category we go through in our home and often it is the one category to get left out all together. Do take time for this category as these items can build up and take over, they also hold emotions and energy that can really weigh us down.
Professional Home Organizers that can Help you Manage Your Sentimental Items in Greater Vancouver:
Need support? Our talented team of professional organizers are here to help. Book a free virtual consultation today to learn more.
Melanie McConnell is a Professional Organizer and the owner of Mello Spaces. She helps busy professionals and parents get the organized home of their dreams. Check out her website www.mellospaces.com and follow her on Instagram: @mellospaces
Florena Davies is a Professional Organizer and Owner of Organize by Flo. She uses her experience as a wife and mother of 2 to create real life organizational systems and changes for work and home that allow our 2 worlds to co-exist and 'Flo" together. Check out her website at https://www.organizebyflo.com/ and on instagram @organizebyflo.
Marybeth Welty helps women create calm and healthy homes and lives. With over 12 years of experience in organizing, interior design, sustainable building, and mindful living, Marybeth is passionate about improving your mental health, your work, your relationships, and supporting the life of your dreams by starting with where you live, your home. You can book a free meeting with her at Sustainable Lifestyle Solutions and connect with her on Instagram at @this_sustainable_lifestyle.