Packing and decluttering are already one of the hardest and most time-consuming parts of moving. Part of the reason for this is that homes are packed with sentimental items and wonderful memories, and it’s not always easy to know what to keep and what you should let go of.
It’s no wonder — sentimental items are often prized possessions. In one survey, 43% of Gen X respondents say that if they had to evacuate quickly in an emergency, they’d opt to save family photo albums over any other item.
These types of items can accumulate over time to become “sentimental clutter,” and sorting through these belongings can be a major time sink when it’s time to move out. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to take everything with you when you move.
Thankfully, there are ways to make the process of figuring out what to pack easier. Here’s how to sort through sentimental clutter with tips to help you let go, honor your memories, and stay organized.
The Psychology of Sentimental Items
Sometimes, you hold onto items because they evoke positive memories or emotions — your mother’s wedding dress, for example. Others bring up a sense of nostalgia, transporting you back to happy times. Sentimental items are closely connected to emotions, which is why they can be so difficult to get rid of.
“Try to find a new home for items that have a family connection — that way, you’re passing on the memories. [For example, give] your grandmother’s old recipe collection to a cousin who loves to cook…”
Physical objects also serve as tangible reminders of your identity, both now and in the past. Your old artwork or that stack of maps from your summer backpacking through Europe are powerful connections to the person you once were.
Here are some common items that typically carry sentimental value:
- Heirloom jewelry, decor, or furniture
- Baby clothes
- Old photographs
- Historical records and documents
- Family books or cookbooks
- Letters
- Memorabilia from life events
- Clothing from life events
- Travel mementos
- Belongings from deceased loved ones
- Children’s toys and artwork
- Items related to hobbies
- Journals and diaries
However, the psychology of sentimental items isn’t always positive. Sometimes we hold on to things out of guilt, or getting rid of something feels like forgetting a person or disrespecting their memory.
Because these objects are closely tied to deep emotions, it’s best to sort through them only when you feel ready. Decluttering under external pressure can cloud your judgment and make it harder to choose wisely.
1. Set an Intention for Decluttering
Before you start decluttering sentimental items, make sure you’re firm in your intention to keep only the things that mean the most to you. Remind yourself that getting rid of the physical item doesn’t erase the memory; it simply puts you in a better position to make new ones.
Begin the process only when you’re in the right mindset — if you’re not, sorting through belongings won’t work. Remember, it’s tough to make emotional decisions when you’re already upset, tired, or even hungry. Ensure that you’re well-rested, fed, and in a calm state of mind before you declutter sentimental items. If the going gets tough, take some time to re-center before tackling the rest of your project.
Organizing legend Marie Kondo advises tackling sentimental items at the very end of your decluttering efforts because old memories can be unexpectedly challenging. By leaving these belongings for last when organizing a move, you allow yourself time to work through any emotions that might come up.
Pro-tip: If you’re not likely to feel ready anytime soon, never hesitate to ask a professional for help with overwhelming clutter. Paying a professional organizer or a service like Neat Method can be a great way to practice self-care.
2. Start Small
The key to removing sentimental clutter is to start small. Easing into the process can help prevent you from getting overwhelmed and giving up on a sentimental project.
Here are a few strategies to help you get started:
- Rack up some easy wins. Build momentum by getting some easy wins early in the process. Start by sorting through things that might not have strong emotional memories — your high school trophies, for example.
- Set a timer. There’s no need to go through everything at once. Instead, set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, and sort through everything you can until the alarm rings. This strategy helps prevent you from getting bogged down in emotion. Simply do what you can, and come back to the rest of it later.
- Sort by category, room, or container. When you’re faced with a sea of boxes, it’s easy to feel stressed out by the project. Instead of surveying everything at once, sort through one container or room at a time. Or you might sort through a category of items such as clothing, photos, or old letters.
3. Ask the Right Questions
As you sort through sentimental items, ask yourself questions to determine if the item is worth keeping. For example:
- “Would I save this if my house were on fire?”
- “Do I get joy from this item, or is it just taking up space?”
- “Am I keeping this item because I feel obligated to?”
- “Is there another way I can honor the memory attached to this item?”
- “What emotion does this item elicit, and is that an emotion I want to feel?”
- “Why is this item important to me?”
Thinking critically about each sentimental belonging can help you figure out which pieces are truly worth keeping. Pay attention to how you feel as you hold each item. If something makes you feel uncomfortable, angry, or indifferent, it might be worth letting go.
Another great question to ask yourself is, “Do I have additional items that remind me of the same person or memory?” If so, consider keeping just one item.
For example, you probably don’t need to keep the picture, T-shirt, and ticket stub from that concert you attended a decade ago. Instead, pick one sentimental item from the bunch and get rid of the rest. This is a great way to keep the memory without the excess clutter.
4. Keep the Memory, Not the Thing
Sometimes, the emotion or memory associated with a sentimental piece is more important than the item itself. If your new home is tight on space, here are a few ways to preserve beloved memories:
Take Photos and Let the Item Go
For bulky or fragile items that are difficult to move, take a photograph so you can look at the piece when you’re feeling sentimental. For truly special items, you can even splurge on getting professional photos taken to turn possessions into meaningful artwork.
Turn Memories Into a Scrapbook
Convert those loose ticket stubs, handwritten notes, and other memories into a scrapbook. Keep it on the bookshelf, and you can flip through your memories any time — it’s much better than hiding them away in a box.
Be intentional about what you include. The key is to save your favorite memories without turning one type of clutter into another. You can even create an entire section dedicated to photos of the items you’ve donated or discarded.
Digitize Papers and Photographs
If you have boxes full of old photos, you can transfer them to a digital photo album to reduce clutter. Use an online digitization service, or do it yourself using a batch scanner.
After you digitize everything, connect the images to a digital photo frame. It will cycle through the images automatically, reminding you of cherished memories.
Write Down the Story Behind an Item
In a journal, write the story behind each sentimental item. Include all the details you can remember, and paste in a photo of the object. This is a wonderful way to preserve your memories, even if you can’t keep the physical item. Plus, it makes a great heirloom to pass down to your kids, grandkids, or other family members.
Package Memories With Other Senses
There will always be some sentimental items that you’ll never want to throw away. In these cases, it might be worth it to go the extra mile to preserve these pieces — it can help keep you from feeling a sense of loss or regret after decluttering your home.
Try to package items in a way that evokes your senses. Video and audio recordings are a great way to preserve sounds, such as your child’s first laugh or your great-aunt’s favorite joke.
“Sometimes, going through sentimental objects can stir up grief and trauma…When the process threatens your emotional stability or creates feelings of depression, it can be helpful to consider therapy or coaching.”
Scent memories can be our strongest connection to people and places. To preserve smell, find a completely dry plastic zipper bag and place the item inside. Remove all the air from the bag or vacuum seal, and open sparingly so the smell doesn’t escape over time.
5. Curation Over Collection
It’s tempting to hold on to boxes of meaningful stuff, but let’s be honest — how much value are you getting when they’re stored out of sight? As you figure out how to declutter sentimental items, a better approach is to curate special pieces rather than collect them.
Here are a few ways to get more joy from your prized possessions:
- Display them. Select a few truly meaningful and beautiful items and display them. This is a wonderful way to honor the memory of a beloved person or a favorite memory.
- Rotate keepsakes. If you have too many sentimental items to display at once, create a rotation. For example, bring out the rocking horse your great-grandfather made at the holidays, and hang your mom’s dried and framed wedding bouquet in the spring.
- Choose the best item. For each memory or category of sentimental items, choose one that best represents the bunch. Instead of keeping all of your child’s baby clothes, pick the most adorable outfit. Having trouble choosing? Select the item with the best or strongest memory attached.
- Create a work of art. Pick a blank wall in your home, and use a collection of sentimental pieces to create a gallery wall. You’ll smile every time you walk past it, and it’ll be the perfect conversation starter when guests are visiting.
6. Repurpose or Gift Sentimental Items
As you declutter, you’ll likely find sentimental items that are in good shape but no longer useful or easy to display. When this is the case, the best option is usually to repurpose them or give them away.
Turn Memories Into Functional Decor
Give your memories new life by transforming them into useful or beautiful objects. Make a quilt out of your collection of old T-shirts from your childhood or band tees from your favorite concerts. You can also turn cherished clothing, baby blankets, or other fabrics into a custom pillow you can add to your sofa or living room chair.
Do the same with keepsakes from hobbies you enjoy. If you’re a runner, for example, you can turn race bibs or medals into wall art.
Upcycle Heirlooms
Upcycle oversized items like tables, cabinets, and chairs to make them more useful. Are you still hanging onto your mom’s ugly old china cabinet? Transform it into a gorgeous coffee bar or a bookshelf. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh coat of paint or new hardware to make old items look more modern.
DIY extraordinaire Kathy Bates, The Budget Decorator, refinished a dining set using sandpaper, primer, paint, and painting supplies. These types of projects can be done over a weekend to allow ample drying time for primer and paint.
Donate or Gift Sentimental Items
You might not be able to keep all of your sentimental items, but that doesn’t mean they need to go in the trash. Instead, hand over these items to someone who can use them. This may make them easier to let go of if you know it will be appreciated and given new life somewhere else.
Try to find a new home for items that have a family connection — that way, you’re passing on the memories. Give your grandmother’s old recipe collection to a cousin who loves to cook, or put a family photo in an heirloom frame and give it to your child for Christmas.
Donating items is another great way to honor what they meant to you. If you don’t have room for your mom’s collection of handmade quilts, donate them to a women’s shelter so they can help people in need. Don’t want to hang on to your collection of 5K finisher awards? Give them to an organization like Medals4Mettle.
7. Let Go With Gratitude
Once you’ve decided to let go of a sentimental item, take time to honor its memory and acknowledge how important it was to you. Express your gratitude for the positive memories, and say goodbye intentionally. This process can be emotional, so it’s helpful to remind yourself that the memories will remain even though you won’t have the item.
Donate Heirlooms to Causes Your Loved One Believed In
Heirlooms from older family members may be too valuable to throw away — cedar chests, sets of fancy dishware, or vintage dolls and toys, for example. To honor the person’s memory, donate items to a person or a cause your loved one would support.
Here are some ideas and examples to consider:
- Furniture: Give heirloom furniture to a local church or nonprofit organization that aligns with your loved one’s interests. You may also be able to give it to thrift stores that support specific groups of people, such as domestic violence shelters or veteran thrift stores.
- China and dish sets: Offer an inherited dish set to newlyweds that you know, or look for collector groups on Facebook who appreciate these types of items. If your loved one had a passion for fine china, you may be able to help others complete their own sets by selling dishes on sites like eBay.
- Antiques and dolls: Find doll collectors or museums that will appreciate a donation. You might also sell it to antique stores that specialize in specific items such as dolls.
- Clothing: If you’ve had a loved one pass, consider repurposing some clothing into blankets or pillows and sharing those memories with others in the family. You can also donate old clothing to thrift stores, especially those that are specifically geared towards domestic violence assistance or employment, such as Dress for Success.
Getting Help Letting Go of Sentimental Clutter
It’s not easy to let go of belongings that remind you of intense memories or emotions. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed and upset or struggling with getting rid of sentimental items, it might be time to get help.
Need someone to listen to your stories or provide objective advice? Ask a friend to sit with you while you examine each item. They can act as a sounding board and help you identify the items you can’t live without.
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of items, a professional organizer might be a better choice. They can organize stacks of boxes or closets full of old belongings, making it easier to assess and sort.
Sometimes, going through sentimental objects can stir up grief and trauma. This is common when you’re dealing with items that belonged to a loved one who passed. When the process threatens your emotional stability or creates feelings of depression, it can be helpful to consider therapy or coaching. A professional can help you work through painful emotions and achieve a healthier mindset.
Helpful Tips for Moving Sentimental Items
When you’re preparing to move, handling sentimental items with care (and organization) ensures they arrive at your new home safely.
Label Boxes Clearly
Use clear, descriptive labels on boxes that contain sentimental items, such as “Family Photos” or “Grandma’s China.” This will help movers handle these boxes with extra care and place them in the right room or a safe place in a storage unit. You can also use color-coded labels for different categories of items to make identification even easier.
Pack Fragile Items Properly
Wrap delicate items — figurines, glassware, antique vases, etc. — in cushioned shipping wrap or packing paper to prevent damage during transportation. Use sturdy boxes, and fill any empty spaces with packing material to minimize shifting. For particularly fragile items, consider double-boxing to provide extra protection. You can also use soft fabrics like t-shirts or towels to cushion delicate items.
Unpack Sentimental Items First
Upon arriving at your new home, prioritize unpacking boxes that contain sentimental items. Surrounding yourself with your most cherished possessions will make your new house feel like a home.
Making New Memories
With the right mindset and some creativity, it’s possible to get rid of sentimental clutter without destroying cherished memories. Whether you repurpose heirlooms or create a digital scrapbook, there are countless ways you can hold onto the things that are important to you.