HOW TO HANDLE YOUR SENTIMENTAL CLUTTER

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE | erinlove@panachebyerin.com

One of the main hurdles I help my clients overcome is how to handle the sentimental clutter that has accumulated. This delicate issue is definitely a hard part of my job because I know and understand some of these items are family heirlooms or they are things that hold special memories. These feelings are held deep in our hearts and can bring a flood of emotions. For most of us, the heart speaks A LOT louder than our brains, and that is where the fight comes in. What do I do? That is the question I hope to help you answer with this article. Below are a few things I want you to understand before I get into my tips for handling your sentimental clutter:
1. Understand that you DO NOT have to get rid of everything! I will be offering ideas on how you can keep the most important items in ways that make them useful and/or visible.
2. Begin subscribing to the belief that each item doesn’t actually hold the memory. It is inside of you and will be forever.
3. The process will be difficult at first, but once you realize that the memory is not lost once the item has been released from your home, there will be a sudden rush of inspiration and determination. That is where you should stay.
4. If you already know that you have an issue with sentimental clutter, take the process slowly or you will fizzle out quickly. If you become frustrated, physically upset, or angry, take a break and start again at a later date.
With that out of the way, I would like to give you a few tips on how you can handle your sentimental clutter:
FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE ITEM FOR IT TO BE ADDED TO THE KEEP PILE! In other words, I don’t like to recommend a client keep an item if it is stored in a cardboard box. Cardboard will not protect items for the long term, and they are also often forgotten and left to rot and ruin. If an item is in the keep pile there must be a definitive use and plan for the item. If the item is to be stored, it must be stored properly for preservation.
ASK YOURSELF THREE QUESTIONS. When deciding whether to keep or part with an item, I have found three questions to be helpful – 1. Do I love this item? 2. Do I have a use for this item? 3. Do I have the space for this item? Each question will guide you closer to whether you should hold on to the item or let it go.
RELEASE THE ITEM TO A BETTER HOME. If you decide that it is time to let go, know that you are releasing the item from not serving a purpose to serving a great purpose for someone else. It is always easier to let go of something when you know that someone loves it and will use it more than you did.
REPURPOSE THE ITEM. I can give you unique ideas where this tip is concerned. For instance, my grandmother had an old sewing machine that I repurposed into a console table. It now resides behind my couch and holds other keepsake items that I love. Here are some more ideas – Use an old vase to hold pencils, paintbrushes, or cooking utensils. Use an old rotary phone as decoration in a home office. Take old t-shirts to a seamstress and have her fashion you a bag or blanket. Turn an old cannister into a light for the garage or storage room. Use an old silver tray as a table centerpiece. Use old books to elevate pictures or tchotchkes on your bookshelves. Have a wood craftsman turn old furniture into bowls, earrings, etc. Use an old chair at a vanity table. Frame an old flower arrangement and add it to your bookshelf. Repurpose a hanky as a book mark.
There are TONS of ideas that we could bounce off of each other, so if you want to do that, feel free to email me! My contact information is below. The trick is to think outside of the box and make an item useful to you.
TAKE A PICTURE. It will last longer.! I had to throw that little joke in. But really, as I said before, the actual item doesn’t hold the memory; it is just a reminder of the memory. So a picture could serve the same purpose and not take up the room that the item does. Just be sure you put the picture in a frame or a book that you will be able to enjoy.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUILT AND SENTIMENTALITY Ask yourself if you are holding onto the item out of guilt or because it really holds a special memory. If you do not really love it, release it to someone who will use and appreciate it.
STORE IT CORRECTLY. There is absolutely no reason to keep an item if you are not going to store it correctly or, furthermore, if you do not have the space to store it correctly. For instance, papers and pictures should be stored in archival quality boxes and bins. The same holds true for clothing and fabric covered items – they should be stored in air-tight containers.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. If the decluttering process becomes too much to handle, a professional organizer can help. If you do not have the means to be able to hire one, a friend could serve the same purpose in some instances. However, a professional organizer has the knowledge on how to handle difficult situations better than a friend might.
Always remember that your memories are contained inside of you, and no matter what happens, that memory cannot be taken away by the loss of an object.