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Posted: 2024-01-18T10:45:25Z | Updated: 2024-01-18T10:45:25Z How To Properly Store Your Sentimental Clutter, According To Organization Experts | HuffPost Life

How To Properly Store Your Sentimental Clutter, According To Organization Experts

Find the best storage items to protect and keep those special things that matter most, and learn when to say goodbye to others.
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An acid-free photo keeper and a wall-mounted shadow box .

When my mother died nearly two years ago, I truly understood what it meant to want to hold on to sentimental items with all my might, but not at the expense of filling my home with disorganized clutter or risk becoming constantly triggered by the fact that she was no longer here. 

Its true that sentimental clutter can look different for many people: a newspaper clipping time-stamping a momentous occasion or a letter from someone important in your life. Shira Gill , an organizing expert and author of Minimalista  and Organized Living , told HuffPost that sentimental clutter is typically the most difficult for people to confront and edit.

This is due to internal conflicts and questions such as: If I let go of this item will I still retain my identity? Am I a thoughtless or bad person if I let go of this item?What if I regret letting go of this item and can never get it back? Gill said.

Reminding us that these types of questions and clutter as a whole are actually rooted in fearful thinking, Gill suggested instead asking questions that are rooted in abundant thinking, such as, Does this item support my current values and priorities? or Is this item adding value to my life right now?

Remember, memories dont live in items, Gill said. If youre a very visual person, you may find it useful to snap a picture of your sentimental items before you part with them.

In addition to photographing and digitizing your items, other tips from Gill include doing things like keeping one specific token from your collection, passing it on to others in your family that will appreciate its value, and displaying the pieces that are most meaningful.

As difficult as it is to say goodbye to some things, Gills tactics and advice could be your answer to feeling clarity in your mind and your space. In the following list, she, along with two other organizing experts, suggest more tips and essential storage items that can help keep some of your most emotionally felt mementos in your possession and organized. 

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1
An acid-free photo storage box
Organizing expertShira Gill said that acid-free storage boxes are ideal for keeping letters, papers and photos to prevent them from yellowing. This protective box is filled with 18 smaller inner cases with snap closures that are the perfect size to house photographs or folded pieces of paper and can easily be labeled on the outside for keeping tabs on contents. The cases are fully removable so you're able to customize the interior of your case, allowing for larger photos, newspapers articles and other paper valuables.
2
A wall-mounted shadow box
"Shadow-box frames are a fun way to display 3D items like a favorite sentimental T-shirt," Gill said. Doubling as storage and decor, we found this wall-mountable frame with a lockable door that makes it easy to store and change the sentimental items inside. It comes in three colors and finishes and four sizes and, if you prefer for it not to hang on your wall, it can also sit nicely on a shelf or a table.
3
A custom-made hard-cover photo book
Regina Lark , author and certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization, suggested photographing genres of sentimental items like kid's drawings to old concert T-shirts that you're no longer able to wear. Then, you can send these photos to platforms like Snapfish, which create customized books containing your photos.

Snapfish offers tons of hardcover memory book options from various page outlines to design themes to book sizes. Additionally, if you want to memorialize special memories in a way that's more unique than a photo album, the company also offers your photos to be transformed into pieces of wall art, mugs, calendars and even photo tiles.
4
A platform that creates art books
Another similar platform called Artkive came at the suggestion of Gill, who said that this service can make it easy to turn a pile of your child's art into a beautiful picture book that's easy to store and access.

Using professional photography, editing and premium matte printing, Artkive publishes art books ranging from 25 to 200 images and also provides access to digital versions of your images in case you lose your book.
5
A five-pack of thumb drives for photo sharing
"If youre struggling to make the tough cuts, digitizing your old letters, photos, art, and mementos can be a great alternative to storing all of the physical items in your home," Gill said. Our other organizing experts agreed that using digital storage space can be a great option to not only reduce clutter, but to share them with others.

"For [your] thousands of photos, sort, sort, sort," Lark said. "Then put batches or genres of photos onto thumb drives or DVDs and distribute them to family. These make great gifts."

This pack of different-colored 64GB thumb drives makes it easy to organize and archive the sentimental things that you've decided to digitize from photos to video to songs and enjoy them on any device that has a compatible USB port.
6
A fireproof fling cabinet
For more sensitive documents, such as death and birth certificates or marriage announcements, Lark suggests keeping a file box to store and organize these important items all in one place. We found this collapsible and lockable file box that's both fireproof and water-resistant and has mesh pockets on the underside of the lid for additional organizing options.
7
A set of eight 56-quart clear storage bins
Home organizing and redesign expert, Kayleen Kelly said that she "highly recommends 56-quart clear storage bins for stored sentimental items, photo boxes and albums for photographs."

Based on her suggestion, we found this highly rated set of four (or more) storage bins that are flatter compared to other 56-quart options, which can make them easier to stack in closets or store underneath beds. They also feature four bottom wheels so they can easily be wheeled in and out of tight places.
8
A 30-pack of self-adhesive label pockets
Lark brought up the importance of having clearly labeled bins in order to archive that which you want to keep but dont need to have in your personal space, without having to dig through a bin's contents. This pack of labels with clear pockets self-adhere to surfaces and are available in 15 size options as well as an assorted size pack.
9
A set of 10 clear art ledges for the wall
According to Gill, "art ledges are great for displaying a rotating collection of photos, art, or memorabilia." While there are tons of art ledges and floating shelf options out there, these clear, 15-inch acrylic ledges are low profile for a seamless-appearing display and can display everything from vinyl record covers to figurines to trophies. If clear doesn't suit your tastes, there are other color options including two wood finishes.
10
A way to display collectibles and memorabilia
"Sentimental photos and items sprinkled through a home is a great way to highlight and showcase those memories and feelings," Kelly said, seconding Gill's suggestion of intentional shelving.

We found this shelf that can either be free-standing or wall-mounted and is ideal for storing collectible figurines or smaller pieces of memorabilia. The five shelves are also completely height-adjustable. You can grab this shelf in four wood finishes, including black or this natural oak color.

Before You Go

Storage Products That Will Make Your Closet A Place You No Longer Avoid
A set of hanging vacuum storage bags(01 of17)
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Perfect for bulky winter coats or anything else taking up too much hanging space in your closet, these hangable vacuum storage bags keep items compressed and protected when not in use. This set comes with four clear bags two short and two long and promises a lasting double zip-seal and one-way suction. All you need is a vacuum with a hose extension for these to work. (credit:Amazon)
A set of six re-configurable storage cubes(02 of17)
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These modular organizers can be arranged in whatever configuration best suits your existing space using the interlocking structure to keep contents better organized and secure. Easily tuck away folded T-shirts, shoes, handbags or hats. Thanks to their lightweight design, these can easily be stacked atop existing closet shelves, and they come with a rubber mallet for simple assembly. (credit:Amazon)
An over-the-door shoe rack(03 of17)
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If you're unable to spare precious floor space, you probably have use for this over-the-door shoe rack. It features up to 12 sturdy bars that have the ability to fold up in order to customize the storage options and accommodate a number of different shoe types. (credit:Amazon)
A pair of stackable zippered storage bags(04 of17)
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For those instances when out-of-season clothing, extra towels or wintertime duvets are taking up too much closet real estate, these large-capacity stackable storage bags can keep things tidy. Each tear-resistant tote comes with a clear front-facing window so you always know its contents without having to dig around, and can hold just over 17 pounds. (credit:Amazon)
A hanger stacker(05 of17)
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Finally, you can have a designated place to store those unused hangers without eating up space on your closet rail. This 33-inch tall stacker is compatible with all types of hangers, including wood and plastic. (credit:Amazon)
Space-maximizing shoe holders(06 of17)
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Shoe Slotz claims to double your footwear storage space while keeping pairs of shoes neatly together. This set comes with 10 "Slotz" that work with a variety of shoe types, from stilettos to low profile boots. (credit:Amazon)
Three space-saving hangers for pants(07 of17)
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These hangers allow you to layer up to 5 pairs of pants, skirts or dresses neatly over the non-slip arms without taking up too much closet space. Whenever you're ready to get your clothing item, you simply unhook the fold-open arm and slide the garment off before placing it back on the latch. Each hanger features a rotating hook so you can access clothes from any direction they happen to be facing. (credit:Amazon)
A set of four shelf dividers(08 of17)
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Keep folded clothing and accessories securely in place once and for all with these useful dividers that slide onto shelves up to nearly 1-inch thick. Each divider stands eight inches tall and 12 inches deep. (credit:Amazon)
A space-saving hanger system(09 of17)
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These hanging attachments are made from a durable plastic and have a cascading design that holds five hanging items using the same amount of space that it would take to hang one. (credit:Amazon)
A 3-tiered shoe rack(10 of17)
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This simple 3-tiered shoe rack has a sturdy metal construction and a near-perfect 5-star Amazon rating. It's available in both brown and gray, can accommodate up to 20 pairs of shoes, and each shelf is height-adjustable so even your taller footwear can fit. (credit:Amazon)
A stackable shoe shelf(11 of17)
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This simple slotted bench is another shoe shelf option that's designed by the organizing queen herself, Marie Kondo. This shelf is available in two size options and is endlessly stackable to meet your space needs. (credit:The Container Store)
A closet starter system(12 of17)
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Maybe your current closet space is in need of a floor-to-ceiling overhaul, in which case, this closet starter system from Wayfair might prove useful. Measuring a little over six feet tall and 10 feet wide, this easy-to-install system offers five shelves and three hanging rods' worth of organized space. (credit:Wayfair)
A pair of arched hangers(13 of17)
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Each one of these thoughtfully designed arched hangers can hold up to 10 pairs of leggings, dress pants, skirts and more while still making it easy to see which garment is up for grabs. They use large rubber coated clips and are made from durable high carbon steel. (credit:Amazon)
A roll-up organizer(14 of17)
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Designed and crafted by a Washington-based small business, this dual-sided organizer can hold up to 20 rolled up T-shirts and can hang from the back of a door or from a hanger in your closet. (credit:Etsy/TheRollKeeper)
A set of vacuum-sealed storage bags(15 of17)
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This pack contains six vacuum seal storage bags that are capable of compressing thick and bulky items like coats and quilts so they can live neatly on closet shelves without taking up too much space. Like the vacuum sealed bags from above, these can reduce the volume of their contents up to 80% and only require a vacuum with a hose extension, although a pump is included. (credit:Amazon)
A set of closet drawers(16 of17)
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Enjoy the benefits of dresser drawers inside your closet with these from The Container Store. They are made from a steel material and the retailer promises that the meshed-designed drawers slide in and out smoothly. (credit:The Container Store)
A hanging shelf organizer(17 of17)
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Create your own in-closet shelving unit, no installation required, with this organizer that simply hangs from your clothing rack. It comes with eight side pockets and eight shelves that hold their structure thanks to interior plastic boards. (credit:Amazon)

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