How to Organize Sentimental Objects

Sentimental objects hold deep personal meaning, making them some of the hardest items to organize. Whether it’s old letters, childhood toys, or heirlooms passed down through generations, these items can accumulate and create clutter if not properly managed. Here are some tips to thoughtfully organize sentimental objects while preserving their significance.

1. Set an intention for your sentimental items

Before diving into organizing, take a moment to clarify your goal. Are you looking to create a keepsake collection, downsize, or simply bring order to scattered sentimental items? Having a clear intention will guide your decisions and make the process more meaningful.

Creating a collection? → You’ll be keeping things with the intention of displaying them

Downsizing? → You’ll need to make criteria for what stays and what will go

Bringing order? → You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to create order

2. Gather your sentimental items into one place

To get a full picture of what you have, collect all sentimental items from different areas of your home. This will help you see duplicates, recognize patterns, and make more intentional decisions about what to keep and how to store it.

• Sort sentimental items into subcategories. Ex:

• Letters

• Photos

• Objects

• Jewelry

• Albums

• Heirlooms

• Items that represent a person (you may even have piles that are purely items that belonged to someone else)

• Notice the volume → is it what you expected?

3. Sort with a purpose based on your intentions from the first step

Go through each item and ask yourself: 

• Does this bring me joy? 

• Does it align with my current life? 

• Does this item hold the most significance? 

• Does the item produce any negative feelings? Why?

If an item evokes guilt rather than fond memories, consider letting it go. If you have many items that represent the same person, place, or experience, consider keeping one or the top few that BEST represent that person, place, or experience.

4. Choose the best way to store the items you keep

Once you've decided what to keep, select appropriate storage options:

• Memory Boxes: Perfect for letters, photos, and small mementos.

• Shadow Boxes or Display Cases: Ideal for items you want to showcase rather than store away.

• Digitizing: Scan old photos, documents, and artwork to preserve them without taking up physical space. (We love the Day One Journal App to organize digital memories chronologically!)

• Categorized Containers: Use labeled bins for different categories like childhood keepsakes, family heirlooms, or travel souvenirs.

• Keepsake to Decor: Some items that have been gathering dust may fit in well with your personal style. If there’s a place to display sentimental items decoratively, use them as a way to surround yourself with good memories and reminders of the people you love.

5. Rotate and refresh items on display

If you like keeping sentimental objects visible, consider rotating them seasonally or yearly. This keeps your space fresh while allowing you to appreciate different items over time without overwhelming your home. You can even turn things into a yearly decoration, such as using beautiful sparkly sentimental items to display for the holidays and store them the rest of the year.

6. Set limits on keepsakes

To prevent sentimental clutter from taking over, set boundaries. For example, limit keepsakes to one designated box per person or one shelf for displayed memorabilia. Knowing your limits will help you make intentional choices moving forward. Our loved ones would want our belongings to be OUR belongings–not something that we belong to. 

*If you feel beholden to and trapped by your objects at home, this could be a major sign that your belongings own you instead of the other way around.*

7. Take a photo before letting go of an item

For items that hold emotional weight but aren't practical to keep, take a photo before donating or discarding them. This allows you to preserve the memory without the physical clutter. (Again, we think the Day One Journal App is phenomenal for keeping digital memories organized chronologically!)

8. Make sentimental organizing part of your annual routine

Sentimental items will continue to come into your life, so revisit your collection periodically. Set an annual or biannual reminder to reassess and reorganize as needed.

9. Give yourself grace

Organizing sentimental objects can be an emotional process. Allow yourself time to reminisce, and don’t feel pressured to make quick decisions. If you’re unsure about something, set it aside and revisit it later with a fresh perspective.

By thoughtfully organizing your sentimental items, you’ll create a meaningful collection that enhances your space rather than overwhelms it. The key is to strike a balance between preserving memories and maintaining a clutter-free, functional home.

Looking for some accountability to get through all of your sentimental items? We are experts in following unique criteria to ensure you keep what matters most. (Plus we will mindfully donate anything that you’re ready to part with so you can say goodbye with gratitude).

Need support with this category?

Find out more about how we can help your sentimental project by booking a 15-minute complimentary call.