Continuing to Declutter Sentimental Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 31}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm wrapping things up and sharing ways you can keep your home free from sentimental clutter in the future.

But first, let me say how proud I am of you for all the sentimental decluttering you've done this month! This series wasn't like some of my other decluttering series where you're decluttering a bit every day.  This one was the tough stuff.

Some of you may have only tackled one area of sentimental clutter and it may have taken you most of the month.  Others of you worked through several different types of sentimental clutter.  But whether you decluttered a lot or a little... I'm really proud of you!  And you should be proud of yourself.  Give yourself a big ole' pat on the back and a celebratory high five!

I'm sure you feel lighter after letting go of some sentimental items that have been weighing you down.  Hopefully you were also able to use, reuse, re-purpose, or display some items as well so you can give honour and respect to them and to the people and events these items remind you of.

Tips for Decluttering After Someone Passes Away {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 30}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series, we're talking about decluttering after someone passes away.  This is probably the hardest time of all to declutter... everything feels sentimental because it belonged to the person you lost.

If you're in the position of decluttering after a loved one has passed away, first of all, I'm sorry. And I hope these tips help you through this painful time.

There are LOTS of different opinions out there and I think it's something that's different for each person and each family and each situation. What you keep and what you let go of, as well as how long you take to go through things, will be different from someone else. It's hard no matter what. You know yourself and how you deal with things, so tackle this in a way that you will be best for you.

I haven't had to personally deal with this topic so I asked my friend Danielle to guest post and share her tips and experiences on decluttering after a loss.

Tips for Decluttering Jewelry {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 29}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing tips for decluttering jewelry. I'm not talking about the easy stuff... cheap necklaces, earrings where you're missing one of them, etc. I'm talking about the really sentimental stuff... items you've inherited from your mom or grandma, gifts from your spouse or former boyfriends, etc.

Tips for Decluttering Toys and Stuffed Animals {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 28}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing tips for decluttering toys and stuffed animals. These can be either from your childhood or from your kids.  These days kids get SO many toys and stuffies and if you're not diligently decluttering them, they can clutter up your home.

Tips for Decluttering Photos {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 27}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series, I'm sharing tips for decluttering photos. Now this is a huge topic and I could do a whole series just on this topic (actually I did that a few years ago when I was decluttering my photos!).

I'm not going to tell you what you should keep and what you should let go of... as always, that's totally up to you. But if you're ready to declutter your photos I hope these tips will help!

Tips for Decluttering Hand-Made Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 26}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're decluttering hand-made items. These can be gifts from friends, gifts from our kids, or things made by older generations.

Tips for Decluttering Journals and Diaries {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 25}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series, we're decluttering journals and diaries. These may or may not be something you feel is clutter, depending on whether you look back at them from time to time and how much space you have. But if you've got years of journals and you never refer to them and they're taking up space you could use for something else (or just to have a less cluttered home), then these tips are for you.

Tips for Decluttering Inherited Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 24}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing tips for decluttering inherited items. Let me start off by saying, as with everything in this series, I'm not telling you that you have to declutter these sentimental items. It's entirely up to you what you let go of and what you keep. And if you have lots of space to store inherited items, or you actually use your inherited items, then they're really not clutter and you can keep them if you want :)

But if your home is cluttered with a lot of these particular types of items and the past is getting in the way of enjoying your present and your future, then it's time to think long and hard about what you really have space for and what is most important to you. These tips are to help you.

Tips for Decluttering Cards and Letters {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 23}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're decluttering cards and letters. These could be from old friends, parents, grandparents, boyfriends, kids, etc.  Most people have lots of these in their homes... especially if they like to keep sentimental items :)

Tips for Decluttering Cookbooks and Recipes {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 22}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series and today we're decluttering cookbooks, recipe boxes, or recipe binders.  If you're using all your cookbooks or recipes, then they're not clutter. You can skip today :) But if you're not using them and they're collecting dust on a shelf and taking up space you could be using for something else, then they're clutter.

Tips for Decluttering Old Calendars and Planners {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 21}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series, we're decluttering old calendars, planners, and datebooks.  Some of you probably just toss them at the end of the year, but many people hang onto them.  Sometimes for YEARS.  Today I'm going to share tips for decluttering them, as well as share some ideas for repurposing or displaying them.

Tips for Decluttering Items From Hobbies You No Longer Do {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 20}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering items related to hobbies we no longer do. Could be craft supplies, sporting equipment, fishing gear, gardening supplies, movie or music posters, or any other items you enjoyed in your spare time, but don't any more.

Tips for Decluttering Children's Work and Memorabilia {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 19}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering kids' work.  This can be artwork, as well as school papers, including school work, newsletters, report cards, awards, certificates, etc. Now, not all those things are necessarily clutter. It's up to you to decide what you want to keep, based on how much space you have and how often you or your kids will look through it.  And you can choose whether to declutter your own school related sentimental items, or your kids' items, depending on your life and what items you have.

By the way, I've got a special treat for you to reward all your efforts decluttering sentimental items this month!  Details are later in the post.

Tips for Decluttering Wedding Gifts {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 18}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering wedding gifts we don't use. I'm thinking especially of practical household items like small appliances, dishes or serving items you use for entertaining, wine glasses, candlesticks, vases, etc. Things you put on your register because you thought you needed them or they were too expensive for you to buy for yourselves, but you never use them.

{I'll cover hand-made items and inherited items later in the series so even if you got those items as wedding gifts, don't worry about them today.}

Tips for Decluttering "Former Me" Clothes {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 17}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering "former me" clothing. Think about those items you've been holding onto, even though you KNOW you will never fit into them again. They might be from when you were younger or single or before you had kids or before "life" happened.

Tips for Decluttering Formalwear {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 16}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering formal wear. Things like prom or graduation dresses, bridesmaid or flower girl dresses, and wedding dresses.  These are very special, but if we never wear them, then they are taking up space in the back of our closets that could be used for our daily clothes.

Tips for Decluttering High School and College Clothing {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 15}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering our high school or college clothes. You know those sweatshirts or t-shirts you've been holding onto because they bring back so many memories? Even though they're tattered and torn or don't fit anymore. They could be clothes you bought with your school's crest on them. Or they could be uniforms you wore while on various teams or clubs.

Tips for Decluttering Ticket Stubs {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 14}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're focusing on decluttering ticket stubs! Whether you keep your tickets from theatre productions, concerts, movies, sporting events, or vacations, if you've got a collection of them, take time to go through them and decide which ones you want to keep and which ones you can let go of.

Tips for Decluttering Holiday Items and Decor {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 13}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're decluttering holiday items / decorations.  These can be for any holidays, although most people tend to have a favourite season that they primarily accumulate things for.  If Christmas is the holiday you have the most "stuff" for, your things are probably packed away in the attic, basement, or garage, but it's actually a good idea to take some time to go through them now.  The Christmas season is always so busy and it's harder to be objective about what to keep and what to let go of when you're in the midst of the holiday season.

Tips for Decluttering Items From Former Jobs {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 12}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're decluttering items from former jobs. It's tough when a job ends, whether it was by choice or not, and whether we loved the job or not.
On our last day we bring home a bunch of stuff and it probably gets dumped somewhere. Other priorities end up meaning this former job stuff gets pushed further and further away from everyday life and ends up in the basement or attic and never dealt with. Some of these items might be sentimental but others likely don't mean much later.

If you need, use, or love these items and have the space to store them, then they are not clutter.  But if not, it's time to look at decluttering some things.

Tips for Decluttering Yearbooks {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 11}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're talking about decluttering yearbooks! Whether these are from elementary school, middle school, high school, or college/university, they can take up a lot of space in your home.  If you look at them frequently, then they are not clutter.  But if yours are tucked away in a box somewhere and you haven't looked at them since graduation, they've become clutter.

Tips for Decluttering Pet Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 10}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series, we're decluttering pet items. Particularly, things related to pets that are no longer with you.

Tips for Decluttering Wedding Favors {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 9}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're talking about wedding favors or wedding party gifts. You know, those cute little things from your cousin's wedding that collect dust on a shelf in the spare room. Or that engraved thank you gift for being a bridesmaid.

Tips for Decluttering Home Videos {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 8}

Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering home videos... especially those saved on non-digital formats like video cassettes, super 8 tapes, and film reels. These lose quality over time and as technology changes we stop having a means to view them. So why are we storing all of these videos?

Tips for Decluttering Baby and Children's Clothing {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 7}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing tips to help you declutter baby or children's clothing.  These could be clothes from when you were a baby or child, or clothing worn by your own kids.

Tips for Decluttering Sports Memorabilia {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 6}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series we're decluttering sports memorabilia. Things that were earned or won like pennants, trophies, ribbons, awards, etc. Or collections like sports cards, posters, bobbleheads, souvenir cups, posters, etc. Or it could be jerseys or balls. These items could be from your own life, your spouse's life, or your kids' lives.

Tips for Decluttering Vacation Souvenirs {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 5}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing tips to help you declutter your vacation souvenirs.  Up until now I've shared general strategies and tips for decluttering sentimental items, but as of today we'll be talking about a different type of sentimental clutter each day... starting with your vacation souvenirs!

These can be any objects you or someone in your family kept to remind you of your trip.  They could include trinkets, keychains, postcards, magnets, brochures, pamphlets, plane tickets, hotel keys, etc.

One More Strategy for Decluttering Sentimental Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 4}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm sharing one more strategy to help you declutter your sentimental things.  If you've been following along the series you know I shared several strategies yesterday and the day before {check them out if you missed them!}.  And tomorrow I'll start sharing tips for specific types of sentimental clutter.  Today I' want to talk about what you can do with the items you decide to keep but that you aren't able to use or display.  Ready?

More Strategies for Decluttering Sentimental Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 3}

Today in the Decluttering Sentimental Items series I'm going to share a few more strategies to help you as you're actually physically going through your items.  Yesterday's strategies were general tips to keep in mind, but these will help you when you start the process of sorting through your special things.  Ready for more strategies for decluttering sentimental items?  Here we go!

Strategies for Decluttering Sentimental Items {Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 2}

Are you pumped after reading yesterday's introduction to the Decluttering Sentimental Items series?  How about that video from the Minimalists to inspire you to declutter?

One thing I forgot to mention is that decluttering sentimental items doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything.  I'm all for having some special items in your home!  The key is not having so many sentimental items that they take over your home and your life.  So one of the things we'll be talking a lot about this month is not just choosing what to let go of, but choosing what to keep.

Today I'm going to share a few strategies to help you do that!

Decluttering Sentimental Items - Day 1

Sentimental items.  We've all got them.  Some of us have more than others.

They are important to us because they remind us of someone or something special from our past.

But sometimes we have too many sentimental items.  Bins in the basement filled with our childhood memories or those of our kids.  Boxes in the garage that were too painful to sort through before.  Items scattered throughout our home on shelves, in drawers, or at the back of our closets.

If you feel like your sentimental items are taking over your home, it's time to declutter.  If your past is getting in the way of your present or your future, it's time to declutter.  If you want to live more simply, it's time to declutter.

It's not easy though.  Which is why I'm writing this series!

I'm back! New series starting tomorrow!

Hi everyone!  So it's been awhile... how have you been?   I hadn't intended to not blog for months... it just kind of happened.  No excuses really... working with clients, tackling projects around my house, keeping busy with my kids, volunteering on several projects / committees, you know how it is.

But I have missed blogging.  And I've missed you :)

I've still kept in touch with lot of you in the 365 Items in 365 Days Facebook group.  And through comments on social media... especially FB since I seem to hang out there most.  But it's not quite the same.

So I'm really excited to be back with a great series that I've been working on for a couple of months now!!