Love the Memory, Lose the Clutter: Dealing with Inherited Items

Inheriting items from a loved one can be extremely emotional. These items often hold deep sentimental value, serving as tangible reminders of a person we’ve lost. In the process of inheriting these items, it can be really difficult to determine what we want to keep and what we can let go of. It’s understandable to feel like letting go of stuff means letting go of memories, however, holding on to these things can sometimes create unwanted clutter and stress, making us feel heavy or even discouraged by keeping these items around. Do you have a collection of sentimental keepsakes that you’re stumped on what to do with? Here are my tips for sorting through these belongings in a way that honors your loved one while maintaining a peaceful and organized home.

Consider How These Items Make You Feel

True remembrance lives in your heart and mind, not in physical objects. Many people fear that discarding an inherited item means erasing their loved one’s presence. If this sounds like you, I would encourage you to ask yourself “Are these items helping me honor my loved one?” and “How do I feel when I interact with or look at these items?” If you feel heavy, overwhelmed, angry, or stuck regarding certain keepsakes, there’s a good chance that these belongings are not helping you move forward. Remember, letting go of an item doesn’t mean that you're letting go of your connection to that person. It’s important to make space for what serves you and your present needs.

Keep What You Can Care For

A helpful guideline I like to encourage is to only keep items that you have the space to display or care for. If something is tucked away in a box in the attic, never to be seen or appreciated, it’s not serving its purpose. If an item is valuable to you, make it part of your home. Display it, use it, or seek inventive ways to repurpose it to suit your needs. If you find yourself unable to properly maintain or appreciate it over time, it’s okay to reassess and let it go.

One thing I like to remind my clients is that letting go of an item does not mean that it’s useless, lacking value, or destined for the trash. Sometimes, caring for an item looks like finding an enthusiastic recipient who will value it. Donating your belongings to Museums can be a very rewarding way to pass on those special antiques, art pieces, or artifacts. If you don’t have the space to display or care for certain items, consider taking detailed photos of them before donating, selling, or giving them away.

Make Memorabilia Storage Beautiful

For the items you do decide to keep, create a beautiful and intentional storage system. Try designating an area of your home to showcase heirlooms and store memory boxes. Make sure that this area is clear of clutter and accessible so that you can interact with these items frequently. Helpful tip! If you have large assortments of photos, slides, home movies, etc., read my blog “What’s the Deal with Digitization?” to learn how you can display these photos and dwindle down your physical collection. Treating sentimental items with care and purpose gives them much more meaning than leaving them in storage bins to collect dust.

Final Thoughts

Letting go of inherited items doesn’t mean letting go of love, memories, or connection. It simply means curating the things that truly matter to you and creating a home that reflects the life you want to live now. You’re loved ones likely don’t want you to feel burdened by their things, and it’s important to feel like you’re honoring them in ways that feel authentic to you. Give yourself permission to keep what brings you joy and release what no longer serves you free of guilt.

Want some help tackling your inherited collections? Let’s get in touch! Give Liz a call (425)328-4730 or fill out the contact form.