5 Things You're Calling ‘Sentimental' That Are Really Just Taking Up Space

Yahoo

07-07-2025

It's okay to let go of inherited fine china, old quilts, or cookbooks if they're collecting dust—keeping just one meaningful piece can still honor your loved ones.
Baby clothes and kids' artwork are sweet treasures, but limiting yourself to a small bin (or photo book) per child helps preserve the memories without overwhelming your space.
Decluttering isn't about forgetting—it's about thoughtfully curating what you keep, so the most meaningful items truly shine.Southerners are notoriously sentimental people. It's why the region is rich in history and tradition, and it's also the reason we're a little prone to a bit too much collecting. Pretty much anything can be considered a family heirloom if it has been passed down through a generation or two.
Getting rid of a special item that no longer serves you doesn't mean you're getting rid of the memories associated with it, but don't just take it from us. We surveyed three professional organizers based in the South, and here are a few sentimental items they often have to encourage their clients to let go of. Consider this a little pep talk to give yourself permission for some guilt-free decluttering.Kate Stricker is the founder of Naptime Kitchen and the creator of The Home Reset. She's based in Charleston, South Carolina.
Christina Lee is the co-founder of Graceful Spaces, a professional organizing company in Austin, Texas, that works with clients nationwide.
Kenna Lee is a certified professional organizer and the owner of Calm Spaces. Her business has two locations, one of which is in Atlanta, Georgia.All three experts we interviewed cited fine china collections as a sentimental item that they often see wasting space in a Southerner's home.
One full set of fine china takes up a significant amount of space, regardless of whether or not you've reserved an entire hutch to showing it off. Since fine china has been a popular wedding gift for multiple generations, there's also a good chance you have not only your set, but a family set you've inherited, too.
"I've encountered 6 sets in one home," says professional organizer Kenna Lee. "The reason is these were passed down to my client from the people she loves, and she knows they had such deep significance to her ancestors, especially those who could barely afford china in the first place. My advice to clients is to keep a serving platter or bowl and let the rest go, especially if space is at a premium. You can honor your ancestors' memory without having to rent a storage unit."
Going through your stash of old baby clothes is a surefire way to make you tear up, but it's a task that's very worth doing from time to time.
Kate Stricker is a mom of four and the creator of The Home Reset, an audio course that encourages moms in their decluttering journey. While she knows the feeling of wanting to hang on to those tiny outfits that hold so many memories, she offers some practical advice.
"We keep one bin for a few heirloom items for each child," she says. "But clothes were meant to be worn. Enjoy them! Get them dirty. Keep one or two, but you will likely have way more photos of your child actually in the item, which will mean more to you than having thope item sitting in a closet unworn."
On a similar note, Kate also sees parents hanging on to one too many drawings and finger paintings by their little artists. Just as she does with old baby keepsakes, she limits herself to keeping one bin of artwork per child that she conveniently stores under the bed. However, she admits that even this "seems a bit silly."
While every piece is worthy of some time on the fridge, she suggests giving the extra special pieces some additional display time.
"If you love it, use two small nails to hang a string across the wall and use clothespins to hang artwork on the string," she says. "If you really love it, frame it. Otherwise, say goodbye."
And for those who are extra sentimental, she recommends taking a picture or scan of each piece and printing it all in one slender photo book.
Quilting is becoming a bit of a lost art, which is why it can feel extra hard to pare down your collection. But if you've got more than a dozen crowding your linen closet, it may be time to see a few off.
"Hand-stitched by grandmothers or great-aunts, quilts are beautiful textiles that hold generations of love," says organizer Christina Lee. "But they're also bulky, tough to fold, and typically end up tucked away in linen closets or under beds, rarely used, but always taking up space. We encourage our clients to choose a few special pieces to display or preserve and consider parting with others in thoughtful ways."
Every Southerner loves a good family recipe. But there's a difference between keeping handwritten directions for your mom's stuffing balls and hanging onto the casserole cookbook from your great aunt.
"There is a tradition in the South of cookbooks being passed down through the generations," says Kenna. "I often see clients keeping cookbooks for sentimental reasons because they belonged to a relative, but they have no intention of ever using them. While keeping a treasured family heirloom is understandable, keeping cookbooks that you do not use or need is unnecessary."
It's best to check with a few other family members before donating old cookbooks, just as you would with more valuable family heirlooms. But if there aren't any takers, to the donation bin they go.
Read the original article on Southern Living