Keeping some things as reminders of our past is very important to most people. However, we sometimes tend to go overboard with the “saving” of stuff. Here we will discuss not only how to decide what to keep, but how to put constraints on the amount of stuff that you decide is important. Plus, we’ll tell you how to make space for these things so that they are not cluttering up your home.
1) A picture is worth a thousand words. I keep a scrapbook in my closet that is only for remembering those things that I needed to get rid of but didn’t want to. Instead of keeping the seven bridesmaids dresses that I owned, I took a piece of fabric from each and put it into the scrapbook with photos of the occasion. I had almost 100 baby blankets from when my kids were little. Each one felt special to me, but I needed a few feet of space in my closet to store them! So, I did the unthinkable. I cut them up into squares and sewed them all together into a patchwork quilt that we now snuggle under on the couch. The kids love it that we still get to use their baby blankets because it makes them feel like they are still my babies.
2) Give yourself a specific area to keep things that you just can’t get rid of. I have one expandable file folder for each child for each year of school. As the school year progresses, I put work or art that I really have to keep into the expandable file. I notice myself getting pickier as the year goes on and the folder gets closer to full. When it’s full, that’s it. I can’t keep anything else. So, I will occasionally go through and take out a few things to make room for something special. When the school year is over, the folder is sealed and stored.
3) Giving yourself constraints is a great way to make sure that you don’t clutter the closets. Use space saving hangers, like flat velvet hangers, to make room for extra clothes. If you’re lucky and get rid of enough, you can hang both summer and winter clothing at the same time. This will keep you from having to use precious storage space for clothes. If you never have to swap out wardrobes, then you’ll never have to reorganize.
About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.
