How to Organize Precious Mementos
POSTED: July 27, 2016
UPDATED: June 17, 2024
I dislike messy or disorganized spaces because they make me feel stressed and unsettled. I don't have a messy area of my home, not even a junk drawer, but I still have "stuff.”
You know what I mean, the memorabilia: the old concert ticket stubs, the letters, the cards, the accumulation of things and memories from all life's stages. I wouldn't dream of parting with this "stuff" I've saved, and I don't suggest you do either. The difference is how I have saved and preserved this "stuff" instead of letting it pile up and take over valuable closet space or become a burden.
Some time ago, I got an email from a friend from college, my suitemate from Sophomore year, who now lives in Georgia with her husband and three kids. She sent a photo of a pile of books and boxes and asked for my help organizing it all. I was flattered to be asked and excited about the challenge of remote organizing.
Follow these steps to organize keepsakes
EVALUATE: Even though you've saved all of these things for years, even decades, it's still important to evaluate what you have. In many cases, you will find things that you don't recall the significance of anymore. When you come across these things, don't hesitate to throw them out!
BONUS: This is guaranteed to be a fun walk down memory lane. Enjoy the nostalgia!SORT: Make piles. In her case, I suggested making them for each child, for her husband, and for various eras.
BONUS: Now that you see these separated piles, you will finally be able to determine who your favorite child is—mystery solved!STORE: Now that the piles are made, you can find various ways to store the memorabilia. Fun boxes made of everything from acrylic to wicker are easily available to fit your taste and style. With boxes that look good, there is no need to hide them. Instead, I suggest you stack, display, and show them off. Perhaps the memorabilia of your significant other stays in a pretty box on your dresser. Get matching boxes for the kid's things and stack them artfully in a corner, or find a box that is solid and would work sitting on a shelf in your closet.
BONUS: You might get to spend time at HomeGoods, and who doesn't love that place?DISPLAY: At this point in the process, you may have come across things that are too good to go back in a box, beautiful storage or not. I suggest putting these items together in a shadow box. These frames are now affordable and readily available in most craft stores. They come in various sizes and finishes depending on your style and what you need to display. I assure you don't have to be crafty to make one of your own. (See below)
What do you need to create a Shadow Box?
Shadow box for my daughter’s costume.
This is a shadow box I made for my daughter. When she was 4, she was a Superhero version of herself for Halloween. We worked together to make the costume (I don't sew, so by " make," I mean "make" this costume happen.)
Using simple T-pins, a favorite of mine since my Art major days, I assembled this in less than five minutes. Items that would have sat tucked away and forgotten in a box are now up and displayed.
BONUS: Fresh, personal, and affordable art for your home.
Feel free to use these tips to help with your "stuff." My friend appreciated the suggestions and promised to send me the 'After' photo of her organizing work. We've made a deal; she has assured me that she will be framing every note I have ever written to her way back when, and in turn, I have promised her she can "keep the stuff" and still be organized.
That's fair, right? I'm sure her sweet family will just love that new artwork in the family room.
-Ashley
If you’re looking for guidance on creating your own shadow box or other fun ways to organize your mementos, contact Ashley today!
Ashley Ingraham is a very organized Mom of a daughter in Baltimore, Maryland. Always creative she was a double major of Studio Art and Education at Furman University and spent the beginning of her career as a teacher in Baltimore City. After staying home with her daughter she founded Home Perspective to share her Organization skills and life experience to make others homes and lives better. Her business has been featured in Baltimore Magazine, Oprah & Entrepreneur. When not busy helping people organize their lives she can be found at concerts all over the country or busy raising her tween daughter.