Sentimental Items: When to Keep and When to Let Go

Decluttering sentimental items is one of the hardest parts of simplifying a home. We’re not just holding objects — we’re holding stories, memories, versions of ourselves, and the people we love. And because of that, sentimental decluttering isn’t really about the stuff at all. It’s about meaning, identity, and letting ourselves feel things.

But here’s the truth: There’s nothing wrong with keeping sentimental items. And also… it’s not practical (or emotionally sustainable) to keep all of them.

The goal isn’t to erase the past. It’s to curate it — intentionally — so the items you keep truly matter.

Recently, I had two sentimental-item moments that perfectly illustrate the difference between what to keep and what to let go. I’m sharing them here because I know how universal this struggle is. Maybe you’ll see yourself in one of these stories.

The Cottage Blanket: A Beautiful Memory… and Time to Let Go

At my family’s cottage, there was a blanket that lived in the blanket cabinet for as long as I can remember. When I left for college (over 30 years ago), I claimed it as mine. Since then, it’s been my faithful winter companion — the blanket I curled up with on the couch, the one that warmed me through countless cozy evenings.

Years ago, the edges began to fray, so I stitched a new border on. That bought it a few more seasons. But eventually the fabric became so thin that it literally started shredding — around the border, in the center, everywhere.

Recently, I finally replaced it (with another cottage blanket). And today, I put my beloved old blanket in the garbage.

Here’s why I let it go:

1. It was no longer usable. The blanket had done its job beautifully, for decades. But it could no longer function.

2. My kids would never want it. They didn’t grow up with it the way I did. To them, it was just a shredded blanket.

3. It was bulky. Keeping it “just because” would’ve taken up a lot of valuable space — physically and mentally.

Letting it go didn’t erase the memories. The memories live in me, not in the fabric.

The Baby Shoes: A Sentimental Yes

Not long ago, my parents began downsizing and sorting through boxes of their sentimental items. In one of them, they found my very first pair of shoes — tiny, worn, and still in the original box from 1975.

They passed them to me, and here’s why I’m keeping them (at least for now):

1. They’re historically cool. They’re a piece of the 70s, a snapshot in time. They make me smile every time I see them.

2. They’re small. They fit neatly inside my dedicated sentimental-items space without crowding anything else out.

3. My kids might want them someday. And if they don’t? I’m completely okay letting them go at that point.

These shoes spark joy, curiosity, and a sense of history — without taking over my home.

So… How Do You Decide?

When you’re faced with a sentimental item — especially one that makes your heart squeeze — try asking yourself:

1. Is it meaningful, or just familiar?

Familiarity is not the same as value.

2. Is it serving a purpose now (practical or emotional)?

Or is the purpose simply “I feel guilty getting rid of it”?

3. Would I miss this item, or just the memory of it?

If it’s the memory, you can keep the memory in other ways.

4. Do I have space for this without sacrificing something more important?

Some items are worth the space. Some aren’t.

5. Am I keeping this for me — or out of obligation?

Obligation is not a long-term storage plan.

Curating Your Sentimental Items

The goal is not a home free of memories. The goal is a home full of the right items.

You don’t have to declutter everything. You don’t have to justify what you keep. You simply get to choose — with intention.

Some items, like my cottage blanket, have lived their full, beautiful life and deserve to be released. Others, like my tiny baby shoes, still have stories to tell.

Both decisions are valid. Both honor the past. And both make space for the life I’m living right now.