Top Tips to Getting Your Memorabilia Under Control

Lots of us have more memorabilia than we know where to go with. Home organization is lost in cluttered spaces full of photographs, old video tapes, slides, books, and keepsakes.

These are some ideas on how to store your memorabilia so that it's safe, organized and out-of-the-way.

1. Purge. Set aside day to sort through your current collection of memorabilia.

Choose 6-12 things that are the MOST important to you.

Create a tribute to these items by making room for them in your home. Show them off hanging on your wall, placed on a table, or in a display cabinet.

If you space is to cramped to honor and display the most prized items, give them to a family member(not living in your home) who has the space to display them.


2. Store. After that, allocate a large plastic bin to everyone in your family that you live with(or that stores their things with you). Sort the memorabilia you have chosen to keep into each person's bin.

Here's a tip: Fill each bin a maximum of HALF FULL. This leaves room for new items as you build new memories.

Household members each will need to select the things that are MOST important to them to keep in their container.

Take pictures of the items you’ve chosen not to keep then you have pictures to treasure. Next, properly dispose of the items, sell them, or pass them on to other family members.

Make a beautiful coffee table book with the photographs you have taken. The pages of the book can be a photo of one item along caption that explains the memorabilia, who's it was, it's background, what made it special to you, ect.

These books are very inexpensive to have made.

I know that you and your loved ones will treasure and enjoy these coffee table books much more than the items hiding in boxes in your basement, garage, or attic.

They make an excellent conversation starter and are easy to pass down to future generations.

I prefer using SnapFish to make my books. Books start at about $20.

Another idea is to take a beautiful photo of a grouping of items and have a large canvas made of the photo.
Make certain to properly store your memorabilia and your photographs in order to avoid damage.

All of your non-digital photos should be scanned and put on discs. New technology makes this easy and affordable to do!

Having paper photographs is a danger. Paper will deteriorate as they age and if you have a flood or fire, you could lose them forever.

When converting your photos order extra copies of your discs. Keep one set in your safe deposit box, display a set on your bookshelf to view and give a set to family members.

I suggest using ScanDigital to move all of your paper photographs, slides and video tapes to digital format. You can view your digital photos on a TV using your DVD player, or pop into your computer.

It's super easy. You can place your order online, put your things in boxes, and give them instructions on what order you want it in, ship your things out.

They don’t just send you discs, they also keep backup files of your pictures, slides and video tapes. This way if your discs get lost or broken you can order more.

Place your order by March 31st, enter coupon code: MARCH485 and you'll receive a 20% savings!!!

When everything has been converted to digital, I propose tossing out the physical photos, videos and slides. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, then put them in a box and store them away in an attic or basement.

3. Set limits. It is not hard to let things get out of control, particularly if it's your kid's artwork / school work or belongings of a loved one who as passed.

Each member of your household should be told that they get one large bin of memorabilia, no more!

As you bring new memorabilia home, honor it (consider replacing another honored piece), or store it in the appropriate family member’s bin.

If you notice your bin (or your child's bin) is beginning to get full, do a fast sort and pick out the items that aren’t as important to you. This makes room for the more important items.

Keep in mind, there is no need to keep everything!

Put your bins in the basement or a closet. Keep a basket somewhere close to collect memorabilia for kids or grand kids who are bring memorabilia to you on an ongoing basis.

Wait until the basket is full, then choose the most loved items and add them to the bin. Get rid off or photograph what’s left. You will stay focused on home organization by keeping these rules in mind.

Don’t forget, place an order with ScanDigital by March 31st, enter coupon code MARCH485 and you'll save 20% !!!

May this be your MOST organized year yet,

~Heidi