Honoring Mementos Like a Minimalist

The Life Edit is paywall free and available to all. Here’s why. You can support this newsletter (and make my day) by liking this post, and sharing it with anyone who you think would enjoy it. x

A few years ago I panicked because I couldn’t find the yellow sticky notes my dad used to leave me around the house. When I finally recovered them from the depths of our basement I was sweaty and breathless. I asked my longtime collaborator, Vivian Johnson, to photograph them for me so I could have a permanent record in case they got lost again. But that wasn’t the end of the story.

I started thinking about our personal treasures and mementos and how most of them are relegated to a dusty box in a basement, attic, or garage. How strange, and sort of sad, that the things we claim to value most rarely get used, shared, or displayed.

I’ve personally helped hundreds of clients whittle down their mementos and treasures into a handful of airtight waterproof bins, which is certainly an improvement, but also kind of a sad end goal.

There are very few objects I feel deeply attached to, but I do have a handful: the annotated list of San Francisco restaurants my father had posted on his fridge, the sticky-notes he used to leave around the house to make me laugh, his recipe for gourmet mac and cheese, and a handful of handwritten letters.

None of these felt precious while he was alive, but now that he’s gone these yellowed sheets of paper are deeply cherished.

Since I live in a small home, with minimal storage space, I’ve had to get creative when it comes to storing and displaying keepsakes and memorabilia. My top tips below…

Keep Only a Few From a Collection

Keeping only a few items from a large collection ensures that each item feels precious and valuable instead of burdensome. I once had a client who was an only child and had inherited a dozen full tea sets. I helped her select a single tea cup and saucer from each set to create an eclectic (and meaningful) collection. Have boxes filled with old comic books, inherited items, or collectibles? Try plucking out your few favorites to cherish - donate or recycle the rest.

Photograph and Digitize

If your mementos feel more like clutter, but you want to preserve the memories, you can always snap pics to store safely on your hard drive and let go of the physical items. Ahhhh, space.

Turn Precious Keepsake into Timeless Heirloom Art

For the very precious few, you might want to get creative. I’ve had clients turn old t-shirts into quilts, create an art installation out of their toy cars from childhood, or simply invest in professional framing.

A few years ago, In my research I came across The Heirloomist, an NYC-based company that transforms your heirlooms and treasures into personalized modern art. I loved the concept of elevating your most valued possessions and decided I wanted in.

After careful consideration, I selected a personal note from my father that I read at his funeral. To me it serves as a sweet reminder of his creativity, off-beat wit, and everything I loved most about him. I worked with The Heirloomist to determine the best size, framing, and style, and I’m so thrilled with the final result.

It feels like a little wink from my Dad, and I love that it now has a place of honor in our home - so much better than being buried in a dusty box in our basement.

Display, Use, and Celebrate

Here’s the key takeaway: keep less, honor, use, and display what feels most precious, and let go of the rest.

Have you found a unique way to transform (or pass on) your most precious keepsakes? Please share in the comments below.

Check out the Heirloomist’s brand new book: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell.

A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything

Also - links to new podcasts I’ve recently appeared on below. Take a listen:

🎧 Edit Your Life - I’m talking with host Christine Koh about values-based decluttering, common organizing pitfalls, living with kids, sustainable solutions, and more.

🎧 Imprint - Author and stylist Natalie Walton and I chat about travel, entrepreneurship, and life organization.

🎧 The Jen Marples Show - Living with less and creating Space for more in midlife with Jen Marples.