As the New Year continues and the urge to declutter and simplify our lives takes over, I’m here to throw a little twist into the mix. While decluttering can be incredibly liberating and beneficial… there are certain things in our lives that we should think twice about tossing out with the old sneakers we haven’t worn in years. So, today, I want to share with you my personal list of 22 things you really shouldn’t declutter this year.
We all know the joy of a tidy and organized living space. However, sometimes, in our journey to minimize our homes and Marie Kondo our way to a clutter-free paradise, we might accidentally let go of items that hold sentimental, practical, or financial value. From important documents to cherished heirlooms and even those trusty kitchen gadgets, I’ve got a list of items that deserve a special place in your life. So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, cozy up in your clutter-free corner, and let’s delve into the 22 things that should remain untouched by the decluttering bug this year.
We’ll explore the reasons behind each item’s inclusion on this list and why they’re worth keeping around. After all, the goal of decluttering is not just to have less stuff but to create a harmonious living space that truly enhances our lives. So, let’s embrace the art of decluttering selectively and thoughtfully, ensuring we hold onto the things that bring joy, serve a purpose, and hold a special place in our hearts.
Keep reading to learn about the things you need to leave alone when you are decluttering this year!
*** This article may contain affiliate links that I receive a small commission off of. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I always appreciate any support to keep this site running! Thank you!***
22 things you SHOULDN’T declutter this year
Don’t get caught up and throw out these things:
- Important Documents: Keep essential documents like birth certificates, passports, social security cards, and legal paperwork in a safe place. Including essentials for your house, car, etc. I also recommend scanning important documents (which you can now do on an iPhone!) and saving them onto a household cloud account as well.
- Tax Records: Hang onto tax returns and related documents for the recommended number of years. I am not a tax expert but I believe you should legally hold onto tax documents for 7 years for personal and 10 for businesses!
- Family Heirlooms: Preserve sentimental items that have been passed down through generations. Why would you possibly declutter that you ask? Something that could become an heirloom can be easily discarded when it’s only one or two generations back. IE don’t throw out your grandmothers jewelry even if it isn’t “trendy”.
- Treasured Photos: Keep physical photo albums or digitize them to cherish your memories. Or better yet- both! I have physical albums, digitally created and printed books, and organized digital copies of everything. You would rather not regret getting rid of pictures and the memories that go along with them.
- Sentimental Letters and Cards: Hold onto cards and letters with personal messages from loved ones. You can also get creative and put them in a shadow box or scrapbook them.
- Valuable Jewelry: Keep valuable pieces of jewelry in a secure location. That way you don’t get confused with costume jewelry (sounds dumb but trust me some of the cheap pieces can look valuable and visa versa).
- Emergency Supplies: Maintain a stock of essential supplies for emergencies, like flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food. It may take up space and never be needed but you never want to find yourself underprepared in an emergency.
- Medical Records: Keep copies of your medical history and important health records. Again (I sound like a broken record) make them digital too so you can easily access them in a medical emergency.
- Legal Agreements: Store copies of contracts, leases, and other important legal agreements. Especially anything that needed to be notarized!
- Essential Kitchen Tools: Hold onto kitchen appliances and gadgets you use regularly. You probably hear all the time that you should throw out single use appliances which is true. But don’t get caught up and toss something that you use seasonally!
- Basic Clothing Staples: Keep clothing items like plain t-shirts, jeans, and underwear that you wear frequently. They may not be exciting pieces but if they still fit then hold onto them.
- Quality Cookware: Hang onto high-quality pots, pans, and utensils for cooking.
- Essential Tools: Don’t part with essential tools for household repairs and maintenance. Trust me you never know when you will need a tool that you have previously needed again.
- Seasonal Decorations: Store seasonal decorations, like holiday ornaments, until they are needed. Don’t declutter based on trends that will add up quickly in your budget!
- Books You Love: Keep books that hold sentimental value or that you plan to reread.
- Hobby Supplies: Hang onto art supplies, musical instruments, or crafting materials that you regularly use. I love taking a break from my current hobby and going back to a previous one. It’s a great mental break and challenge!
- Important Keepsakes: Preserve keepsakes that hold personal significance. It’s not clutter if it’s meaningful.
- Spare Bedding and Towels: Keep extra bedding and towels for guests or emergencies.
- Home Maintenance Supplies: Hold onto items like paint, caulk, and tools for home repairs and updates.
- Children’s Artwork: Save your children’s artwork or create a digital archive of their creations. Again I recommend both digital and physical copies of them.
- Gardening Tools: Maintain gardening tools and equipment for outdoor projects.
- Sentimental Items: Keep any other sentimental items that bring you joy and hold special memories.
While decluttering is a valuable practice, it’s essential to strike a balance between simplifying your space and preserving the items that hold sentimental, practical, or financial value. Evaluate each item carefully before deciding whether or not to declutter it, and remember that some things are worth holding onto for various reasons.
Korra-Shay
If you enjoyed this article on 22 things you SHOULDN’T declutter this year then you probably (hopefully!) will enjoy these articles as well:
- 34 Lists To Write To Organize Your Home and Keep It Organized!
- Things To Clean Quarterly In Your Home
- How To Organize Your Monthly Bills Digitally
- 11 Home Organization Mistakes To Avoid
- How To Declutter Before You Move To A New Home!
Let’s really connect and stay in touch!
Below is a quick form to subscribe to my weekly roundup! It’s just one email a week with my 3 newest posts, email exclusive freebies, weekly finds and favorites, and so much more. I would love to stay in touch moving forward!
You must be logged in to post a comment.