I tried the ‘Memory Box’ decluttering method for sentimental items and finally managed to choose style over clutter in my compact living room

I am someone who struggles to let go of items. I get emotionally attached, which can lead to clutter sneaking up on me. That's why I decided to try the Memory Box decluttering method, which promises a curated finish.

Here, professional organizers explain why it's good to do and where in the home it's best suited for, as well as how to use it for cutting down your meaningful items.

I gave this decluttering method a go in my home and managed to reduce the volume of treasured items with ease. It's a gamechanger.

What is the Memory Box decluttering method?

The Memory Box decluttering method involves creating a dedicated box or container for sentimental items and keepsakes. Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, says, ‘The goal is to have all your keepsakes in one place and all over the house.

‘Typically, you receive something that becomes a keepsake, like a letter from a loved one or decor from a deceased relative, and because it comes in randomly, it usually gets shoved somewhere.’

By putting any special items in a box, not only will you keep them safe and accessible, but they won’t clutter up your space or be scattered around.

Joy Ramos, cleaning expert at Bear Brothers Cleaning, adds, ‘As you honor your memories, it's a thoughtful way to keep your house peaceful and orderly.’

If you have anything that doesn't spark memories or joy anymore, this clever decluttering tip allows you to let go of them and either donate or discard them without guilt.

What areas of the home is the Memory Box decluttering method good for?

Sentimental items tend to gather in family rooms like the living room and kitchen, as this is where memories are made and displayed.

‘It’s also ideal for bedrooms, closets, home offices, or family spaces where you’re more likely to pause and reflect,’ explains Joy.

As well as knowing where to look for these items, it’s worth thinking about what items might be taking up space.

Joy continues, ‘It works exceptionally well for things that tug at your heart but no longer have a practical use, like old letters, childhood drawings, concert tickets, or small heirlooms.’

Before putting fragile pieces of paper in a box, I recommend putting them in a photo album such as the Bstorify scrapbook from Amazon, which comes in seven different colors and is made from durable materials.

What areas of the home is the Memory Box decluttering method not good for?

Some areas won’t have items you hold dear to you within them – and they also won’t be the best places to use this method.

‘The Memory Box decluttering method doesn’t work as well in busy or damp areas like the entryway, bathroom, or garage – places where things can easily be forgotten or damaged,’ Joy adds.

If you live in a small space and don’t have anywhere else to store your box than in the garage or in a basement, make sure to use an airtight storage solution, such as the Sterilite gasket box from Walmart that’s weather-resistant.

How to do the Memory Box decluttering method

First of all, make sure to set the limit – one memory box means one memory box. Any more than that, and you’ll end up with boxes brimming with clutter.

‘It is important to choose a well-sized box that’s big enough to fit your favorites but not so large that you hoard everything,’ says Joy.

Working through a room at a time, move through clutter zones like tables and bookshelves, assessing if an item needs to go in the memory box, if you’re happy to still have it displayed, or if you want to donate it.

Once you’ve identified items, Joy recommends using envelopes or folders to help organize your belongings by year, occasion, or family member.

You could do this all in one go or do the ‘Incremental Improvement’ method and focus on one zone or room at a time. You might even find yourself using the ‘Didn’t Know’ decluttering method – if you didnt remember or know you had an item, get rid of it.

Joy continues, ‘Once you’re done, label the box clearly, and keep it in a place that’s easy to access but not in the way.’

To add an extra personal touch to the box, you can handwrite on a label like the Hebayy white stickers from Amazon, which come in pretty shapes.

Trying the Memory Box decluttering method

As someone who struggles to let go of things, trying the Memory Box decluttering method was a little daunting at first, but I thought it would be a great way to sift through items taking up space.

I tried it in my living room, going through bookshelves, tables, and other surface areas with my memory box (I used the Amazon Basics cube organizer from Amazon).

My partner and I build a lot of Lego sets, which are cute, but they do take up shelf space and aren’t very aesthetic. For this, I combined the Memory Box method with the ‘SIMPLE’ decluttering method, which involves sorting items, giving them a home (AKA the memory box), and putting them in containers.

I also had a photo book from my sister and a wedding box which I do enjoy looking through, but that didn’t need to be on my limited ladder shelving. The box especially took up a lot of room. By putting both of these in the memory box, I now know they’re in a safe place, but my living room design is much neater.

I didn’t have any items that I needed to discard or donate in this room, memory-wise, but taking the opportunity to declutter did allow me to do a little living room clean, removing empty wrappers and wiping down the surfaces with disinfectant.

This, combined with the Memory Box decluttering method, freshened up the space completely.

I give the Memory Box decluttering method a firm 8/10. For specific sentimental items, it’s a brilliant way to keep them together without them taking over the home. It also inspired me to declutter my space while I was in the process.

However, this decluttering tip won’t work for every room and for every item.

Who is the Memory Box decluttering method good for?

The Memory Box decluttering method is perfect for those who get emotionally attached to objects and want to keep meaningful items without mess building up.

It is also ideal for those who get overwhelmed by clutter. ‘It provides a structured, limited container for memories, making decluttering more manageable and less emotionally draining,’ Joy says.

As well as this, it works especially brilliantly if you’re going through a transition such as downsizing, moving, or grieving, where letting go is difficult but necessary.

‘It allows you to respect your past without letting it take over your physical space,’ Joy adds.

What to shop

Meet the experts

Ben Soreff

Ben is a professional organizer at House to Home Organizing. He is a pro at helping everyday people and hoarders clear away any unnecessary clutter. This often involves helping them manage sentimental items.

Joy Ramos

Joy is a cleaning expert and the operations manager at Bear Brothers Cleaning, which is a cleaning service in Huntsville and Birmingham, Alabama. She loves helping people find ways to preserve their cherished items while maintaining a tidy home.

‘Remember, you can't invent a keepsake – either it is special to you or it isn't, and everyone is different,’ Ben says.

‘I have had clients try and throw out their kids' baby shoes, and I have had clients save air conditioners as keepsakes – all that matters is where it lives in your space,’ he finishes by saying.

If you’re looking for more decluttering ideas, the ‘Hushing the House’ and ‘The Five Messes’ decluttering methods are also super for those who get overwhelmed easily.