Decluttering a catch all room...what to do with the things I want to keep????

[dfchelbay]

So, it's spring cleaning time again and I really want to clean up and organize the catch all room. The problem is I don't know what to do with the stuff that's in there. The room contains items I really don't wish to part with. All other rooms in the house and in great order. It isn't until you open the door to this room that you see...all my clutter. The room contains all our family photos, from mine and DH births, the kids, the vacations, everything...there's a lot...boxes and boxes. Also, my Disney collectibles. The things are collector pieces, no junk. Things from the 1930s and 1940s. The room also contains my reference books on the book shelves. I used these books on a regular basis, so I really cannot get rid of them. There are also boxes for every member of the family we have lost over the years. Basically important things/memory items are in these boxes. Also, all the family business stuff is there too. The files for the household, like insurance, appliance info/warranties, service work orders, etc. You know the bills, car paperwork, the tax stuff, basically the paperwork you have to keep hold of.

So, what do you do when you really don't want to actually get rid of the "clutter" that you have? We do not have a basement, so that is not an option. I'm tired of just closing the door. I would be mortified if anyone I knew (or even didn't know) saw this room.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[figment3258]

Well I would buy some wall shelf units and start placing things on shelfs.

 

[bridget]

What kind of room is it? Is it a guest bedroom? Is it an office?

What do you want the room to be? Do you have a budget?

I understand not wanting to part with those items, but do you want to store them or display them?

Would you be willing to buy tubs and organize things and move them to the tubs and put them on shelves?

Are you wanting something more formal looking- like wooden shelves and large baskets?

Here are some really basic ideas...(not too fancy)
http://totallyorderly.com/Pictures__Storage.html#Apartment_Storage_Cage

 

[KBW]

I think you need to start by getting a filing cabinet...get one that looks nice, not some cheap metal thing. ALL papers go in there. Not sure if you want to turn that room into an office or something? If so, Target has lots of nice quality stuff that looks good, but is inexpensive. Their desks are great for kids (or adults, for that matter).

You also mentioned the boxes of family stuff from people who've passed away. What good is that stuff doing in a box? Look at all of it and figure out what's important or sentimental. You will need to find a place in your home to display or use it. It might mean getting rid of/donating other stuff that's not as important to you.

For example, after my grandmother passed, I cleared off my mantle and replaced everything there (sold in garage sale) with a set of porcelain birds I got from her. I think of her everytime I see them. My DH's grandmother passed away in '08. She wanted my DD9 to have her beautiful (full sized, 4-poster) bed. Of course, we had all white furniture in her room. So, we got rid of (sold, moved, or donated) her twin bed and all of her white furniture, moved a dresser from our room (that matched) into her room, repainted walls, bought new rug, etc. Finally finished everything about 2 months ago....long time coming! She loves her new room and it's something she can grow into. Between paint, curtains, rug, shelves, I spent around $200. Plus, she knows that her bed is from her GiGi, and that makes the whole room so special to her.

Also, for me, I HATE clutter. Get yourself a storage system! I can't stand all the mail and papers that come home from school. For me, things start to build up at the kitchen table, and bottom of the steps. So for me, the solution is to go thru the mail every day, and put bills in a "to be paid" drawer. I also bought a table for my hallway with 4 drawers + 4 baskets. Everyone gets a drawer and basket. It's an easy place to stash stuff when you're cleaning up at the end of the day.

Good luck to you!!

 

[NYCDiane]

I'm going through the same thing now, only the "catch-all room" is my bedroom! We live in a small apartment and have absolutely no storage space.

If I were in your position, I would build shelving units around three walls of the room. Make the shelves large enough to hold those Rubbermaid type storage containers. Put the items you want in containers and label them with what they are. Photo albums and photos, I wouldn't put in a plastic container --- for those, you should have cardboard or pressboard containers.

For your business and personal papers? I would get a three tier wooden filing cabinet --- the type where you pull the door open and can slide out the files.

Check out The Container Store:

http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm

They have some great storage solutions.

 

[drinkme]

First thing is to get those pictures in albums. Spend a weekend (or two) getting those organized. I have not only albums for each child, but also a photo box for those pictures I don't want to put in an album, but I don't want to toss.

For the rest of the stuff, you probably need to look into installing shelving. I would look at IKEA. Then buy some cute boxes to store everything in. IKEA has lots of boxes in different sizes. Target also has some cute boxes, but not as big selection. I've never been to The Container Store, but I've heard that place has alot of stuff to choose from.

I hate clutter, too. I'm down to 2 boxes of pictures I still need to organize. I hate doing it, so it won't get done soon! lol.

I'm slowly decluttering the stuffed animals. They just take over a home when you have kids.

 

[hsmamato2]

well, first, decluttering is just that, getting rid of unused items. so...before you go buy any more storage things,you need to decide what you need to keep. If it's everything,buy a bigger house! no seriously, if you have a room full of clutter,then that's exactly what it is,unused stuff. Whether it's collectibles or garbage,it's unused clutter.
So sell your collectibles if you no longer use them. If they won't sell,accept the fact that you can just GIVE them away/donate.
Things like pictures are precious, but even those can go overboard. I agree with others...AFTER you REALLY clean out, pull things out and seriously ask yourself if you REALLY want to store unused stuff for the rest of your life,or do you want a nice room?
sounds like you're hanging onto things you don't need,want or use anymore.
You need to get rid of enough stuff so that you can ENJOY what you have kept.

 

[RitaE]

My recommendation is to pull up an episode of Hoarders on the A&E website and watch it. I hate to make light of a mental illness, but that show always motivates me to start clearing stuff away.

 

[gigi1976]

I always ask my husband 2 questions that I learned on one of those organizing shows:

1. if it's so important to you, why are they just shoved in a box and hidden?
2. if you get rid of the item will you still have the memory of the it?

We have moved his grandfather's old 1960s yellow vinyl uncomfortable plug in vibrating recliner to 4 houses and it has always just gone into a storage room, he has never sat in it, not once, he only keeps it because he remembers sitting in it and eating candy with his Grandpa. We have just moved again and have no storage room or basement so he has finally decided to let it go, to his brother, but at least it won't be in my house. I told him I would buy him butterscotch candies so he can relive those memories.

 

[ragtopday]

I always ask my husband 2 questions that I learned on one of those organizing shows:

1. if it's so important to you, why are they just shoved in a box and hidden?
2. if you get rid of the item will you still have the memory of the it?

I absolutely LOVE this!! I am going to change my own thinking when going through clutter. I've gotten much more ruthless with myself with respect to clutter, but these two questions will help me focus that much more. Thank you for sharing it!!

 

[PixiePlanner]

Clean Sweep on TLC! Loved that show! I wish Peter Walsh would come help me sort: Keep, Sell, and Trash!

I always ask my husband 2 questions that I learned on one of those organizing shows:

1. if it's so important to you, why are they just shoved in a box and hidden?
2. if you get rid of the item will you still have the memory of the it?

We have moved his grandfather's old 1960s yellow vinyl uncomfortable plug in vibrating recliner to 4 houses and it has always just gone into a storage room, he has never sat in it, not once, he only keeps it because he remembers sitting in it and eating candy with his Grandpa. We have just moved again and have no storage room or basement so he has finally decided to let it go, to his brother, but at least it won't be in my house. I told him I would buy him butterscotch candies so he can relive those memories.

 

[java]

Sounds like you need
Bookcase(for books and Disney stuff)
File cabinet (one for you important house papers another for the relatives important papers another for photos, or better yet by a scanner and scan those onto a disc!)
Go through those relatives boxes. Are there items you can use or are they just "memories" remember you will always have the memory, you don't need their ashtray to remind you. If there are things you really want to display, shelves or shadow boxes.

Start grouping your items first to see what type of organizers you will need.

 

[skaliscik]

Go through those relatives boxes. Are there items you can use or are they just "memories" remember you will always have the memory, you don't need their ashtray to remind you. If there are things you really want to display, shelves or shadow boxes.

Also consider going through and taking pictures of items you want to remember if it's not something you want to keep. Take all of those pictures, and some pictures of the person they are attached to, and make a scrapbook or go online and make a photobook/coffetable book. That way you can flip through the memories without all the clutter. The coffee table book is a nice way for you to share the memories with other family members as well...make copies for others who would also hold a special attachment to those items!

 

[rockyroad]

There is nothing wrong with having a junk room...imo...

If it is stuff you want to keep, then keep it if you don't need that space for something else.

As for being embarassed if someone saw it, I don't care myself.
Anyone with any class does not poke around in other folk's private space or go through people's things.

On one of Martha Stewart's specials she showed a quick peek into her junk room.

And yes, even Martha Stewart has a junk room.

If there is some of your stuff that you would like to have on display, there is nothing wrong with rotating stuff into and out of storage.

If someone is feeling guilty about keeping their grandma's china, then they are just as sick as a hoarder.

 

[vsimeone]

We JUST did this in February!!! Here's the before and after pics: Home Office

As you can see... we made a 2 hour road trip to Ikea - twice. We stocked up on storage stuff. We also threw a LOT of things away and put some in plastic totes in the basement.

Good luck with your project! We have a few more odds and ends to go but it is SOOO much better!!!

 

[Maybelle]

There is nothing wrong with having a junk room...imo...

If it is stuff you want to keep, then keep it if you don't need that space for something else.

As for being embarassed if someone saw it, I don't care myself.
Anyone with any class does not poke around in other folk's private space or go through people's things.

On one of Martha Stewart's specials she showed a quick peek into her junk room.

And yes, even Martha Stewart has a junk room.

If there is some of your stuff that you would like to have on display, there is nothing wrong with rotating stuff into and out of storage.

If someone is feeling guilty about keeping their grandma's china, then they are just as sick as a hoarder.

I agree with this. I have some things stored that I do not want to get rid of, but have no space to put out. I do rotate my "stuff" when I have to time to do so. The things that fall into this category ar generally collectibles and dishes that are from my grandmother and great grandmother. I try to use them when I can but I don't have the space to keep them all out. I HAVE gotten rid of ones I didn't love though, to cull things down, AND I HAVE taken pictures of things that I don't have to have physically, just as reminders. I do keep some things that my daughter may want later as keepsakes like some of her old toys and things. My mother kept a lot of my junk that I have gotten rid of, but she didn't keep things that I wish I still had now. She did keep a few outfits of mine though, and my daughter was able to wear some of my sweaters from when I was a baby that were still in really good shape. That was fun, so I have kept a few things for her like that that she may want in the future.

BUT I also have many things that I have accumulated for work. I am a speech language pathologist in the schools, and I don't do every grade every year, but I have done all grades at one pt. in time, and I can never guarantee that I won't have the grades again that I am not servicing right now, SO I save the things, because to replace them later would be too cost prohibitive...and no...the school buys me very little, so that is not an option.

So, I do have what some would consider "clutter," but I do not believe that makes me a hoarder.

Would I like to have a nice, neat, tidy basement, yes, but the memories are more important to me.

Oh, and I scrapbook, but I don't scrap all the old pictures. The books take more room on the shelves than large plastic boxes that I can stack on shelves and are water resistant.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Valerie, your office looks great!!!

I am in the process of going through my craft/scrapbooking stuff. Wow, I've accumulated a lot in 20 years. DH just took a huge box of stuff to Goodwill this afternoon.

 

[cheshireqt]

My recommendation is to pull up an episode of Hoarders on the A&E website and watch it. I hate to make light of a mental illness, but that show always motivates me to start clearing stuff away.

Isn't that the truth!
OP - it is hard to pare down, after going through the things and deciding if there is anything you can get rid of is there unused space you can tap for storage? Under the bed boxes, rubbermaid crates in the attic, rethink a spare closet with shelves instead of hanging bar? A credenza or dresser for the room that will hold things? Can some of the pictures be hung in a hallway to remember and treasure your loved ones? Under the stairs?
Good Luck!

 

[cheshireqt]

We JUST did this in February!!! Here's the before and after pics: Home Office

As you can see... we made a 2 hour road trip to Ikea - twice. We stocked up on storage stuff. We also threw a LOT of things away and put some in plastic totes in the basement.

Good luck with your project! We have a few more odds and ends to go but it is SOOO much better!!!

WOW! Great job!

 

[my2angels0206]

Vsimeon, That is amazing!!! Such a HUGE difference and it's given me the motivation to do the same thing. I just dont have a clue where to start!