3 Ways to Organize Photos & Mementos
Paper-type piles are continuously the trickier type of clutter to get organized. This is because photos, artwork, mail, and files hold important and meaningful information. They often have things like memories, nostalgia, finances, and career milestones attached to them. Because of this, we typically have a harder time deciding how these things should be stored, what can go digital, and what we should even keep. Without systems in place, procrastination sets in, piles accumulate, and dealing with these items becomes less and less appealing. If this sounds like you, don’t stress! Solutions to this type of clutter are more simple and attainable than you would think… promise!
As you organize your home by room/space, set aside a large bin to collect the photos you find throughout. Once the rest of your home is in order, it's time to tackle your photos. The first thing you’ll want to do is decide which photos you want to discard. I want to emphasize that just because they’re already printed does not mean you have to hold onto them forever. If there are unnecessary duplicates, blurry images, or images without people you know in them, they can probably go.
Once you've discarded any photos you no longer want to keep, I recommend organizing your photos according to the general time in which they were taken. If this method isn’t your favorite, you can also separate them by size, event, or people in the photos. Once you’ve categorized your photos, it’s time to decide how you want to organize them. These are our top three recommendations for organizing your photos:
Use photo albums
If you want to take the time to organize your photos into albums, this is a great way to functionally organize them. Storing photos in albums is the best way to easily take a trip down memory lane at a moment’s notice, so if you know you’ll want to see your mementos often, this might be the way to go.
Box them up
If you decide photo albums aren't the best solution for you, you can also place photos, in their categories, into acid-free archival storage boxes. You will want to either label these by year, or whatever category you’ve chosen to organize them by. Using airtight bins and boxes will protect your photos from wear and tear. To further prevent any damage, we recommend storing them in a temperature controlled setting!
Digitize The Photos
If you’re looking to save space and access your collection from anywhere, you can really preserve your memories by scanning the hard copies into digital files. Whether you’re doing it yourself or sending them off to be scanned (Legacy Box is a great resource for this!), make sure they’re organized chronologically, even if this means guessing for some. If there are any photos that you feel especially connected to (whether it be the person, the memory, the place, or the experience), consider framing and displaying them. If they bring you joy, it’ll be a beautiful reminder of that feeling!
Hopefully organizing your photos and mementos brings you back to special moments in your life and reminds you of the great people, times, and places you’ve gotten to experience. This is a process that involves the heart, and deserves careful consideration. And it’s one that’ll be so worth it once you’re done!
For tips, tricks, product picks, and inspiration for home organization, make sure you grab your copy of Life in Jeneral if you haven’t yet and sign up for the LIJ Book Club! There’s a 70 page workbook with exercises to help you work through your emotional barriers and goals in relation to organizing, and of course, step-by-step guidance to do the work. For even more support and encouragement, follow along with the book club on our Instagram, too!