Before You Declutter… Keep These 10 Things Professional Organisers Wouldn’t Ditch
Professional organisers tend to prefer minimalism and will often advise removing most of the clutter from your home. And in all honesty, it can feel really great when all of the clutter has gone from your home.
However, there are certain things that even professional organisers will tell you to keep. If you’re not sure whether you have something in your home that you should be holding onto, keep reading.
What Should You Not Throw Out When Decluttering?
Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up, it’s about making thoughtful decisions. The process can feel liberating, but it also comes with a fear of throwing away something that might one day prove to be useful or irreplaceable. Professional organisers understand this tension well and often advise keeping specific types of items, not for the sake of hoarding, but to preserve function, history, and meaning. They include;
1. Old Furniture
Your old furniture might not be on trend, but if it’s still comfortable and in reasonable condition, there’s no reason to replace it. In most cases the build quality of old furniture is superior to many modern pieces so why would you throw it out?
It’s often better finding ways to make old furniture work than to replace it with lower quality modern items.
2. Old Items
It’s not just old furniture, anything that you’ve had for a while that still functions as it should and you’re comfortable with using, should be kept. Obviously if it’s an item that you never use, it should be thrown and replaced with something that you will use.
As with old furniture, many older products were built better and last way longer than their modern replacements. So, as long as you use it and it works properly, there’s no reason to throw it out.
3. Leftover Paint
You might think that keeping old paint contradicts the whole idea of removing clutter, but you’d be surprised just how often you need to touch up areas to keep them looking fresh. You should label each tin with the room it was used in and the date.
4. Personal & Sentimental Items
You should never throw away old photos, cards and other personal memorabilia. The secret is to keep these items in boxes or binders so that they’re kept tidy.
Then when you need to reminisce about a person or event, you can get them out and look at each item in turn. Even old love letters can make you feel good if you’re having a really bad day.
5. Glass Jars & Containers
Although nobody wants a glass jar collection, keeping coffee jars and jam jars to be repurposed is a good idea. They can be used to store nails, screws, buttons and all manner of small items that would otherwise be rolling around drawers and shelves.
Plus, it’s environmentally friendly and doesn’t contribute to damaging the earth. Repurposing everyday items not only saves money but also supports a more sustainable way of living.
Instead of adding to landfill, think about how something might serve a new purpose, a jam jar for craft supplies, an old T-shirt for cleaning rags, or leftover fabric for home projects. A small change in the way you think can make a big difference for the planet.
6. Spare Buttons & Nick Nacks
These tiny items might seem insignificant but can be the difference between being able to wear your favourite shirt or throwing it out. These small items should be stored in one of your glass jars or a small pouch.
Each jar or pouch should be labelled so that you can easily find these items when needed. Anything from buttons, picture hooks, watch batteries, screws, nails, to furniture kits can be neatly stored away.
7. Inherited Items Or Souvenirs
Sometimes we hold on to items for sentimental reasons which to others would seem pointless or even worthless. However, that item or tea set etc, might hold a strong link between you and your favourite aunt who passed away a few years back.
Even old school yearbooks can hold memories that you don’t want to forget. Once they’re gone, they can never be replaced, so think carefully before throwing any sentimental items away.
8. Functional Furniture
If you have pieces of functional furniture that might not be in the style you’re hoping to achieve in your home, you don’t have to throw them out. Instead you can repurpose them.
For instance, that old book shelf that no longer fits in with your modern lounge, can be repurposed as shelves in your garage.
9. Designer Labels
Before throwing that old shirt, coat or bag, think twice. You might be about to throw away a designer item that’s increased in value. So, before throwing it out, do some quick research on eBay or other online sites to see if it’s actually worth money.
10. Packaging
If you still have the packaging from your old electronic devices, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much money they could be worth. For example, vintage Apple packaging with the literature can be worth shocking amounts of cash.
Even if you no longer have the original items, the packaging could still be worth a pretty penny. Anything from old Lego boxes to Dyson Vacuum cleaner boxes can often fetch a decent price.
Bonus Items
That’s our 10 things you should keep when decluttering. If you found them interesting, here are a few more.
11. Books That Mean Something To You
Books can be a great contribution to your home decor. While some books might be worth money, especially if they’re first editions, others hold sentimental value.
If you want to keep a book but the cover doesn’t fit with the look of the room, you can always recover the book in a style that does.
12. Important & Personal Documents
You should never throw away any financial or personal documents like birth, marriage or death certificates, custody agreements, adoption papers, car log books or the title deeds to your home. These items should be stored using a filing system or a fireproof safe to keep them secure and ensure that you never throw them out by mistake.
You can throw old credit card statements, tax documents and old utility bills but any documents that contain confidential information should be shredded first.
13. Items That Are Someone Else’s
When decluttering your home, you should never throw away any items that belong to another family member without their consent. If you do, it will lead to arguments.
Little things like an old crossword book or a broken mobile that went out of date ten years ago are fine. But you should never throw away a spouse’s favourite T-shirt for example.
14. High Quality Cookware
We often have pots and pans that we hardly ever use, but that doesn’t mean they should be thrown out. Many will have been handed down through the family while others might be an essential part of family celebration meals.
These items need to be stored somewhere properly so that they’re not in the way for the rest of the year. But are readily available if needed.
15. Hangers
Most people have so many hangers that it’s almost necessary to part with a few. But before you do, take a good look at your hanger collection.
If you have good quality hangers and not those cheap plastic efforts that break as soon as you look at them, they should be kept until you’re absolutely sure you don’t need them. Old hangers can also be used for displaying art or organising craft supplies.
16. Storage Bins
Decent storage bins and containers are always useful. They can be used in the loft for storing winter/summer clothes, seasonal decorations or even blankets or throws.
Towels, bed sheets, and off season shoes can all be stored in decent storage bins and then kept out of sight in the loft or cellar. Just label the bins properly to make it easy to find the stored items when you need them.
Of course, keeping useful items doesn’t mean living in a mess. The secret is smart storage. Clear boxes with labels, under bed bins, drawer organisers and vertical shelving all help maximise space and reduce stress. When everything has a place, your home can stay both functional and clutter free, even with more items in it.
17. Tools
Even if you’re not especially handy, you should always have a decent set of tools. Whether it’s to assemble your child’s Christmas present, or to build a shelving unit from a DIY store, you need tools.
Which is why all professional organisers agree that you should never throw away tools. They should be stored in a garage, shed or cellar. You can organise them on a pegboard or in a toolbox. It’s also a good idea to store any screw or nails close to your tools so that they’re easier to find when you need them.
18. Birthday Cake Candles
After going to the trouble to make (or buy) a birthday cake, you need to go the final distance and add candles. Which is why it’s important that you never throw any birthday cake candles away.
That way you will never get caught without any candles for the cake. Birthday cake candles can be stored in a clear container with a lid in your cupboard.
19. Seasonal Decorations
It used to be just Christmas decorations that we had to keep from year to year. But nowadays, there are decorations for halloween, easter and multiple other festivals as well.
Many decorations are sentimental which is a good reason to keep them. Replacing them can be expensive which is another good reason to keep them.
They should be stored in clear plastic containers that are labelled by the festival (Christmas, easter, halloween, etc).
20. Art Work
Paintings and works of art are easy to store and can be rehung whenever the mood takes you. Swapping art out every so often is a great way to make the house feel newly decorated again without the added disruption of actually decorating.
When storing artwork, it should be wrapped in bubble wrap or a blanket and placed upright in a box. Label each box so you don’t need to disturb all of your art to find one particular piece.
21. Vintage Or Antique Glassware Or China
If you have antique glassware or China it should be displayed in a cabinet where it can be viewed and appreciated. You can even use certain pieces when entertaining or having a dinner party.
Even if the odd item gets damaged or broken, at least you will have appreciated them while using them. Of course if they are particularly valuable, they should be kept in the display cabinet for safety.
It’s Not Just About Less, It’s About What Matters
Decluttering isn’t about stripping your home of everything, it’s about curating your surroundings with intention. When you hold onto things that serve a purpose, preserve memories, or line up with your values, your home becomes more than just tidy, it becomes a reflection of you.
Choose thoughtfully, store wisely, and enjoy a home that balances simplicity with soul.
SEE ALSO: If You Own a Home, You NEED to Do These 11 Things Every Month!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask yourself if the item brings back a specific memory or feeling, and whether you’d regret losing it. If it has no clear emotional value or purpose, it’s probably clutter.
The best way to store items is to use labelled, stackable storage bins and keep them in lofts, garages or under bed spaces. Group similar items together and use clear containers if possible to make them easy to find.
Yes, you can keep items for just in case scenarios but within reason. Keep things that are hard to replace, versatile, or genuinely useful in emergencies. Avoid hoarding duplicates or low value items you’re unlikely to ever use.
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