At first, decluttering can feel liberating, especially when bags are filled, spaces are cleared, and a sense of accomplishment is present. But once the dust settles, a pang of regret can start to creep in for a few things you tossed out too quickly.
Whether sentimental or unexpectedly practical, certain items are harder to replace than you’d think. Here we take a look at 18 things people wish they’d held onto when their decluttering frenzy took over.
Old Family Photos
You might want to think twice before clearing out a drawer of old photos, as while it might seem like a space-saving win, it often turns into a source of regret. Those curled-up edges and grainy smiles capture memories no cloud storage can replace. Whether they’re reminders of loved ones or snapshots of places that no longer exist, photos hold irreplaceable sentiment, and once discarded, it’s impossible to bring them back.
Vintage Clothing
Before you throw out any old vintage clothing, you should keep in mind that trends have a boomerang effect, so that bold jacket from decades ago might feel out of place at this moment in time, but the style will most likely come back in fashion. Also, vintage clothing is not only sentimental but often crafted with quality that’s hard to find these days.
Childhood Artwork
The amount of drawings and paintings that children churn out in their younger years means it’s hard to keep every piece of artwork, but later, many parents wish they’d kept more. These crayon drawings and finger-paint masterpieces hold countless memories of your child’s creativity and growth, and once discarded, you lose a tangible piece of their younger years.
Books You Loved
There’s no denying that books take up a lot of room, and while getting rid of them can feel practical, especially when shelves are overflowing, it’s common to miss them later. Maybe you threw away a book you loved as a child or one that was gifted by someone you love; the regret often creeps in when you wish to reread or share it with someone else.
Childhood Toys
It’s common for childhood toys to have a way of tugging at the heartstrings long after they’ve been boxed up. Whether it’s a scuffed toy car or a worn doll, these items carry memories of our younger years. People often regret getting rid of them and only realise too late that these toys were never clutter.
Personal Diaries
There’s a lot of emotion that goes into a diary, and while it might feel embarrassing or outdated when you clear it out, it later becomes a window into your past self. Many people regret discarding their journals and wish they still had a candid look into their past, often finding that they miss the chance to revisit their thoughts, dreams, and struggles.
Handwritten Letters
Thanks to the likes of emails and instant messaging, handwritten letters are often overlooked nowadays, which is why many people end up throwing them out. However, people will often regret doing this when they realise the sentimental value they hold, and by then it’s too late. Scribbled notes from loved ones hold a connection that’s hard to recreate once they’re gone.
Sentimental Jewellery
One thing for sure is not all jewellery is about monetary value, and pieces passed down or gifted often hold deep emotional meaning. You might have been given a slightly tarnished bracelet from your grandmother or a simple locket from a childhood friend, and while these items are small, they still hold great significance.
Throwing them out without thinking twice can leave you feeling like you’ve made a huge mistake.
School Yearbooks
You might have found your old yearbooks collecting dust in a box and decided to toss them, thinking that they’re bulky and unnecessary. Then, straight after doing this, you realise that they’re more than photos and scribbled messages; they’re a tangible link to your younger self and old school years.
Travel Souvenirs
Their tackiness might be the reason for throwing them away, but souvenirs from holidays hold a special kind of memory that can’t be replaced. Those bright fridge magnets and scratched ornaments actually hold a deep place in your heart, and tossing them in the bin can leave a gap you didn’t expect to feel.
Old Tools
You should keep hold of all your odd tools, as you never know when you might need them. People often throw them out, thinking that they’re never going to be used, but then buy a piece of furniture or need to fix something and suddenly you need that weirdly shaped screwdriver.
Kitchenware from Relatives
Deep down, you know you’re never going to use any of the kitchenware donated by relatives, which is why you feel like the best option is to throw it out. But these pieces can often hold sentimental value and be tied to memories such as meals shared with loved ones or family traditions.
Christmas Decorations
It’s not always the best idea to clear out your old Christmas decorations, especially when many hold sentimental value with festive memories of your old family traditions. Replacing them often feels hollow, and you start to wish you’d kept the old ornaments you’ve grown used to seeing on your Christmas tree.
Baby Clothes
There are so many memories that come with baby clothes, especially those tied to milestones, meaning parents often start to regret throwing them out. There can be a lot of emotional weight attached to that first onesie, and people often find themselves wishing they’d saved a few key pieces to reminisce over.
Rare Collectibles
The first thing you might think to throw out when decluttering is rare and old collectables, but they often gain sentimental and personal value over time. Not only that but items such as stamps and coins could be quite valuable, so you might want to do some checks before you throw anything away, as you never know; you might be sitting on your own personal goldmine.
Vinyl Records
We can all agree that vinyl records take up space, and it’s this that often means we discard them, but when we do, the regret can hit hard. Our records hold memories, and digital music doesn’t carry the same weight as the crackle of a needle on vinyl.
Once you’ve realised you want your records back, replacing your collection can become expensive and, in some cases, impossible.
Toys or Figures
When we declutter, we want to get rid of as much stuff as we possibly can, and for many, this means figurines and toys from fandoms or hobbies. However, years later, people wish they’d kept that quirky action figure or collector’s item as it’s a connection to something they once loved.
Event Memorabilia
Lastly, we often find things such as wedding invites, concert programs, and festival wristbands hidden away in boxes and instantly think we don’t need this clutter anymore, causing us to throw it away. But when we really start to think about it, there are a lot of memories held in those event keepsakes, making us instantly regret throwing anything out.