Part of reducing clutter and getting more organized is to get rid of the things you no longer have a use for. It can be really hard to get rid of things that have sentimental value to you but you don't really need and use or are taking up valuable space in your home that you simple don't have.

One way to get around this is to turn these items into artwork. For example, if you have an old chest that once belonged to your grandmother and is worn out, heavy, and something you otherwise don't want, something you can do is take a photograph of it, then frame the photo and hang it one the wall. Now that you've preserved the memory, you're free to donate, recycle, or sell the chest without the guilt.

While it's understandable having items with special meaning are important, sometimes it is better to hang on to the memory than the item itself. The options are limited in preserving these memories and reducing clutter without keeping the item.

Here are some other things that you can do:

Scan items and turn them into book jackets
Make a collage from old books, magazines, and photographs
Have clothing turned into a quilt
Glue smaller items together into a decorative sculpture
Photograph sentimental items and place them in a scrapbook

By making use of photographs and a little creativity, you'll be amazed with what you can do to help preserve special treasures and at the same time downsize the clutter to help you become more organized!