People can spend almost their entire lives building up a collection. Collections are usually strongly wrapped up in personal interests or cherished memories. Minutes, hours, and days have been spent growing and maintaining a collection. But when it comes to downsizing, many people are faced with reduced space and nowhere to keep their beloved collectibles.
While it can be emotional to let go of something that has been the source of so much joy and happiness, there are plenty of ways all the time and energy that went into it can live on. Here are some tips and strategies for downsizing a collection.
Ask for Help
Downsizing can be a complicated process for many reasons, and there is no shame in asking for help. Hiring a supportive home organizing service can be just the helping hand you need to navigate the challenging process.
Compassionate home organizers can help guide you through the downsizing process, provide suggestions and offer solutions, including ideas for what you can do with a loved collection.
Gifting
Many people intend to pass down their collections to their kids or grandkids, especially if it was something you spent time on together and now your kids are moving to dorm rooms, so when they downsize, they offer the collection as a gift. However, sometimes the reaction isn’t the one that was expected, and feelings can get hurt. It’s essential to make any offers without expectations. Some people don’t have the extra space, may not have the time required to maintain a collection, or just don’t want it, but it’s not personal.
Selling or Donating
Another option is to sell or donate the collection. The easiest way to do this is to look in spaces where other collectors are and see if there is any interest in the entire collection. If what you collect is in high demand, there may be whole industries based on the buying, selling, and trading of it. However, some types of collections may not be as in demand or worth what you expect them to be worth, so it’s important to be prepared.
Hold on to the Memories
For those who find it particularly difficult to let go of their collection, there are ways to hold on to the memories without using a significant amount of space. One option is to select one or two pieces of the collection that have particular emotional value to bring with you to your new home.
Another great way to preserve the memories is to take photos of the entire collection. These photos can then be viewed in a digital album or printed into a photo book. A photo book will only take up a fraction of the space, but you’ll be able to add information as well, including stories of how you found particular items, historical details, or why you began collecting in the first place.
Downsizing is challenging, and it can be hard to let go of belongings you spent years and decades acquiring Canadian craftsmanship, but it doesn’t have to be all bad. Letting your collection go by gifting, selling or donating it can allow it to live on with another person who will appreciate it just as much as you do. And by holding onto a piece or taking photos, you can hold the memories of your collection for years to come.
