Ways To Declutter & Organize Old Photos You're Not Ready To Part With

Is your shoebox of photos bursting at the seams? It's time to give those memories some TLC — and maybe a little space. First, you'll want to decide: Are you decluttering or organizing? Here's the difference and what's right for you. Choosing the right approach depends on whether you're ready to part with a few memories or simply need a better way to enjoy them. 

Start by sorting out any pictures that are blurry or poorly framed — we all have that one relative who was notorious for cutting people's heads off back in the days of film cameras — and toss those. Next, look for duplicates and consider passing them along to other family members who would value and enjoy them. Another easy way to declutter is to toss photos of scenery and flowers that may not be meaningful anymore. It's also a great time to get rid of pictures that bring up negative memories, such as photos of an ex. Then, it's time to dig into the rest of the pile. 

Once you've created a plan to organize your photos, set aside some of the most special ones. Instead of letting your photos sit in a closet or under a bed, consider transforming your space into a gallery of memories and inspiration with decor that tells your story — one photo at a time. You can give your space wow factor with a gallery wall, where you can showcase photos, letters, maps and other pieces. Start by deciding if you want to pull it all together with a matching set of frames, such as the ArtbyHannah 8 Pack Gallery Wall Frame Set, or mix and match frames for a more eclectic look. Whatever you choose, you'll create a home that uniquely reflects you!

However, don't be afraid to let your creativity shine by exploring options beyond the traditional gallery wall. For a more casual, whimsical style, you can liven up a blank wall with a photo collage, such as the Bikoney Picture Frames Collage Photo Hanging Display or simply use clothespins, like those in the Hongyutai Colored Wooden Clothespins Set to attach photos to string or yarn or whatever you have lying around the house for an easy DIY photo collage. Another fun idea would be using funny family photos, such as ones where someone is sticking their tongue out, to make birthday cards. In addition, consider these 15 stylish ways to add personality to your home with family photos.

If you prefer your photos neatly organized and safely out of sight, start by choosing a structure that makes sense to you. You might group them by theme — like gathering all of Grandpa Bob's photos together—or arrange them chronologically by year or time period. Professional organizer Rachel Arbuckle encourages her clients to shed guilt — if you don't know who the people in the pictures are, feel free to toss them, per Pro Organizer Studio. She does suggest asking family members if they know and want the photos first. You can also consider scanning those old photos of departed relatives and backing them up in a cloud storage site, like Amazon Photos and Google Photos, which both offer unlimited storage, or whatever you currently use. Also, consider uploading them to a site like Ancestry.com and associating them to your family tree — it's a way for distant family to connect over shared memories and for future family genealogists to discover new glimpses into who those loved ones were. If going through your photos inspires you, consider some tips about how to declutter other sentimental items. 

Once you've sorted your photos, you will want to keep the physical copies safe. Consider a storage system like the ENGPOW Fireproof Photo Storage Box, available on Amazon, or place them in albums such as the Fintie Photo Album, also available on Amazon. Then your memories will be safely stored for years to come!