4 min readHouseholds tend to accumulate a lot of stuff over the years: stacks of old family photos, books that have been sitting unread for ages, and closets packed with clothes that barely get worn. But few people collect quite as much as empty-nester parents preparing to downsize. Often jokingly referred to as “boomer junk,” this overwhelming amount of clutter has become especially common as older adults retire, relocate, and begin decluttering.
“Boomers grew up in a time of economic prosperity, raised by parents shaped by the Great Depression, so they rarely get rid of anything for fear of needing it later,” says professional organizer Regina Lark. “Many of them are also collectors and highly sentimental, which leads to having a lot of things they find it hard to part with.”
Lark says the rise of the “aging in place” movement has also contributed to the issue, since many boomers are remaining in their homes far longer than earlier generations did. The longer someone stays in one place, the more belongings tend to pile up. As a result, children and grandchildren are often left to sort through decades’ worth of saved items, from old recital outfits and school artwork to keepsakes tucked away in attics and basements.
Ahead, Lark shares her five best strategies for managing and organizing “boomer junk.”
First, Negotiate Gently
The first step is a serious talk with your parents, if they’re still around. Work to understand what is fair game to throw out or donate and what they would like to keep. Everyone has a different nostalgia level, and that mug you think is a spare might be their favorite. Clear expectations will help the entire decluttering process go much more smoothly and even more quickly, once you know where to begin. “It will also help if you allow your parents time to explain their bond with certain things,” Lark explains. “Let them tell you the stories and memories; it actually makes letting go of items easier.”
Negotiations also apply to siblings and other family members. If you both want the same armchair, talk it out. It may seem silly, but allow people to call dibs on items that truly matter to them. “If a stack of boxes in your garage rather than on the curb will prevent fighting for years to come, do it. It's your family,” says Lark.
Create a Scrapbook
It’s time to digitize all of those photo albums, or at least combine them into one. Do you need the family shot where no one is looking the right way? How about the four copies of your second-grade yearbook photo? We recommend combining any photo albums into just a few books. If you’re feeling crafty, make a new scrapbook of sentimental moments or opt for a photo book service like Shutterfly and turn memories into a coffee table book for safekeeping.
Photograph or Frame Sentimental Belongings
Professional framers can tackle almost anything. Your mom’s wedding veil or your father’s favorite records can be turned into beautiful wall art and preserved behind glass. Think of this as creating a miniature museum of memories. Services like The Heirloomist will photograph almost anything and send you back a beautiful print that you can keep forever, long after that baseball hat has gone threadbare.
Prioritize and Think Realistically
Are your parents trying to convince you to take their antique china home to your one-bedroom apartment? Sometimes, we have to give up certain things when they no longer fit our lifestyles. “There's a level of value placed on everything we bring into our homes,” explains Lark. “What you value and what your parents value are going to be different, and it's important to set boundaries about whether what you're keeping is really going to benefit your current life.”
Reserve a Time
Whether your parents have already planned to downsize (and set a moving date), or this is just a challenging situation you know is in your future, it will help to set a firm deadline that can help prevent the “I’ll get to it eventually” trap. Cleaning out your family belongings is an emotional process, and even if everyone is alive and well, it involves a measure of grief.
“Make a family day of decluttering,” Lark recommends. “Listen to the stories, play dress up in your grandmother's closet, understand their lives before you box everything back up. It's valuable quality time.” The entire decluttering process is not meant to be rushed, but whether it be a month or a year, setting a goal of when you want to be finished going through everything can help keep you on track.
