Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Ways to Eliminate Your Old Clutter

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Whether it’s Great-Aunt Muriel’s collection of chipped teapots or that stuffed porcupine in the garage, what to do with the so-called “old mess” can be a real conundrum.

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But don’t worry, tackling your collectibles is easier than you think.

To start? “Take them out of the box and enjoy them,” advises Craig Ruttle, co-owner of Old alley, located on historic Front Street in New Westminster.

If you can’t use an item, Ruttle adds, someone else will.

Antiques don’t just have sentimental value – trinkets and curios can add to your holiday fund, when paired with the right buyer. And in Vancouver’s hot film industry, period pieces can find new life on screen.

Ruttle and his wife have seen many trends come and go over the past 30 years, with appetites for different collectibles rising and falling. For example, old records and photographic equipment are now in high demand, whereas a few years ago they were difficult to move. The same goes for old kitchen appliances and lighting.

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At the same time, once prized items like flowing blue porcelain, carnival glass, porcelain figurines, and silverware are no longer in high demand.

“It’s a generational issue,” observes Hugh Bulmer of Maynards Auctions in Richmond. “The time has changed.”

That said, there are always surprises. For example, a 12-inch bronze statue from an antique store in Victoria turned out to be worth slightly more than the $ 70 previously offered to the seller, says Bulmer. It turned out to be a 16th-century Italian sculpture of two Bacchantes, or followers of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. The find sold for $ 95,000 at auction.

And while those cases are few and far between, it’s certainly worth a look at what you have in storage in attics, garages, and storage lockers.

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“You may have a ‘sleeper’ in your closet,” says Bulmer, who has worked with antiques for 40 years and has also appeared on Antiques Roadshow.

“There are still things out there,” says Bulmer. “They are increasingly difficult to find, but we still find them.”

Are you inspired to start eliminating your clutter?

Here are three easy steps to help you hunt for treasure, or at least free up precious closet space.

Sell

That china that lives on layers of newsprint, in a box in the basement? The jewelry you never wear? Did he steal your grandmother’s mink that smiles at you from the back of the closet?

There are many ways to convert your collectibles into cash.

Online marketplaces allow you to access specialty buyers around the world, while local listings can reduce shipping costs and offer faster turnaround times. Local antique stores are also helpful resources, with some even offering home pickup services. And if you suspect you have something rare or highly valued, get a professional appraisal before deciding to sell.

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Give away and reuse

Antiques and older items are unique and loaded with meaning, a great way to embrace the eco-gift and save money, too.

Another option?

Be crafty and turn your old stuff into something new. Sometimes all it takes to revive an item, like a dining room table or chair, is a coat of paint. Look for inspiration online on Etsy or Pinterest. For example, old silver spoons can be turned into custom made hooks with a bit of molding, while an old porcelain cup can be repurposed into a lovely bird feeder.

Enjoy

Once you’ve edited your antiques, commit to keeping dust out. Make sure to listen to those old records by creating a space to enjoy them, then upload Elvis and Aretha and invite your friends.

Frame old photographs and hang or digitize them with a photobook And if you can, learn more about the topic you want to include as subtitles.

Organize treasured curios, such as hunting decoys and antique typewriters, on open shelves – mix things up and have fun! – but remember, less is more. And when it comes to antiques, the best way to breathe new life into them is to enjoy them in your daily life.

The story was created by Content works, Postmedia commercial content division.