What do you do with all of the decorative nicknacks that were given as gifts from friends and family?

I hate to get rid of the gifts but most do not fit with my decor. I am at a loss when friends and family visit and they do not see this or that which they have given me. I have most of it boxed up for now but was thinking of making a guest room that can be a place to display the nicknacks and stuff. What would you do?

What do you do with all of the decorative nicknacks that were given as gifts from friends and family?
I have the same problem. I do the same thing you said.


Sometimes I regift the items too - you just have to remember not to give it back to the person who gave it to to you to begin with. LOL
Reply:you might want to give them to someone who might like them or give them as gifts.I know some say it may be wrong to do such a thing , but some one out there might like them. you might be surprised .
Reply:Well if I know the person WONT be visiting me, I donate them... because honestly, the person gave you the item to amke you happy, and if having it hanging around doesn't make you happy, it defeats the purpose of the gift!


If it's something from a close friend/relative, I put it in a box in my closet that I can get to if I need to. Then, if I know that person is coming over, I put the item out somewhere so they will see it... thats only for like my grandma and mother in law that I do that for, lol... my friends also know not to get me little gifts and such, because I'm such a neat freak, I don't ever have a bunch of stuff hanging around anywhere.


Also, I have 3 cats, a dog and a 5 yr old son... so usually I can just claim one of them broke it, or I have it in a box because I don't want one of them to break whatever it is... and people usually buy that from me, haha...
Reply:I think the guest room is a nice idea BUT you may want to just EBAY those items and get yourself something useful.





:o) This is why I'm just not "INTO" knick knacks...
Reply:I rotate stuff- not necessarily because it doesn't match, but because of space limitations. A china cabinet type display, or even a couple of bookcases, where you can mix and match can work well, and if there are drawers or doors on the bottom of the cabinet you can rotate items and keep other stuff stored in the drawers or closed cabinets while it's not displayed. And even if you just select a few "near and dear" things from your knicknacks and donate the rest to a charitable thrift shop, your friends and family are unlikely to ask about items (at least I don't, if I visit someone and don't see something I gave them),
Reply:Shhh! I keep them for a while, then put them in the welfare box when a new crop comes in. I hate to get rid of the gifts, but have no place to keep them and don't like clutter. If you have space for a guestroom that could be nice - but if people see knick knacks in your guest room they'll think you like that sort of stuff and you'll only get more. A friend of ours once bought herself something she considered 'cute' - a little glass statue of a fish. People saw the fish and assumed she was collecting anything piscatorial and before she knew it she had dozens upon dozens of fish statutes, which expanded to include stuffed fish toys, pictures of fish, place mats decorated with fish, etc.etc.etc. She didn't really like any of them -- just thought the first little statuette was cute. Eventually she ended up by giving it all away and just keeping her original one, but she put it in a drawer so no one could see it.
Reply:well when I am given a gift that doesn't go with my decor I put it out where it not so noticable for about a month. My idea is that if i give a gift that doesn't suit some ones taste it's theirs to do what ever with.
Reply:Get a curio cabinet. That way you can just put them all together AND you don't have to dust!
Reply:I say REGIFT! When the guests see their stuff is not displayed they might try harder to give gifts that you'll appreciate!
Reply:* i put mine in a glass cabinet or on a shelf in my bedroom.your idea is a good one.people buy me ornament and soft toys for my collections .so it might be an idea to have a theme they can follow.mine are faries,bagpuss and tatty teddys.
Reply:I saw on the HGN TV that they had things that were in a hurricane and they got broken into little pieces, and they took the pieces and made little memory block from them and put them in their garden. I thought that was really nice. That way you still have some of the pieces and the memories they gave you.





Your idea is pretty good, but if you are really looking to get rid of the nick-knacks all together, you could always put them into pretty little boxes and give them out to your neighbors as small gestures of friendship... Good luck.





Have a big yard sale.
Reply:Your idea sounds great! That way, when your friends and family members come over, they will be able to see (very clearly, too) that their gifts were appreciated and used. It definitely beats the idea of boxing all the presents up, but it unfortunately seems as if the less creative option is the more popular. I'd say go for the spare room!!
Reply:You're not alone! Please display the thoughtful (and not so thoughtful) gifts, given by those who will visit, for at least a few weeks. Once the giver has seen your thoughtfulness then you can casually change the decor...or move things around until they are out of sight.


When you receive a gift from someone you never have to your home just re-gift or give to a charity that can redistribute. But, please, always send a thank you note to anyone who thinks enough of you to give you a gift as that usually is the best way to show your appreciation.


Finally, it is OK to drop hints, to people who like to give you collection gifts or homemade "what can I do with this?" gifts, such as "Wow, that is so interesting and I wish I had more room but I don't!". Of course, you don't have the room nor the inclination but you must be a lovely person to receive so many gifts as to have a whole room for their display.
Reply:Yard sale,ebay, or try to exchange at the store. You can't please everyone just like they all did not please you.
Reply:That would be very nice - sometimes I find that I just have to give things away and(only) when asked I tell them that I changed the decor and gave away the stuff I had- pretty soon they stop giving so much junk but I am fairly blunt- your idea is very tactful but a bit self sacrificing if you don't have the extra room
Reply:Have a yard sale
Reply:your idea is a good one
Reply:i would regift or when you need to donate prizes just use them then. it cuts down on your cost and you are still giving. just keep some so it isnt too obvious.
Reply:That's a good idea but if i was you i would sell them and say i lost them.
Reply:The way I feel about this issue is they are gifts. Once it's given it's put somewhere that you decide or it doesn't get displayed at all! When someone gives you money as a gift do you frame the cash? Do you go out and buy something you don't enjoy and put it up anyways? Point being is that the appreciation is returned in either at thank-you card or some other way. If someone that you love and loves you back is insulted by the non-display of the item and if it causes problems between you and the giver would'nt you say there are bigger issues in your relationship? Guess it's just my oppinion but seriously the gift is YOURS if the other person wants it displayed so bad give it back to them.