1. DVD Collections
Remember when Friday nights meant trips to Blockbuster or building that prized DVD collection? Millennials carefully curated shelves with box sets of Friends, The Office, and anything with a commentary track. There was something about physically owning your favorites that felt permanent, Katie Canales of Business Insider explains. But once Netflix and Hulu became the norm, those DVDs started gathering dust fast.
They’re still around, sure—just not where anyone can see them. They’ve been shoved into storage bins, replaced by sleek streaming interfaces and endless queues. And let’s face it, no one owns a working DVD player anymore unless it’s in a gaming console. The nostalgia is strong, but convenience won the war.
2. IKEA Expedit Shelves
These iconic cube shelves were once the way to show you had your life together, Peter Robinson of The Guardian explains. Millennials used them to store records, display succulents, or stash baskets filled with mystery cords. They were cheap, customizable, and made for great background aesthetics in early Instagram posts. But they’re also incredibly heavy, hard to move, and not exactly timeless.
As living spaces got smaller and tastes shifted, many of those shelves ended up in basements or storage units. They just don’t fit the “grown-up” furniture vibe anymore. And with IKEA phasing them out for sleeker designs like the KALLAX, they’re basically retired. Everyone swore they’d keep them forever, until it was time to move… again.
3. First-Gen iPods
That original iPod with the click wheel? It felt like holding the future in your hands, Eric Griffith of PC Mag shares. You could carry thousands of songs, build playlists for every mood, and show off your taste in music. It was peak cool, and everyone who had one swore it was the only device they’d ever need.
Now, those iPods are lucky to see daylight once a year. The batteries barely hold a charge, syncing them is a nightmare, and Bluetooth? Not a chance. They’re lovingly packed away with old charger cables and scratched cases. A time capsule for a tech era that ended a lot faster than anyone expected.
4. Concert T-Shirts from the 2000s
There was a time when you didn’t just go to shows—you collected them. Every concert meant another black tee with a tour date list on the back and a band logo that cracked in the wash. For many millennials, these shirts were like a badge of honor, worn with pride to school or work. They were sentimental trophies from a time before Ticketmaster fees made live music a luxury.
But now, they’re mostly packed in boxes labeled “clothes I can’t throw away.” The fits aren’t quite right anymore, and the screen prints have seen better days. Still, throwing them out feels like erasing a whole era. So they live in storage, wrinkled but revered.
5. Twilight and Harry Potter Books (Yes, All of Them)
Owning the entire Harry Potter series—hardcover, naturally—was practically mandatory in middle and high school, Amanda Mullen of ScreenRant explains. And if you were a millennial teen during the 2000s, you probably had Twilight too, plus movie tie-in editions for extra flair. These books weren’t just stories, they were cultural touchstones and bookshelf mainstays. Everyone swore they’d keep them forever for future re-reads or maybe their own kids.
But the reality? They’re heavy, take up space, and haven’t been opened in years. The stories might still be beloved, but that box of YA novels is more of a keepsake than a library. Plus, after multiple moves, it’s easier to stash them in a plastic tub than keep reorganizing your shelves.
6. Guitar Hero and Rock Band Gear
Few things screamed “millennial house party” louder than a plastic guitar and Bohemian Rhapsody on Expert mode. From 2005 to the early 2010s, Guitar Hero and Rock Band were everywhere—living rooms turned into makeshift stages every weekend. People bought full band kits, extra guitars, even foot pedals. It felt like the start of a digital music revolution.
But once the novelty wore off (and the neighbors complained), those giant peripherals stopped getting plugged in. They’re too bulky to display and too awkward to toss. And good luck finding a console that still supports them without an adapter. So into the garage or storage unit they went, waiting for a retro gaming comeback.
7. Digital Cameras
Before smartphones had DSLR-level cameras, every trip, concert, and night out was documented on a chunky Canon PowerShot. Millennials got real joy out of uploading albums titled “Spring Break 2009!!!” to Facebook. Owning a separate digital camera meant you were serious about capturing memories. It was practically a social necessity.
Now, those same cameras sit unused, their memory cards long forgotten. Phone cameras got better, sharing got easier, and suddenly, point-and-shoots felt unnecessary. Many still hold onto them “just in case,” but the reality is they’re outdated. Most are sitting in drawers or boxes, a quiet relic of a different digital age.
8. College Textbooks
They cost hundreds of dollars, so naturally, no one wanted to get rid of them. Whether it was Intro to Psych or Art History 101, millennials held onto their textbooks thinking they’d reference them someday. It felt grown-up to have a shelf of academic tomes, even if they were barely cracked open during the semester. Selling them back for $10 felt insulting.
But years later, they’re just taking up room. Outdated editions, niche subjects, and heavy hardcovers don’t fit into minimalist adulthood. You tell yourself you’ll use them again, but Google is faster and more relevant. So into a storage box they go, alongside your old spiral notebooks.
9. Childhood Stuffed Animals
Even the most grown-up millennials often kept one or two plush toys from childhood. Whether it was a faded Beanie Baby or a once-white teddy bear, these stuffed animals held sentimental weight. They moved from childhood bedrooms to college dorms, then to first apartments. Letting go wasn’t an option—at least, not at first.
Eventually, though, adult decor won out. There’s just no easy way to make a tattered stuffed elephant look chic on a West Elm bedspread. Still, throwing them away feels heartless, so most people opt to store them “for future kids” or “just in case.” And there they stay, safely zipped up in a plastic bin under the label “memories.”
10. Wedding Decor and DIY Leftovers
Millennials love a good DIY wedding—chalkboard signs, mason jar centerpieces, and fairy lights galore. After months of planning and Pinterest boards, it was hard to just toss everything once the party ended. The idea was always to reuse the items for future events or pass them on to friends. But most of it ended up boxed, bubble-wrapped, and forgotten.
The truth is, trends move fast and every couple’s aesthetic is different. What felt rustic and timeless in 2015 now feels oddly specific and dusty. But with so much effort behind those pieces, tossing them feels like tossing memories. So they live on—in storage units, garage shelves, or the back of that one really high closet.
11. Framed College Diplomas
Earning that degree was a huge achievement, and framing it felt like the final rite of passage. Millennials proudly hung their diplomas in their first office cubicles or above a small desk at home. It was a marker of success, proof that all those student loans went toward something. For a while, it even sparked conversations during Zoom calls.
But as careers shifted and work-from-home became the norm, many diplomas got replaced with art prints or whiteboards. They didn’t quite match the curated aesthetics of adult home offices. Plus, for those who changed industries, the diploma now feels a bit disconnected. So it’s been wrapped up and stored away—still meaningful, but not quite display-worthy anymore.
12. Vinyl Records (Without the Turntable)
Buying vinyl wasn’t just about music—it was about taste. Millennials helped fuel the vinyl resurgence in the 2010s, filling crates with classics and indie finds. Record Store Day was a national holiday, and Urban Outfitters stocked Crosley players like candy. At the time, everyone swore the warm sound of vinyl was worth the effort.
Fast forward a few years, and the record player broke or got lost in a move. But the vinyls? Still too pretty or meaningful to part with. They’re boxed up now, taking up space but too sacred to sell. One day they’ll get another turntable… probably.
13. Reusable Shopping Bags (All of Them)
Millennials were early adopters of the reusable bag movement. With every Trader Joe’s run or conference swag table, another tote was added to the collection. Soon, entire drawers and car trunks were bursting with branded canvas bags. Everyone meant to rotate through them—but always used the same three.
Now, there’s a “bag of bags” in every millennial home, and even more stashed in storage. They’re useful, sure, but there are just too many. Most are wrinkled, faded, or branded with logos from jobs they no longer have. Decluttering experts say to toss them, but it’s surprisingly hard to let go of a free bag.
14. Worn-Out Sneakers from the “Good Running Phase”
At some point, nearly every millennial tried the Couch to 5K program or signed up for a Color Run. And with that phase came pricey running shoes, carefully chosen after hours of reading reviews. Those sneakers saw morning jogs, gym selfies, and maybe even a half-marathon. They’re beat up now, but oh man—so many memories.
Problem is, they’re no longer good for actual running. But tossing them feels like admitting that fitness goal is gone forever. So into the storage bin they go, often with the promise of “yard work” or “backup gym shoes” that never actually get used. They’ll stay there until the soles crumble or someone finally gets real about spring cleaning.
15. Cookbooks from the Pre-Pinterest Era
Before Pinterest boards and saved Instagram reels, millennials learned to cook from actual books. Ina Garten, Jamie Oliver, and Thug Kitchen lived on kitchen counters, pages sticky from olive oil and ambition. Owning a few cookbooks felt like adulting—especially if they were beautifully photographed and hardcover. People swore they’d cook through every recipe, like a personal Julie & Julia challenge.
Now, most meals are based on TikTok hacks or a Google search that begins with “easy weeknight dinner.” The cookbooks still exist, but mostly as shelf decor—or worse, boxed up and forgotten. With limited counter space, they lost their usefulness to digital convenience. Still, giving them away feels like saying goodbye to a version of yourself that cooked more often than you actually did.
16. Furniture from the First Apartment
That hand-me-down couch, Craigslist coffee table, or dorm-era desk? It made the cut through multiple moves, because it “still works.” Millennials dragged those pieces from city to city, swearing they’d eventually refurbish or upgrade them. They were affordable, functional, and soaked in early independence.
But eventually, they stopped matching the rest of the decor—or literally started falling apart. Still, it’s hard to part with something that’s been through so much. So instead of the landfill, these pieces land in storage, “just until we need extra seating” or “when we move to a bigger place.” That bigger place, of course, is still theoretical.
