In Europe they have free standing wardrobes instead of closets in most apartments etc. I watch House Hunters on HGTV and they have also gone Internatinal so you get to see the homes, apartments, condos there etc. and most are closet free. I have a ton of closet space in everyroom but lack the clothes to fill even one comletely. I hate shopping and tend to keep my clothes untl they become collectors items, LOL

Our house was built in the 50s and they must have had much less stuff back then too. We hardly have any closet space. We've taken over part of our oldest son't closet when he's away at school. It's always a pain when he comes home for a few weeks or the summer because we have to shove everything back in our closets. I don't know why I have some thikngs dry cleaned because they get wrinkled all crammed in the closet.

And while I'm whining, I might as well tell you that we have small bathrooms too. Lots of our friends who have moved to newer homes have huge bathrooms with sunk-in tubs, glass door showers, lots of counter space, etc., etc. Wahh. Should I stop crying now?

But you know what? I still love old houses because they have so much more character, and they are built better.

Dotsie does the word REMODEL ring a bell? I have the items you mentioned above, large bathrooms with sunken tub and glass walk in showers but I would remodel if I had a home I loved but needed more room and if lot size is an issue, build up, thats what my sister in Colorado just did. Or have you seen how a dark basement can be made absolutely beautiful and functional?

ya I have a small bathroom too - but I'm not complaining because this small bathroom has an old claw foot bathtub that I absolutely love - they just don't make new bathtubs like that

Eagle - I've developed very clever hiding spaces over the years - corners of the house that no one ever looks at

I've invited Jackie, the woman at Closetology, to join us and I think she's going to. Boy can she shed some light on our problems. She's just terrific.

Oh, "closet"-ology. I thought from the forum title it was close-ology and wondered what it was all about. And now I know. It is what all women want. A room for our things.

Our closets are okay in size, but we simply have too
much stuff! In 2007 I plan to weed out alot : )
Cindy

I hear ya Cindy. I've already started. I have too much STUFF. And this doesn't translate into valuables, either. It's just stuff. Too many books I'll never read (over 500) too many nicknacks, too many pieces of clothing I'll never have on my bode again (when did I EVER wear a 10?)...and such as that. I'm weeding out...I'm throwing, giving, and packing away. I've thought seriously about getting some of those bags that you vacuum the air out. Just so I'll have more space. Have any of you tried them?

One thing I failed to mention is that Jackie is not just about your closet. She is a motivational speaker and she teaches about the importance and significance of how you dress. She has a CD called Proportion Politics that says, clothes do not make the person. According to her, it's bringing the structure of your body into harmony with your inner self through how you wear your clothes. This workshop CD delves into the psychology of dressing as it relates to the expression of self-image.

How cool is that? So there's MORE than what meets the eye on this web site. I just love hanging out with intelligent people...I'm SO hoping it will rub off. Osmosis...teehee..

I'v just donated some books and knick-knacks to the white elephant table at the day center's silent auction this week. I've decided that if I can throw out or get rid of a god sized bag of "stuff" a week, instead of trying to power clean and get overwhelmed, I might accomplish something. I'm a clothes hound though and a pack rat. It will never work. But, it will make room for more "stuff."

Louisa