Armoires and dressers were the order of the day, until sheetrock's invention made the six-foot wide recessed closet a standard in modern homes. But whether you're cramming coats into your Tudor's closets or shimmying shoes into a contemporary's walk-in wardrobes, we'll show you savvy designs and strategies that will work with any home design, climate or lifestyle

Let's start with some good organization ideas and layouts; next week, we'll look at actual building and renovation strategies you can try out those new holiday-gift tools on.

And by serendipitous coincidence, today is Boxing Day, when our Canadian and British readers give carefully packaged gifts to worthy and/or needy non-relatives. It's not a bad idea to free up some closet space, earn a tax deduction for the past year, and extend the true holiday spirit by donating some of your unused possessions to a local charity or thrift store.

In This Issue:

1. Video: Getting a Grip on Closet Clutter
2. How To Size Up Your Closet's Capacity...
3. ...Extend a Current Closet's Capabilities...
4. ...And Design a Wonderful Walk-In Space
5. Hot Forum Topics: No Closets = No Romance?

Closet expert Kris Marean pitched in these tips:

• Throw out anything you haven't worn for a year and a half
• Arrange your clothes according to season and style
• Purchase clear bins and organizers

If you can't afford your own closet consultant, some DIY tips follow. You can buy a pre-made closet organizer system and storage bins, while vertically adjustable hanging rods and a pull-out bins are especially good in kids closets. And pick up a sweet-smelling herbal moth repellant so you can mothball those strong-smelling mothballs.

Note: You can click here to download the Real Player software.

2. How To Size Up Your Closet's Capacity...

If you're thinking of redesigning an old, or building an entirely new, closet our Home Solutions section's Closet Encounters will help you decide how much space you need. Among the recommendations:

Make of list of exactly what you need to store; discard or donate old and/or stained clothes. Empty the closet completely, note obstructions like fuse boxes, and sketch the measurements on graph paper.

To ensure that even the bulkiest coats will fit inside, leave at least 21 inches behind the clothes pole. Mount it at least 66 to 69 inches high for long garments. As we've seen, a double-hanging closets are very space-efficient. Mount the lower pole 42 inches above the floor, and the upper 36 to 42 inches (depending on your height) above that.For children's closets, add a shelf at 29 inches from the floor.

3....Extend a Current Closet's Capabilities...

If your budget and space allows for a little more latitude, our Idea Packed Closet will show you how to use expand your storage horizons.

One tactic is to extend a closet up into an adjoining attic; the high tier of shelves you gain in the vaulted ceiling can be used to store out-of-season clothes and accessories.

Division is sometimes as important as addition. A strategically placed chest of drawers or custom-made cabinet can divide his and hers sections. Shelves and drawers can be built to match the exact size of the accessories like ties and belts.

Cabinets that stop short of a the ceiling can wall off a part of the master bedroom to provide a private dressing area. The finished sides can face the bed; open, adjustable shelves on the opposite side will saves rummaging around for infrequently used accessories. A nearby window seat will give a place to shed shoes and the natural light you need to insure you won't mix taupe with mauve.

4....And Design a Wonderful Walk-In Space

If you can appropriate an entire bedroom, our Closet Storage special will show you the best ways to make the most of these wide open spaces.

In this ideal layout, the double-tier shelving was arranged along one wall. Removing the doors from the old closets let them be used for full-length items. The dividing center island again makes an appearance; this time, one side is open for sweater shelves and the other side holds drawers for jewelery. And instead of the window seat, a portable ottoman serves as the place to sit to change shoes.

On the opposite long wall, shelves provide enough shoe storage for a brace of Philippine First Ladies. Make sure these shelves are adjustable, as shoe sizes change with season, and keep a few baskets handy to store seasonal accessories like mittens and mufflers within close reach.

5. Hot Forum Topics: No Closet = No Romance?

"I am moving in with my guy and he has no closet space! Any ideas on creating a closet?" member aem61371 recently asked on our Home Forum:

For many members, it was an open-and-shut case. "Even female birds with their teeny, tiny little brains won't move into a nest unless the male bird makes that nest acceptable," one anonymous member wrote. "I agree, stay where you are," another quickly concurred.

Other members were more encouraging. "My husband really did have no closet space -- old house, one very small bedroom closet. My shoes wouldn't fit in there!" member jamob wrote. "I bought a few hanging racks and put a decorative screen in front of them to hide the racks."

"Buy an armoire, a movable pantry for towels in a bathroom, a shoe holder (or something holder) to go over any bedroom door," another anonymous member urged. "Buy a big screen and put plastic crates and that white plastic shelving behind it and put it in the bedroom," she added.