Are you a closet pack rat? Before you say "Not me," ask yourself these questions: Are your drawers filled with receipts from 1973? Does your bedroom contain a chest filled with outdated fashions that just "might come in handy" someday? Does your house contain a spare bedroom vomiting old magazines, books, pillows and enough blankets to accommodate a small army? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, face it -- you're a pack rat. Who's ruling the roost: you or the clutter that's encroaching on every last bit of your living space? Learning the fine art of throwing things away isn't easy if you've grown accustomed to saving everything for a rainy day that never arrives. Start slow with these tips (courtesy of Today's Homeowner magazine), and soon you'll get into the practice of discarding what you don't need -- and reclaiming the rights to your house.

Start with the obvious -- your closets. Most closets contain one overhead shelf and one pole for hanging clothes. While that's not much space, you can make the most of it by organizing your closet more effectively. First, decide what you want to store in the closet (and what you don't), and then decide how to accommodate the items you're keeping. You're going to need to head to the store and select some storage items, or -- if your budget allows -- call up a professional and have him or her create an effective plan for you.

If you're a do-it-yourselfer, consider everything you plan to store in your closet. Limit the items to what you use and wear frequently. Think about what you wear throughout your work week and what you wear most often during weekends. Then group similar items together, and place your folded items either on shelves or in drawers, rather than hanging them (spare the rod, so to speak, for your suits and other delicate items). Buy yourself a shoe rack and some over-the-door hooks for ties and/or belts. You can also purchase corner shelves to help conserve space. Wire baskets are another wise purchase. Use every last bit of space you can. Search the Yellow Pages under "closet accessories" or "closet organization," and see what items you can find to help your quest for simplicity.

When you're making the painful decision of what to keep and what to toss, use the tried-and-true rule: If you haven't worn it in a year, chances are good you won't wear it again, so give it to your favorite charity. And when you're making plans for how much space to allocate for the clothes you're keeping, add an extra shelf and hanging space.

If you lack the time or simply can't bear to part with anything, hire a pro. He or she will take charge of the project, finish it in a timely manner and offer you sound organizational advice and a game plan to which you're more likely to adhere.

There's another culprit on the list of usual home-cluttering suspects: paper. Lots of paper. From old bills to letters to the kids' artwork to newspapers we never got around to reading, paper piles up quickly. A good rule of thumb, according to home organization pros, is to handle each piece of paper only once. Or, if you can't make a decision on the spot, follow this system: Scan each piece of paper and immediately determine what should be done with it -- throwing it in the trash; placing it in a single holding location, such as a tray; or mark it with the appropriate family member's name and place in another tray. Or better yet, take it right to that family member's bedroom, and place it in their possession. This system is a bit more realistic when you're dealing with families. Should you throw a piece of paper away that's important to someone else, there's a 100 percent chance he or she is going to need it. So by placing that paper in the owner's possession, you're showing the owner respect.

When it comes to newspapers, give yourself the expiration of the day to read them. If you didn't read Saturday's paper by Saturday evening, will you get the urge to do so on Sunday or Monday, when you're back to the weekly grind? Not a chance. So toss it in your recycling pile, and save yourself the stress that a mountain of newspapers creates.

When you've designated your official "charity pile" of clothing and other household accessories that exceed your one-year time limit, put them in large garbage bags, tie them and decide that you're not going to reopen them. As soon as possible, head to the charity's distribution center, and drop off your donations. Out of sight, out of mind.

It's not going to happen overnight, but when it does, the results will convince you that cutting the clutter was one of the best decisions you've made. You'll feel remarkably less stressed, and depending on how much clutter you've eliminated, you may feel as if you're living in much larger quarters. Surround yourself only with the items you use on a regular basis; you'll be surprised at how short that list really is. By reclaiming your space, you're simplifying your life. And who doesn't need a little simplification in their lives?

More Homeowners' Advice