Having been reared by parents who were firm proponents of the theory, “a place for everything and everything in its place,” I always have tried to follow my upbringings. My father, a successful homebuilder in the 1950s, consciously included an assortment of closets in his house plans, especially the reach-in or step-in variety. My mother, continually wishing to influence his ideas, insisted he include a walk-in closet with endless room for hanging clothes and plenty of shoe space in at least two bedrooms. She was an unabashed clothes-hound and wished along with other women of her era to be able to survey her shoe selection while putting together her outfit for any event.

What does your closet space say about you? Do you share your closet with your spouse? Do you store your belongings behind closed doors or in drawers? Do you have a lot of shoes? Do you fold your clothes or prefer to hang them? Does your closet offer luxury, comfort, and convenience?

According to the Closet Lady, Raelene Thrasher of Tailor-Made Closets, all the above questions should be answered.

“Closets today are no longer an afterthought for most homeowners,” she explained. “They are rooms into themselves as important as any other room in the house.”

Most families find that closet space in their homes cannot begin to keep up with the steady accumulation of possessions. Even 100 years ago when closets first began to appear in houses, the overflow of belongings would be stashed away in inaccessible cellars, attics or in a bulging hall closet and not located near the point of use.

We all own more clothing now than in times past. Both affluence and two-income households have caused the ballooning of the American closets.

Overstuffed closets call for purging and organizing, which require time and a plan. Imagine your closets totally organized! Did I already mention one of the most important things in your closet is to be able to see everything so you can pick and choose while dressing? A place for everything!

The bells and whistles of top-end closet systems include belt and tie racks, drawers, pull-out valet rods and ironing boards, fan-out pant racks, and shoe racks. Built-in islands fitted with lighted drawers not only increase storage space but provide counter space for folding clothes or a handy place to set things down. A three-way mirror, artwork and a safe for locking away valuables are all necessities, while crown moldings add an extra elegant appearance.

By putting in hardwood floors, adding crown molding and even chandeliers along with a reading chair, homeowners add extra elegance to their valued spaces. People spend so much time on their closets they want them to reflect their personalities. Lavish walk-in closets actually mean more bedroom space with less bedroom furniture needed. Remember, fabulous organized closets — whether customized or personalized — definitely enhance the value to your home.

Come on and play the following game! Fill in the blanks.

My dream closet is: _________________ with plenty of _________________________ and ___________________________.

It would also have: __________________________, a ________________________, and ___________________________.

It’s your space, your style and your place for everything and everything in its place.

Tips for avoiding closet clutter

~ Stop hanger explosion: Return empty hangers to the dry cleaners or your laundry area.

~ Practice the one-for-one rule: When a new item goes in, an old one comes out!

~ Be ruthless in eliminating clothes that no longer fit, and retire hopelessly stained clothing, shoes, purses and accessories.

~ Contact a closet organization system representative.

Now you have even more closet space!