"We're such shoppers," says writer Carol Barden. "But we don't realize how much energy we're expending every time we acquire something -- buying, upholstering or tailoring, cleaning." And our busy days prevent many of us from even noting what's useful or beautiful, what needs to be freshened up or thrown out.

A divorce and a fresh look at the lifestyles of other cultures inspired Barden to give up the Oriental carpets and Louis XVI furniture in favor of more minimal surroundings. "My house used to be like my mother's -- French and formal and beautiful," she says. "But then I traveled and my life changed, and I realized that there were things in my house I didn't care about. So I pared down, and I'm still paring down."

The stylish sparseness of Carol Barden's home and the obvious serenity she feels living there inspire even the most dedicated pack rat to take a more critical look at the closets.

But paring down is not just about clearing out. It also involves taking stock of how times and our needs have changed. For example, has the cappuccino maker you used daily 10 years ago been rendered obsolete by the Starbucks near your office? Similarly, the overstuffed chair-and-a-half should give way to a much more versatile sectional. And we may end up with a few regrets. Barden gave away a black-and-white coat that turned out to closely resemble the hottest thing on next fall's runways. "We err sometimes," says Barden. "So what. You move on."

The real challenge is in not waiting for major life events or retirement or downsizing to rethink what you can do without. It should be something we do on a regular basis. Rothschild's company can give order to what looks like clutter, but it is only a homeowner who can decide what clothes are old, not vintage; what furniture is out, not antique; what papers are trash, not treasures.