Comments on: Our year without a dresser

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:51:04 +0000

I’ve not had a dresser for 15+ years now. I use closet organizers, which can be the kind you install yourself or just simple hanging sweater bags with a basket for socks and undies.
It frees up a lot of space in the bedroom and keeps you from storing ugly knick-knacks on a dresser top. My husband initially thought it was odd, but now really likes the idea.
I have to laugh when people I know “discover” this idea and then excitedly show it to me. :*)

By: Around the Web: Rainy Saturday Edition | the ¢entsible life

Around the Web: Rainy Saturday Edition | the ¢entsible life — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:13:40 +0000

[...] on Living Without a Dresser: We lived without dressers for many years. It always seemed like a purchase we could put off. We [...]

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:31:48 +0000

@alice — Where the money goes is irrelevant. The point is to get clutter out of your house. If a for-profit group makes money off your things, well good for them! They were able to sell something that you didn’t have the time or desire to sell yourself. Your clutter found a good home where someone else can find utility in that object. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Unless the money is going to fund some illegal drug enterprise or something else nefarious, it doesn’t really matter as long as the clutter is out of your house.

By: mary alice blommel

mary alice blommel — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:15:16 +0000

Before donating to “charity” thrift stores, check out where the money goes. Our local “Vietnam Vet” thrift shop is a for-profit business that pays a veterans organization a tiny percent of profits to use the name.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:48:23 +0000

We have not had a dresser for the past 3.5 yrs. Not by choice (our original set was flooded and we have yet to find *the perfect* replacement). We we live with boxes and laundry bins in the bottom of the closet to hold socks/undies/tshirts/shorts etc. The rest of the clothes hang in the closet. We purged a lot of things to get to where we are, but we still need to do more. I wonder if when we do get a new dresser, will it all fit!?

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:40:12 +0000

No dresser for many years. Yes, the socks go in a bin of sorts.

I did purchase an antique washstand recently, the kind with a drawer and a chamber-pot compartment beneath. The drawer holds my spare laptop and fan, and the stereo is below. Great setup for ripping the old vinyl to mp3.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:20:29 +0000

LBell: you must have one light bed, if it only requires one pair of hands to move

By: LBell

LBell — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:30:57 +0000

ETA: I live in an ancient cottage that has two tiny closets, both for things (coats, clothes) that require hanging. I do not have a linen closet.

By: LBell

LBell — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:28:34 +0000

Glad to see I’m not the only one who doesn’t miss having a “formal” dresser. I have two flat plastic bins for sweaters (which go underneath the bed); two large three-drawer plastic cabinets (one of which doubles as a nightstand) for towels, sheets, socks, and pajamas, and one small three-drawer plastic cabinet for underwear.

Currently the only items I own that require more than one pair of hands to move are my bookshelves, my loveseat, and my washer and dryer, and I like it that way.

By: KW

KW — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:22:49 +0000

Marie and others make a good point – one’s necessary wardrobe varies based on one’s lifestyle. How about an Unclutterer poll to get an idea of averages for different folks. How many pants, shirts, socks, etc do you have for different uses such as working out, casusal time, dressy office wear, etc?

By: Melissa A.

Melissa A. — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:08:04 +0000

I haven’t had a dresser in nearly 8 years. I’ve got along fine without one. Though I do have a nightstand now with 3 little drawers where I keep my socks and undies. I got that second hand.

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:49:02 +0000

This post just reminds me that we are shamefully hoarding clothing. My husband has all of his memories tied up in heavy woolen socks he “used to” wear in an entirely different latitude over 8 years ago, concert Tee shirts that fill up two large shelves and several suits he never wears.

I have my memories tied up in clothes that will fit again some day… at least two years from whenever I actually begin exercising again.

This adds up to three dressers, a wardrobe and a very generous walk-in closet. It is time to purge but I am the only one who buys-in to that idea. Sigh.

By: Sunny Paris

Sunny Paris — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:44:05 +0000

“Shelves in a closet?

Happy though indeed.”

By: oklagirl

oklagirl — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:14:30 +0000

We don’t have a dresser, either. We live in a newish house with a walk-in closet. We have drawers in the master bath that we use for pjs & workout clothes. Socks & undies go in baskets on the closet shelves, and sweaters go in a hanging sweater organizer. I love not having a dresser–we like the uncluttered look of our bedroom. ALL of our clothes are within a three-foot radius, so it’s easy to keep track of everything and purge when necessary. Keep thought-provoking comments like this coming, please!

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:56:41 +0000

As much as I try to purge clothing, my lifestyle still requires quite a lot of clothing (work clothes, workout clothes, out-of-work clothes, pajamas… throw in seasonal layers, and that’s a lot of stuff!).

I love hanging as much clothing as possible, but as an apartment-dweller, I’ve yet to come across an apartment with enough closet space to go without a dresser.

Intimates, socks, workout clothes, pajamas, sweatpants/shirts, and scarves/accessories are all housed in my dresser. Jewelry, perfume, a couple photos, and a much-needed lamp sit atop.

Skirts, jackets/blazers, pants, and all non-workout shirts hang in my closet. Jeans and sweaters get stacked on shelves.