I went for drawers in several places in my home because I wanted to be able to get to the stuff on the bottom without first taking all the stuff off the top. I didn't leave it out the way your DH does, when I had stacking bins, but I sure hated all the work of putting things back together. And I love that I can open the drawer w/ one hand, put the stuff in w/ the other, and close the drawer (3 steps, compared with taking off the boxes, taking off the lid, picking up the item, putting it in, putting on the lid, and restacking the boxes--6 steps) There's an organizing maxim that says, "make it easy to put away, even if it means it's hard to get it out." That's why I switched to drawers in all those places--it's one-handed putting-stuff-away. One note: I have those Sterilite drawers, and they don't safely stack more than 3 high--*maybe* 4 high if the stuff on the top is lightweight.. The weight of the ones on the top make the sides of the lower ones start to bow, and then it's hard to open them. This is a bit less of a problem in the shoe-box size (partly because the sides are shorter and therefore stronger, and because the drawers can't hold as much--but it's a definite problem w/ the next size up, and I'd think it would be worse the larger you go. I've thought of putting a wooden shelf (either attached to the wall or w/ legs) to fall just above the third layer, to support the upper two rows, thereby relieving the lower 3 of the pressure. But I'm too lazy. And I think it's time you started making your DH help w/ his OWN mess! I'm serious; this isn't good for him! And, you will just end up throwing even more money away on storage products he doesn't use unless he gets with the program. Sure, buy those multi-drawer storage chests. Then make HIM help you fill them up--ask HIM how to organize them, what should go w/ where, which things he gets out most often, etc. And if he leaves something out, give him 15 minutes to put it away after you remind him once. Then throw it away.

I would be hesitant to give up room in my bath area. If you shrink it to 7 x 5 you'll be limited in the size tub/shower you can use and I'd think you'd want the largest you could put in there since this is the MBR. As the other poster mentioned, moving all the plumbing will quickly add up, and moving a toilet is usually the last thing you want to do. Whether you have a slab or crawlspace under your home will be the determining factor. I've included a drawing of how I'd probably do the area. Our last home was similar to yours and limited in closet area, so DH used the spare bedroom and hall bath as his dressing area. I would take the small closet space in your BR and add it to the hall bath closet.......then one of you can use it as your personal closet. If you don't need a double sink, the other option would be to reverse the closet/sink layout I've drawn That would then give you more closet space in the BR but you'd have only one sink. The double sink wall shouldn't need to be there for privacy.......isn't there a door at the entrance to your BR? If you really wanted to get carried away with a remodel........and the hall bath isn't needed by others........you could absorb that bathroom into your plans and make a large bedroom/bath suite! :)

What Kitycat says is true, leave the configuration of 3 bedrooms so that future owners can have the option since most families will need that with children around. It would affect the sale of your home. I say that because 2 bedroom homes are not that sought after. Our little cottage is 2 bedroom and it suits us. I figure the way we have it (planned) setup, it will be possible for this house to become a rental for two single individuals who want separate baths, closets, and some privacy. So each bedroom has its own bath, with the master having a walkin closet. And they do not share the hallway. The front bedroom (we now use it as a study) can be closed off making the hallway part of its suite and only using the bath if there are guests and the door to the hallway is not locked from the bedroom side. Part of my remodel to the kitchen will include closing off the master entry door from the (now shared) hallway, and relocating it to near the back door, as I also add a sitting area to the master. The sitting area COULD be left open to the kitchen area, but I have a nice old cypress door which will be mounted with barndoor hardware to close off the sitting area from the kitchen.....although I doubt we do that often, since we two old folks seldom have overnight guests. But, it is something I feel important for the sake of privacy. Anyway, you will sure get a lot more use from the space being set up to serve as a huge closet, more so than being under-utilized as a spare bedroom. Spare bedrooms or "guest" rooms, are probably the least used space in a home, followed by a formal dining room. In our house, the third least used space was the living room. We use the 2nd bedroom as our study and TV room. I now have my big parrot cages in the living room. We go through the LR to go sit in the sun porch, always a pleasant experience. I have ideas how to make the LR work harder and fit in with our lifestyle. With the return of french doors to the doorway, I now see the LR as our potential guest room. That way, our study stays intact and undisturbed because we use it more hours in the day/night than even the kitchen or the bedroom...or the bath, for that matter.

Never a problem at any house with the closet access from the bathroom. The toilet has never been close to the closet. Separate WC, too in 4 homes I've lived in (3 of those I had built). My current renovation, there is no separate WC, but the toilet is 20 feet away from the closet. I have no closet access from the master bedroom because that would require 3 doors (entry, closet, bath) in the master.