I think I'm winning. It helps to have a helper (Le Boyfriend) who is as committed to decluttering the place as I am. And it helps that he's pretty ruthless about it.
The back room (sort of an added-on den) is quickly becoming less a catchall for everything and more like a decent, usable room. My flat screen is back there now, hooked up to the satellite, along with my comfy, corduroy club chair and a good reading lamp. There are still boxes back there, most destined for the town yard sale the first of May. What doesn't sell is going straight to the ever-welcoming arms of the Salvation Army.
Soon there will be room to consider pretty furniture for storage of out-of-season bedding and the like, such as a nice wardrobe (what your granny would've called a chiffarobe), and maybe another set of bookshelves.