How does everyone else store their collection?

I've always been curious how AFOL's store their Lego's. I have lots of old sets in ziplock bags, organized into boxes by theme. But I also have lots of newer sets in their original boxes, that take up 50%+ of the storage space in my house. I feel if I break the boxes down and store the bricks with my other older ones, it'll make those sets seem less special somehow.

Part of me is also tempted to mix all the sets together, as I know a lot of people do, making it easier to create MOC's. I just can't bring myself to do it.