How to Organize and Store Shoes
Most women love to shop and many of us have a shoe obsession, especially when seasons change. We want new sandals for summer in a variety of colors and in the fall we may buy new boots in black and brown or maybe even a pair of the trendy fuzzy boots! As the holiday season approaches, there are shoes to match a Christmas dress and new shoes to compliment the perfect New Year’s party outfit.
As you can imagine, new shoes can add a spring to anyone’s step, but a disorganized shoe collection can generate frustration in locating the right shoe at the right time. In the closets we organize, shoes end up on the floor in piles, stuffed between clothing, or thrown in a laundry basket. Some shoes do find their way onto a shelf or shoe rack, but often it’s not pretty and it certainly isn’t a complete storage solution for most people.
Recently we organized a home that had about fifty pairs of shoes stored out in the garage in cubbies. Another one of our clients had a large plastic tote filled with shoes from slippers to high heels. When you become overwhelmed by disorganization, you reach for the simplest solution, which may not always be the most effective solution.
As you will see in my video blog below, there are some great solutions to store shoes that will allow you to maximize the space you do have, and create a more efficient means of locating the shoes you want to wear.
Here is a list of some other products that I often use in our clients’ spaces to store shoes:
25 Cube Shoe Organizer – This solution is good for smaller to medium size shoes. It is not good for large men’s shoes, platforms, or stilettos.
24” and a 31” Horizontal Shoe Organizer – We have used both size organizers in the same closet. Measure your space and stack the maximum number of units that fill the storage area.
Clear Shoe Boxes – I only recommend The Container Store™ clear shoe boxes and I always recommend buying them in the package of 20. Although they are a little more expensive, the best price is based on buying them in bulk. The plastic of these boxes is not the “foggy clear” but actually “really clear”, making it even easier to see the contents. Additionally, they have a cleaner look and are designed to take up less space than other brands.Shoe Space Saver – If you really want to organize your shoes and save some space, this may be the product for you. A package of two is $5.99. This system works well for women’s flats or low heels, is too small for most men’s shoes.Trones (shoe/storage cabinet) – IKEA® has a variety of designs, colors, and materials for this type of shoe storage system. It works best in a mudroom or entryway, or attached to a wall in a garage. This system is perfect for narrow spaces or when floor space is limited.
The systems I have suggested are only a few of what is available for shoe organization. The trick to deciding which storage solution works for you is to begin by purging, then count the shoes you have left, and then purchase the system(s) that fits your space and number of shoes. While clear shoe boxes are cheap, will you really open the lid and put the shoes away or want to deal with unstacking boxes to get to the pair you want? Do you want to bend down to get your shoes or would you prefer them at waist level or higher? Ask yourself these questions before running out to buy products that may look good but not solve your shoe storage dilemma.
There is one last thing I would like to share about my personal shoe organization solution. In my home we have a shoe rack in the garage close to the entry door, and another on the porch next to the back door. My husband and I have trained our boys to take off their shoes before entering our home. This system serves two purposes. Leaving dirty shoes outside the house really saves the carpets, and having racks at exits allows everyday shoes like flip-flops and tennis shoes to be readily accessible when you are rushing out the door.
httpv://youtu.be/BWx90CVSoI436%
Lorraine Brock is a professional organizer, family coach, speaker, and founder and owner of Get Organized! Get Organized! is a professional organizing company in the Dallas, Texas area. Get Organized! specializes in organizing and de-cluttering homes as well as implementing systems in the home for better family management. A popular media guest, Lorraine has appeared on Dallas’ two top morning television shows: Good Morning Texas and Good Day Fox, and has been featured on various radio outlets. She has been hallmarked in many local, regional, and national print and online magazines, such as the Dallas Morning News, The North Texas Kids Magazine, SheKnows.com, and Daily Candy Kids. To get more information about Lorraine, visit www.GetOrganized.ws.
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