How to Organize Shoes
Between athletic shoes, boots, sandals, high heels, flats, and flip flops, keeping shoes from taking over your primary closet or hall closet can be a challenge. No matter what size your shoe collection is, getting your shoes and boots organized makes them easy to find and protects them from damage. Fortunately, there are almost as shoe storage ideas to organize them as there are shoe styles, and that's where The Container Store can help make this project easy!
Step 1: Take Inventory
Decluttering is always a great way to start. First go through ALL your shoes and sort into those you wear regularly and those for only for special occasions. (To save room and make it easier to find the pair you want, you'll also want to sort by seasons.) Be sure to donate pairs you don't wear or those that aren't comfortable, and discard any that are worn out or beyond repair. Now count how many pairs of each type you have, and this will help you find the best way to maximize space in your home.
Step 2: Clean, Polish & Repair
A cobbler can repair or replace worn heels and soles on most of your favorite shoes and boots at a fraction of the cost of replacing them.
Step 3: Select Your Organizers
- On The Closet Floor
If you have a lot of space (like in a larger walk-in closet or entryway), a viable shoe storage solution may simply be on the floor. Tiered shoe racks and shoe cubbies can often be stacked to make use of the vertical space beneath hanging clothes. These open solutions work well for shoes that you wear often, especially in entryways. - Door Shoe Organizers and Hanging Closet Organizers
Shoe organizers that hang on your closet door are a good way to keep your floor and shelves clear while still keeping shoes easily accessible. (Definitely a good option for small spaces.) They install quickly and can accommodate lots of shoes depending on type and heel height. An easy hardware change allows most to be hung over either a residential or commercial door. Another option is an Elfa Door & Wall Rack outfitted with Elfa Shoe Racks.
There are several type of hanging shoe organizers. Some can be placed on the closet rod and feature pockets that accommodate all kinds of kicks. Another style of organizer is the boot hook, which allows you to hang tall boots from your closet rod right next to your garment hangers.
(Note: If you live in a dorm room or loft-style apartment, you may have commercial doors which are slightly thicker than traditional residential doors.) - On A Shelf
If you have shelf space, stacking clear plastic drawers, bins, or drop-front shoe boxes are a nice option - especially for pairs of shoes you don't wear all the time. (Shoes worn less often can go on the top shelf.) These organizers protect your shoes from dust while giving you visibility and easy access to them without the need to shuffle boxes around. You'll even find stackable shoe bins and boxes especially made to accommodate tall heels, ankle boots, flats - even kid's shoes. This is a real plus when you're trying to maximize the space on your shelf! And of course, a custom closet design can accommodate shoes with multiple shoe shelves or gliding shoe racks. - Under The Bed
A good way to save space in a small closet is to store shoes—especially seasonal shoes or boots—in an under bed shoe organizer. These containers are made to easily slide out from under your bed and can be made of fabric or plastic. - Freestanding Racks
Rolling shoe racks and shoe cabinets work well in loft spaces or when you have more floor space than closet space. (A small shoe rack or storage bench can work wonders in a mudroom too!) The rolling racks hold a lot of shoes and can easily be rolled into a closet or dressing room.