Shoe Organizing: What to Do About Those Shoes?

You may have a lot of shoes along with everyone else in the household.  I solved the problem of having shoes piled up in my doorway simply by purchasing a shoe rack.  However, over the years, we outgrew the shoe rack and needed to replace.  We also went in and out of more than one door, so additional shoe racks were purchased.  Then one broke and now we are back down to one.  

What happened to the rest of the shoes?  Well we discovered that a purging process needed to take place.  Those shoes that were barely worn or the children out grew were either sold or given away.  Other shoes that were considered “good shoes” were neatly placed in a box or bag and stored on shelves inside their closets and others placed under the bed in storage.

Since our shoe organizing project, I have noticed that other families at various places I worked, more specifically rental communities, shoes were sometimes stored on shoe racks near doors like my family, but other times shoes were still piled up by the door or near bedside.  So here are some additional ways you can organize shoes:

Over the closet door organizers.

On shelves inside closets.

In a basement or garage area in a bin, box, on a shoe rack, or a shoe cabinet.

Under a bed in a storage bag or each set wrapped in plastic shopping bags.

In an attic in a chest stored inside individual bags or boxes.

We use odor sprays and fabric softeners to keep the inside fresh.  We have water and stain repellant to keep the exterior of shoes looking fabulous.  Before shoes are stored long term, like winter boots or tennis shoes, they should be cleaned: outside, inside and soles.

Shoes like cell phones collect so much bacteria.  Storing them beside a bed or uncovered under a bed is not sanitary.  Also, keeping them placed by doors without using a product to keep the odor under control may be a turn-off for visitors.  Not only do you use a product inside the shoes, but also consider a plug-in fragrance placed near them.

Happy shoe organizing! 

Nicholl McGuire is the owner and contributor of this blog.


SONGMICS 3-Tier Stackable Metal Rack Flat & Slant Adjustable Shoe Organizer Shelf for Closet Bedroom Entryway 29.1 x 12.2 x 24.7 Inches Bronze ULMR03A

How To Organize Your Sneaker Collection!

Storage Ideas for Shoes & Purses : Fashion & Style Tips

Shoe Closets - To Clean Up the Scattered Room

How many shoes do you have? You maybe have a few different pairs of work shoes, dress shoes, sandals, sneakers, winter boots, and running shoes lying around your house. Now just multiply that by the amount of people in your house. Things could get out of hand quickly. Rather than tripping over your extra footwear, what if you have one place to put all your shoes. Shoe closets aren't only a stylish way to arrange your shoes, these organization units also make more space in your house.

Elegant Organization
There are lots of kinds of shoe organizers available on the market: flimsy door-hangs, cheap metal shelving, and plastic boxes that could stacked up. Some of these organizers are hidden in the tops and backs of closets or hidden under clothe racks because they're clunky, unsightly, and inconvenient. In fact, lots of these units make more hassles and fuss than they're worth. In addition, they consume a lot of space in your closet that can be placed to better usage. That's why the shoe closet has become popular, especially to shoe collectors who spend lots of money in gorgeous footwear. Why not show this investment in a fashionable cabinetry system.

Types of Design
Shoe closets have a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Certainly, if you have a huge collection of expensive shoes, you can devote lots of money to a reach-in or walk-in closet for your footwear. But since this could get a bit expensive, you might have to change your meaning of a shoe closet. It can be a small wood cabinet placed with cubbies; it can be an antique chest with gliding drawers or shelving for instant access; or it can even be a bench which opens to reveal an organized stacking system. If you own walk-in closets, these gorgeous storage units can be placed inside them to free space in the rest of your house. In either way, shoe closets are a great way to arrange your shoes, whether you like them stored or displayed in a beautiful piece of furniture.

Other Tidy Advantages
Shoe closets aren't only meant for shoes. Now that you own more storage, you could also place other clothing accessories and items in these units. Also, these items come with options: shelving that could be organized, angled shelves that could literally display your quality shoes, and some walk-in closets could be concealed into the walls. Personalizing the look of your closet is half the excitement, and it's so affordable depending on its size and the material. Take note, both men/women own shoes for each type of occasion or event, so these closets could even help you arrange by climate to avoid the irritation of ransacking and rummaging through pairs of footwear.

By Jack Kolbow

Organize Your Home With a Shoe Bench

Shoe Benches are a great tool for smaller homes or apartments. A shoe bench is a bench that has cubbies of different sizes for shoes and boots to be stored. The top of the bench can have a seat cover or cushion that you can sit on while putting your shoes or boots on. Most of the time the shoe bench would be placed in an entry or mud room for easy access and use when entering or leaving the home.

The benches can be used in many ways to make your home more comfortable and less cluttered. Each pair of shoes has their own cubby so that they don't have to be in a mountain of shoes at the bottom of a closet or even in a box in the basement. This will create a very organized look to your home. The cushioned seat can also double as extra seating when you have company over. It also could work as a time-out spot for your children. It would even be a great place to send your family to wait for you before leaving the house, as a meeting area to check everyone's appearance.

There are many benefits to having a shoe bench in your home. In smaller homes or apartments the shoe bench is almost an essential tool to keep everything in its place as space can be very limited. Having all of the family's shoes in one place avoids the never ending, "Mom, I can't find my shoes!" The bench itself becomes a great tool for younger children as a time-out place, as well as a meeting place to be sure they are dressed properly before leaving the house.

The bench can also become an anchor point in any decorating scheme, especially with a cushioned seat cover. The fabric can coordinate with the decor that you already have in your home. Most benches are made of wood that can be stained to match the woodwork already in your home.

There are alternatives to having a shoe bench in your home. One option would be to have a shoe rack that can either hang on the back of a door or fit in the bottom of a coat closet and place a small chair or stool near the door. This would create the same benefits of a shoe bench, without actually having one.

Peter keeps his home organized with a shoe storage bench and would recommend a shoe bench to anyone having a hard time keeping their entryway clutter-free.