How to Organize Your Shoes

January 25, 2012

Shoes, shoes everywhere.  Does this sound like your closet?  My clients often ask my advice on the best solution for organizing shoes.  As you read on, you will discover that there is no “one size fits all” solution.  How many shoes do you have?  Where are you going to store them?  How much space do you have available to store them?  And so on.  Here are some of the most common solutions to help you organize your shoes once and for all:

  • Over the Door – Over the door shoe racks are a great way to organize your shoes without using valuable closet space.  This is a great solution for people who are short on closet space or who live in an apartment and can’t make permanent changes to their closets.

 

  • Hanging – Another great option that does not require a handyman to install is a hanging set of cubbies for your shoes.  This type of product hangs from your closet rod and provides cubbies for your shoes.

 

 

  • Free Standing – A free standing shoe rack or shoe cubbies are a perfect solution for storing shoes in locations such as the garage or entryway.  They are easy to move, and many of them are expandable. 

 

  • Boxes – Shoe boxes provide the greatest amount of protection for your shoes, but they are not as easily accessible as the previous alternatives.  Many are stackable, so you can create your own configuration of boxes based on your available space. Another advantage of the shoe boxes is that many of them are transparent or feature a “window” so that you can easily see the contents.  These boxes can also be a great way to store or transport shoes in your vehicle.

 

  • Closet System – If you are considering installing a closet system, dedicated shoe storage is a must.  I really like the FreedomRail system because it is so flexible.  It has several different options for shoes, including shelves and cubbies.

Once you have decided which shoes you want to keep and where you plan to store them, choose the option or combination of options that best fit your situation and enjoy your newly organized shoe collection!

Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.