It is so much easier to organize your home if you give yourself manageable tasks. Suburbs 101 contributor, Maura Fitzgerald is making organizing less overwhelming with her monthly column: How to Tackle Your Whole House Throughout The Year Without Becoming Overwhelmed. This month, Maura gives us her Shoe Storage and Organization Tips.
Shoe Organization absolutely varies by individual and by family. Some people have large and gorgeous collections of designer heels and care for their shoes diligently.
Sporty families have tons of specialty sneakers. Spinning, tennis and running (road vs. inside) are just a few examples that require their own specialty sneakers.
In my house we have 3 kids and what feels like 80 pairs of shoes between the 3 of them – party shoes, sneakers, glitter sneakers, tennis shoes, soccer cleats, ballet shoes, sandals, and water shoes to name the major categories. And because kids generally get dressed by the front door they all need to live in our entry.
Because shoe collections are so very personal there is not a tried and true system or rule in place. For our projects, we take on shoe organization with complete customization in mind.
Below are some of the shoe organization systems and solutions we love for the most common shoe storage challenges.
Shoe Organization Ideas
Built-In Shoe Shelves
Built-In shelves in closets are a great place to store shoes. Especially if you have tilted built-in shoe shelves in your closet. If you have built-in shoe shelves or have space in your closet and inclination to build them I recommend you organize shoes by occasion and color.
Sandals and flats should reside on the top shelves moving down to heels and finally boots and ankle boots.
Flat Shelves for Shoe Storage
If you have a spare closet or flat shelves in your master closet that can be used for shoe storage here are a few tips. On flat shelves, shoes should always be stored head to toe. This space saver will allow for more shoes on each shelf. Organize your shoes by color in ROYGBIV order.
Closet Shoe Storage Product Recommendations: “Shoe Space Savers” by The Container Store actually doubles your shoe storage space. If you have enough space but just want to protect your shoes and have a sophisticated and organized look I recommend the linen shoe storage “Drop Front Shoe Boxes”, also from the Container store.
Another great shoe organization product are the “Heeled Shoe Boxes” by the Container Store. These are acrylic and come in 3 sizes – one for flops & flats, one for pumps and one for ankle boots and taller heels.
These ensure you aren’t wasting any vertical space by having to put a pair of flops in a box that would fit a heel. There are also shoe storage boxes for kid-sized shoes too.
Over the Door Shoe Storage
Shoes should be stored on the inside of a closet door (bedroom, entry, mudroom, etc) when they have started to just collect in messy piles on the floor. I recommend over the door shoe storage for lighter weight and more compact shoes like sandals and sneakers (they even make over the door shoe storage for flip flops).
There are several over the door options but I always gravitate to the linen/fabric shoe storage options vs. the clear plastic shoe storage options. The linen/fabric shoe storage just look nicer.
Whichever over the door option you choose you’ll be getting storage for an extra 20-36 pairs of shoes per closet or space. In general, over the door shoe storage is extremely effective.
Over the Door Shoe Storage Product Recommendations: “20 Pocket Eco Fabric Over The Door Shoe Bag” by The Container Store.
Shoe Storage In The Mudroom or Entry
Baskets or bins are your best bets for shoe storage in your mudroom or entry. Each family member should have their own, labeled bin for shoe storage.
In that same vein, for mudroom built-ins with drawers, each drawer should be labeled by family member. I love these Steele Canvas bins for shoe storage.
If the rustic look of the Steel Canvas bins isn’t in line with your entry design then labeled bin or baskets will do. For families, I recommend bins with lids to keep things looking ordered.
Shoe Storage Product Recommendations for Mudroom and Entry: I recommend Steel Canvas bins for shoe storage in mudrooms. Labels by Labelize It! Available on www.fitzjustright.com
Shoe Storage for Boots
If your space permits, I love hanging boots for shoe storage. It gets your boots off the floor, maintains their shape and your boots will collect less dust when suspended.
Another tip I saw online this summer, but have not tried, is cutting extra pool/boat noodles to size and using them as boot shapers. It’s not the loveliest idea but it looks 100% functional. We have a million noodles at our family summer home and I’m definitely going to repurpose a few this fall! Otherwise, you can always get ready-made boot shapers.
Shoe Storage for Boots Product Recommendations: Boot Butler Storage Rack available on Amazon or Hanging Boot Butler from The Container Store.
Shoe Storage Ideas: On The Floor
This is not my favorite option for shoe storage but it is often necessary. Rather than let shoes pile up and look messy (and waste countless minutes searching and digging through shoes for the one pair you need). I recommend purchasing a free-standing shoe rack. These will capitalize on whatever vertical space you have.
Product Recommendations: Any standing shoe rack. The Container Store has a ton of options made from varying materials and in many sizes. They even have rolling shoe racks that you can easily roll if you are tight on space.
Shoe Boxes
What should you do with your old shoe boxes? Toss them. Unless they are for a high-end pair of shoes that you hope to consign one day.
You might even proactively check The Real Real to see what brands they will consign for you. They only consign the very top brands and if your shoe brands aren’t on the list, there is no need to keep the boxes. If your shoe brands are on their list remove the boxes from your closet and place them in a storage room, protected in a large plastic bin. There is no need for your shoe boxes to take up closet space.
How to Purge Shoes
Like clothing, people generally hold on to shoes a bit too long. Therefore the rules for purging shoes remain consistent with a closet reorganization. Toss well-worn sneakers and sports shoes.
Consign high-end heels and flats that you haven’t worn in more than a year. I recommend The Real Real and ThredUp. Donate well-worn mid-brand shoes to Goodwill or another charity if they are in good shape.
Ideally, shoe organization should be tackled once a year, especially for families with kids and before the start of the new school year. It may seem overwhelming.
The secret to organizing your home is to break down the project into manageable tasks. Or if you are truly overwhelmed, you can always reach out to Fitz Just Right for all your organizational needs!
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About Maura Fitzgerald
Maura Fitzgerald was born in NYC and raised in Bronxville, NY. She holds a BA from Georgetown University and worked in Print and Digital Advertising Sales for 20 years at Forbes and Time Inc. Now Maura is the founder of Fitz Just Right (FJR), a Luxury Organizational Design Company servicing Westchester County September through June and Annapolis, MD in summer months. She recently launched a new label business, Labelize It. Offering Luxury, Custom Cut Vinyl Labels that keep your home and business organized – one label at a time! Maura and her husband love working for the weekends where they have non-stop action and fun with their 3 children….and everything isn’t always organized. She lives in Bronxville, NY with her husband and three children. Website: www.fitzjustright.com Instagram: @labelizeit and @fitzjustright
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About Suburbs 101
Suburbs 101 is an online lifestyle guide for the New York Suburbs of Westchester County, Long Island, Fairfield County and Northern New Jersey. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to live in the New York suburbs through our weekly interviews with local suburbanites and features on Food, Fashion, Home, Travel, and Local Events. Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.