Organizing Shoes

Attach Photo To Shoe Box

I'll admit it, I'm a shoe collector! What is the proper way to store shoes without paying for expensive storage organizers? Nobody has time to dust shoes on a shelf. I opted for keeping them in the original box, then take a picture of the shoes. It is easy to use a printer to create any size photo you want, then place the photo on the outside end of each box. Right away, you can see which pair of shoes you are looking for.

Clear plastic containers can get very expensive along with the fact if you live in any humid area, they aren't good for the leather. My daughter and her girls do the same thing.

By Darlene from Bancroft, ON and Marco Island, FL

Use Short Bookshelf for Family Shoes

We constantly have a heap of shoes in front of our front door making it difficult to walk into our house. One day, after organizing the shoes, yet again, I went looking for a solution. The result? A short bookshelf that wasn't being used became the home for the family's shoes! Even my husband's big shoes fit on the shelves perfectly.

By Tom-Sarah G. from Sutherlin, OR

Keep Your Shoes Dust Free

I store my shoes on two kinds of shoe trees; one is the kind that stands up on the floor and the other is the kind you can hang in your closet or back of a door; either way my shoes were getting dusty.

To remedy this I cover each shoe with a plastic bag I get from the grocery store (the bags you get for free to put your produce in) and then store it back on my shoe tree. I also use the bags to stuff my shoes with. And, of course, when I travel I just grab the shoes I'm going to need and they're all ready to pack. Hope you like my tip.

By Kimberly M. from Scottsdale, AZ

Toy Wagon for Child's Shoe Storage

A small child's wagon, either metal or plastic, makes for a great shoe storage container by a front or back door, or even in the child's bedroom. This way it's easy to put shoes away, and keeps them centrally located and easy to find when you're rushing out the door.

By Thriftsavvy from West Dundee, IL

Simple Shelf to Organize Shoes

An easy project with three pieces of wood can help organize that pile of shoes at the bottom of your closet. My darling husband constructed this simple shelf, at my request, and his shoes and boots are manageable and tidy. I asked him to make one for my closet too.

Simply cut a long piece that will fit in your closet and two more about 8 inches high. Screw the two small ones at either end of the long one so that you can store shoes underneath the shelf and shoes or boots on top of the shelf. Simple project that made a big difference for us!

By Peggy G. from Yulan, NY

Store Shoes And Accessories On Bookshelves

I live in a small space. I don't have a closet. So, how do I store my shoes and accessories? Bookshelves. I use bookshelves, with adjustable shelving, that I already own. I use a filler (multiple plastic bags tied inside a single bag) to stuff my handbags so they keep their form.

For shoes, I stuff the toes with newspaper. If you need an alternative to expensive closet organizers, find bookshelves that will fit in your closet. They should be the same style and color, even if they are different sizes, for a polished look.

By RobinNette from Baltimore, MD

Store Shoes In Shoeboxes

Here are two solutions:

1. Go to Dollar Tree and buy plastic tub size shoe boxes that they have. The bottoms are see through and the plastic lid helps keep shoes in good condition.

2. If you have the original boxes, take pics of the shoes inside and tape or paste on outside of shoe box so you can see what's inside.

By looneylulu from Ocean City, MD

Keeping Your Boots Looking Good

Use your noodle, your swimming noodle that is. Insert it in your boots to keep them standing upright when not in use. This hint keeps them from falling over and getting crinkled.

Source: from a website entitled "When the Dinner Bell Rings".

By Elaine S. from near Cedar Rapids, IA

Save Shoe Boxes

When buying shoes, keep the boxes they come in. This way, they'll be protected from being knocked around in your closet, you won't have to worry about loosing one, and it's great at helping to keep your closet tidy.

By Melissa

Wood Cubes for Organizing Shoes

I use one of those wood cubes with dividers. They hold up to nine pairs of shoes, but I have found that you can store umbrellas and other things in any sections you don't fill with shoes. The best thing is that the cube doesn't take up much closet space, and you have a sturdy flat surface to store something on top of the cube. I think I bought mine on sale at KMart or Target.

Store Shoes in Their Boxes

If you can get hold of the cardboard boxes shoes are sold in (or you may have kept them anyway), I have heard a tip for taking a photo of each pair and sticking it to the front of the box, then stack the boxes up in an unobtrusive corner. You can see at a glance which pair is in which box. I have also heard the idea of decorating the boxes with self-adhesive plastic, to make more of a feature of your collection.

Plastic Boxes for Organizing Shoes

I keep mine in the plastic "shoebox size" rubbermaid totes. That way I can stack them and easily grab the ones I want. For shoes I don't wear alot, I keep them stuffed with tissue paper. You can also put sachet in there to help them smelling fresh. I like this because I can swap them out seasonally and keep the seasonal ones in the front, and the ones I am not wearing in the back. It also keeps the dust bunnies away and the cat hair off my shoes. My sister-in-law has these as well, and slides them along the perimeter of her bed. Another friend stacked them underneath a nightstand and covered it with a tablecloth to hide them.