It’s the same old story. We walk into the house and fall over piles of shoes. It doesn’t help that many modern homes have a tiny entryway closet to store footwear for the entire family. Never fear, Out of Chaos is here to share our tips on how to organize shoes.
Declutter and Categorize
The first step in any organizing process is to declutter. Have each person in the family gather all their shoes in one area. Let go of any shoes that are worn out, don’t fit, or are uncomfortable. Check our Resources page to find out where you can donate shoes that are still in good condition. With the remaining shoes, group them into three main categories: shoes that you frequently wear, occasionally, and those for special occasions.
Designate a Storage Area
If you don’t have much storage space in your entryway, store only the shoes that you frequently wear in this area. You might have to limit the number of shoes per person as well. Store shoes you only wear occasionally in bedroom closets, laundry rooms, or other areas of the home.
How to Organize Shoes in the Entryway
You want to make it as easy as possible for people to store their shoes out of the way. Shoe racks are a great idea. Racks with shelves are better than those with plain bars because they hold shoes of all sizes, so they are better for small children’s shoes and large adult work boots.
Many types of racks have mesh shelving. That’s fine if your shoes are dry, but snow-covered boots are often placed on the top shelf because they are tall. Then, the shoes beneath end up soaking wet as the snow melts. You can add an inexpensive boot tray on each shelf to solve the problem. Alternatively, there are racks with water-resistant fabric shelves.
For smaller, lighter-weight shoes, you could install a hanging shoe organizer to reduce the size of the pile on the floor. It is a good option for shoes that you wear frequently, but not necessarily every day.
If you don’t have an entryway closet, installing a hall tree is a super idea because you’ll have some shoe storage, be able to hang coats, bags, and have a place to sit down.
Shoe Storage
Consider using plastic shoe boxes to store the shoes you only wear occasionally. As I mention in my video with Lil’ Chu, these boxes are transparent so you can see which shoes are which. They also stack easily, allowing you to pile up your shoes without damaging them. It’s a great way to take advantage of vertical space. Use the larger boxes for bigger shoes or several pairs of smaller shoes.
Clean Before Storing
Remember to clean your shoes before storing them. They will last longer and be more comfortable to wear the next time you put them on. Folds and creases form in shoes as you wear them and can cause your shoes to deform permanently. Stuff acid-free tissue paper into footwear that you won’t be wearing for more than a few days to help the shoes keep their shape and absorb any moisture. For leather or heavy canvas shoes, invest in adjustable shoe trees. Add a charcoal-activated moisture-absorbing packet to keep sports shoes fresh in storage.
For more inspiration, check out my articles on Front Hall Fixes and Three Fixes for a Cluttered Entryway. For hands-on help, contact the Out of Chaos team today!.
Many thanks to the video production team!
- Dusty of Color Sound Lab
- Tara Travis Voice Artist
- Danielle Turner of Velvet Pumpkin Productions
Video Transcript
Lil’ Chu: Oh!
Linda: Are you okay Lil’ Chu?
Lil’ Chu: Ugh! I just tripped on my shoe.
[in unison]: Again!
Linda: Isn’t that the most common thing you always do? Everyone, as soon as you walk into the home you trip over your shoes because there’s no shoe storage solution. Sure, there’s racks out there. There’s shoe pockets. There’s shoe organizers. But when you don’t have the space, what do you do?
Linda: I recommend a clear shoe box like this you can see what’s inside. When you put a lid on it, it’s stackable. So when space is limited, all your seasonal shoes, all of the shoes that you are maybe using for special occasions, let’s tuck it away and you can pull them out when you need it.
Lil’ Chu: Yeah!
Linda: So ready to get started?
Lil’ Chu: Yeah! Here put that one with you.
Linda: Okay, I think that’s a special occasion shoe.
