How to Organize a Closet for Shoe Storage
Getting a closet organized can be fun, frustrating, challenging, or hard work. It depends on your attitude and the options you choose to work with. If it is hard for you to find your shoes in the mess at the bottom of your closet, then it is time to get organized. There are many shoes storage options available to help with closet organization, the key is finding which one may work for you needs before spending money on a neat-looking option you find later that you or your family can not live with. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Shoe racks are one of the most common shoe storage options, can be found in many department stores, and they work pretty well for most people. There are several shoe racks that can be purchased to place in the floor of a closet under clothing. These may be metal or plastic shoe racks depending on where you shop. There are also taller shoe racks that can stand alone or have a rotation option for use in a walk-in closet or room for those desiring to review multiple pairs of shoes at one time. Typically these types of racks work best for women's shoes.
To pick the best rack, you need to determine which fits your needs. Shoe racks where the toe of the shoe fits on a holder work well for shoes that have toes in them and have no heel or a reasonably low heel. High heels tend to drag any shoes behind them off the toe racks when you remove them making a mess and open toe shoes may slip too far down the holder and ruin their shape. Racks that use the heel of the shoe to hold the shoe in place work best for shoes that have a half-inch or higher heel to keep the shoe from slipping off the racks.
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Shoe shelves can also be purchased at many locations that sell organizing materials or furniture. These are typically made of covered pressed wood. These work well for men, women's (especially for wedges which do not fit well on most racks) and children's shoes. These shelves can be placed on the floor of a closet under clothes or on the shelf above the clothes. Placing them on the floor seems more natural and makes them easier for children to reach. However, putting them on the shelf above the clothes leaves the floor open for easy movement or available for storing sports equipment. Often the shoe shelves are stackable so more levels can be added to accommodate many pairs for shoes. Obviously shoe shelves give you a few more placement ideas for your shoes than do racks.
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For areas with limited space, a shoe bag may a good option instead of shelves or racks. Shoe bags are sold in over the door and on-the-wall hanging options and may be made of cloth, mesh, or plastic. A good seamstress may even be able to make their own version of a shoe bag to fit various size shoes. Shoe bags contain expandable pockets that standard size shoes will fit in. Some have pockets large enough to accommodate a pair of shoes and others have smaller pockets for single shoes. It may be possible to fit multiple flip-flop type sandals in a single pocket. A kid-size shoe bag may be a wonderful way to get children to pick up and put away their shoes. Shoes are typically placed in the pockets with the toe down, however you can squeeze them in however it makes the most sense to you.
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If desired, shoes can be stored in their original box or special shoe boxes may be purchased to store pairs in. Storing in the original box will work if the box is sturdy and most boxes are the same size so that stacking them does not cause them to topple over. When using the original box, it is best to write the shoe color on the end of the box or on a label that is put on the end of the box. This makes it easier to find the correct color without opening several boxes.
If plastic boxes are purchased for use, then choose boxes that are clear so the shoes can be seen. The boxes can all be the same style with the same type of lid since shoes can be seen inside the box. Another option is to use boxes that are clear or solid with colored lids that represent the color of shoe inside. The advantages of the colored lid means no need to label the color on the outside and once a favorite shoe is worn out the empty box can be placed in the car as a reminder to purchase a replacement pair until it is filled again. Keeping your shoes in boxes makes it easy to store the shoes at either the bottom of the closet or on a closet shelf.
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Tips & Warnings
All shoe storage options above can be purchased at The Container Store. Many can also be purchased at department stores or linen specialty shops. Inexpensive plastic shoes boxes are available at many dollar-type stores.
Resources
- Photo Credit Shirley Lee
