Organize Your Shoe Collection in 3 Simple Steps
We like to think of getting organized as creating space for the life you want to live. Imagine walking into your space every single day and feeling great about what you see. Seeing the joy and happiness in your life being reflected in your home. You want your space to brighten your mood and you really want to be able to use what you own and not let anything go to waste. Your home should be your sanctuary. Above all, having a functional and not-overly-crowded space should be the goal.
When it comes to your shoe collection, it can feel like a challenge to organize and stay on top of it. But it doesn’t have to be! The key is to make sure that every pair has a designated home in your closet, your bedroom, or wherever it is you want to store them. Here’s how to organize your shoe collection:
Sort & Categorize
To start, pull every pair of shoes out and sort them by category. Sneakers with sneakers, heels with heels, and so on. Then, go one step further and micro-sort within categories by color. This helps you to really see where you might be able to let go and where you may want to fill in some gaps in your collection. It makes the editing process much more efficient to see the entire inventory together and sorted!
Discard, Donate, and Toss
Next, you’ll edit. Go through and pare down your collection, deciding if you want to discard, donate, or sell any shoes that are worn out or no longer suit your lifestyle. Ask yourself questions like: “Do I love these? Do I need these? Are these even comfortable? When’s the last time I wore these?'” and be honest with yourself. Tip: try to purge your shoes once or twice yearly, revisiting different types as seasons and trends change.
Add Organizational Systems
Once you’ve finalized your shoe collection, it’s time to map out the space where you’re going to store them and determine what kinds of organizational systems you want to incorporate. You’ll decide this based on your shoe inventory, the space being stored, and the flow of your routine. Here are a few different methods you can consider and tweak to your inventory and your needs:
Whether you have built-in shoe storage, use over-the-door compartments, or are just trying to find a space for them to live in your closet. Consider these spaces or make a zone for them yourself:
Over-the-Door Shoe Storage
Finding practical solutions for small spaces is essential to maintaining organization! If you’re limited on space, over-the-door shoe storage is a great way to maximize and create storage where there is none.
Shoe Shelves
If your closet features shelves, these are best utilized for shoe storage. If you don’t have built-ins, adding in shelving units is a great hack! When storing your shoes, to save space, turn one shoe forwards and one backwards. You should place your most frequented pairs at eye-level and shoes you rarely wear towards the top. Color coordinate to make your display pop!
Boot Shapers
To prolong the life of your boots, store each pair standing up. So they don’t fold over and lose shape or wear over time, use boot shapers. These will maintain the boots over time and even prolong their life. Tip: if you're on a budget, using tissue paper is great as it keeps the shape of boots making them last longer!
Shoe Bins & Boxes
Boxes and bins are a great way to maximize vertical space. You can store shoes in bins or boxes on shelves or the ground. We recommend using bins & boxes with drop front openings or that can stack so it’s easy to access all shoes. If you have a small closet and don't have room to store seasonal shoes like boots, you can utilize flat boot boxes. Store these high up on shelves, under your bed, or wherever they can be stowed!
Remember that no matter what your closet or your inventory looks like, creating lasting systems is possible with the right products! Think hard about the potential each nook and cranny has, and what flow will best suit your lifestyle day after day. You’ve got this!