How to Tame Your Shoes

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I get it; shoes are life!

But if your space is limited, you may have to cull your collection carefully.

Don't fret, though! There is a way to do this methodically so you keep what you most need and love! After you evaluate your shoe collection, you can complete any outfit choice quickly and confidently!

The first step is to gather all your shoes in one place. Designate some empty floor space. Use this floor space to match up your shoes, ensuring you have both of each pair. Don't pull only from your closet; grab any shoes under your bed, in the entryway closet, and anywhere else you've stashed your footwear.

Take time to clean up the areas where you stored your shoes. These spaces often have dirt and tiny rocks brought in by wearing your shoes outside. Usually, a quick sweep or vacuuming should remove most of the debris.

Now it's time to pick what goes back into your closet!

Start with footwear that covers your basic needs. You'll want to pick a pair of sneakers (or your casual shoe equivalent). Then, pick out weather-related footwear, such as snow and rain boots or sandals. After that, identify a pair or two of dress shoes. I recommend having at least a pair of black and neutral shoes for most categories. Also, you may have subsets of dress shoes, such as heels, flats, or other types you want to include, like dress boots or wedges. Pick up to two pairs of each of these basics for this stage. As you identify the shoes you will keep, place them back in your closet. You'll want to designate a specific shelf or section of the closet for each shoe category. Doing so will help you find whatever shoe you are looking for faster and help you maintain the organization of your shoes.

Once your basic shoe needs are covered, you can shop the remainder of your shoe collection for your favorites. Look for the shoes you wear often, and avoid keeping near duplicates. Be cautious of picking out shoes that you never wear, no matter how beautiful they are. If these shoes tempt you, ask yourself why you have yet to wear them. Are the shoes uncomfortable? Do you have anything you can wear them with? There is usually a valid reason for not wearing these shoes. If you haven't been wearing those shoes, do you really want them taking up valuable real estate in your closet?

While picking out your favorite shoes, be sure to place them in the homes you designated for each category. The remainders should be your least favorite and least worn pairs when these spaces are full. These should be the ones you can safely discard.

So what do you do if there are still more shoes in your collection that you want to keep?

At this point, you will likely spend money to procure different organizing solutions. Several solutions exist if these shoes are worth investing funds into organizing products.

An over-the-door shoe organizer can be an inexpensive option and will use space behind a bedroom door. These are especially great for flatter shoes, as you can fit a whole pair in one slot. I found this one on Amazon that is especially nice, as the pockets are mesh instead of plastic, which helps the shoes breathe a little better. Also, I am a fan whenever a product uses a more sustainable material instead of plastic.

The space under your bed is another spot to find extra storage space—under-the-bed containers for shoes can easily fit in these hidden nooks. Measure the distance between the floor and bottom rails to ensure the container you pick out will fit perfectly. Also, the organizer you pick out should have handles to allow you to retrieve the container easily. The drawback to this type of organizer is that people who forget what they have when it's not visually present may neglect to look in these containers when searching for a pair of shoes. If this is the case for you, this option may be better for out-of-season shoes that you can rotate into a more viewable place when they are back in season.

An example of shoe slots

Shoe slots can help make the most of your shelf space by stacking shoes on top of one another. One shoe from the pair will slip into the back end, and the other will sit on the simple device. You will double the amount of space for your shoes. They also neatly display the shoes.

You can utilize floor space by using shoe racks. They come in all sizes, so measure the area you want to reserve for the racks. These can be particularly handy in hallway closets and by the entryway, where shoes often accumulate. They also come in various finishes, with some racks looking nice enough to leave in view.

Do you have a whole wall you'd like to dedicate to your shoes? You can also consider shoe storage boxes. They are stackable so that you can customize your configuration. They also are enclosed, protecting your shoes from dust and grime. Shoe storage boxes are a fantastic option if you consider your shoes a collection rather than regularly worn footwear. While this option gives a retail feel to your collection, they are the least efficient use of space.

Decluttering and organizing your shoes can bring a sense of calm and order to your life. While it may be daunting, the benefits are clear: less stress so you can find the perfect pair to complement any outfit! By evaluating your shoe collection and considering the best storage solution, you can achieve an easy-to-maintain shoe collection and a more peaceful home.