Whether you’re someone who frequently shops or simply don’t have enough closet space, finding the right shoe organizer for footwear can be tricky. Although shoes come in all shapes, colors, and sizes to perfectly accessorize your outfit for any occasion, the variety of styles can make it challenging to keep your collection in order. If you’re constantly running around, it’s crucial to be able to find the shoes you’re looking for when in a hurry.
So, if you—like us—have spent one too many hours digging through a closet to find a shoe’s match, you’re long overdue for finding a shoe organization system that works in harmony with your daily life. We spoke to four organization experts for their professional tips on how to organize (and show off!) all of your favorite shoes. Below, we unpack eight space saving shoe organization solutions that will rid you of the unorganized pile of shoes on your closet floor.
1. Donate or sell shoes you no longer wear
We know it’s hard to part ways with a pair of shoes. But if you haven’t worn them in a while, they’re actually taking up valuable real estate in your closet, Corinne Morahan, CEO of Grid + Glam, notes. Being able to donate or sell your shoes is a way to give them a new life and create more room in your closet. If you’re looking to sell items from your shoe collection, sites such as thredup or TheRealReal are great online consignment stores that easily and sustainably get rid of shoes that are no longer your style. To donate, look for local clothing donations centers, such as Goodwill, to pass lightly worn shoes on to someone who needs them.
2. Double up on space with shelf risers
Shelf risers are an effective way to double up the amount of storage space that you have on your closet shelves to store shoes. “They’re a great way to display shoes and take advantage of that vertical space,” Ashley La Fond, a professional organizer and consultant for Open Spaces, explains. “These work really well for kids’ tiny shoes, doubling how many you can store on a single shelf.”
3. Use stackable shoe bins
If you have an unused corner in your closet, you can fill the floor space with clear stackable shoe bins. “If you don’t have shelves in your closet, shoe bins can create an entire shoe display,” Corinne says. “They fit most sizes of shoes, and can be stacked as high as you have space for.”
4. Add floating shelves to maximize your wall space
Floating shelves are a great way to make more room in your closet and neatly display all of your shoes. The most important thing to consider before purchasing floating shelves is their depth—make sure they are at least 10 inches deep so that your shoes can fit perfectly without hanging off the shelf.
5. Invest in a shoe rack
“When you’re in a small space, you want to make use of vertical space,” Ashley says. If you have room on your closet floor, add a shoe rack underneath all of your hanging clothes. Before purchasing, measure the width of the inside of your closet so you can purchase a shoe rack that fits nicely into the space. If you have vertical space on a wall, a shoe tower can work to maximize storage in a narrow space.
6. Place storage units in high traffic areas
If you live in a multi-person household, it’s likely there is a trail of shoes around the entryway. To mitigate this issue, Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer at Neat Little Nest, recommends adding a two-tier or three-tier shoe storage unit to an entryway hall or mudroom to ensure that guests and household members place their shoes neatly when entering the space. A freestanding cubby will keep shoes organized and provide easy access as you head out the door.
7. Swap out your shoes based on the season
The term winterizing doesn’t apply just to your sweaters. Swapping out your shoes based on the seasons is a strategic way to make more room in your closet. Michaela Katz, cofounder of Twice as Organized, recommends under-the-bed shoe storage boxes to help maximize your closet space and make room for the shoes you are currently wearing. They also keep your out-of-season shoes safe and dust-free when they’re not in use.
8. Try a hanging shoe rack for extra storage
Our last shoe storage solution on the list is an oldie but a goodie in all things home organization. If you don’t have room on your closet shelves or floor, adding an overdoor shoe rack is a simple and affordable way to create storage space that didn’t exist before. Lisa Jacobs, founder of Imagine It Done, further explains the utility of a hanging shoe organizer: “This is a great solution for sneakers, sandals, and other flat shoes.”
