While a shoe closet may seem like an unneccessary item to some, for many people who simply have too many shoes or perhaps live in a household full of people with a lot of footwear, having a shoe closet makes perfectly good sense. Not only does designating one closet strictly to the things you wear on your feet help you find and easily locate your shoes, but it also will free up valuable closet space in other areas of your home as well.
Below are our tips for organizing or designing a shoe closet.
1. Assess the Situation: The first thing to do is to carefully assess the situation. Ask yourself a few basic questions to get started. How many pairs of shoes do you own that need storage space? What shoes are worn the most often? Are there any sizes that do not fit or are no longer in style? What different types of footwear do you have? Are some of them seasonal, for example multiple pairs of winter boots?
2. Discard Worn/Torn/Mismatched Pairs: Do you have shoes that are worn past the point of use? Are there ones that are terribly uncomfortable? Do you have different things that are missing their other half of the pair? While it may be heartbreaking to do so, you may want to get rid of anything that is not in good condition or you can’t find the match for. You can’t wear just one single shoe, so if you’ve lost one, there’s not a whole lot you can do.
3. Organize By Type: Since you’ll likely choose which pair to wear based on your activities planned or what kind of place you are going to, it makes the most sense to organize by type and how you plan on using each pair. For example, you’ll want to separate sandals, high heels, tennis shoes, boots, and others to help make it easy to find them as needed. If you’ll be organizing a closet that holds the items of more than one person, you’ll also want to make sure you designate a space for each individual who will be using the space,
4. Choose Your Storage Method: There are multiple storage options available. From stacking them in neat containers to hanging them on racks or lining them neatly along shelves, it’s best to choose something you are comfortable with using. It won’t do you any good if you can’t stand the system you designed for storing all of the items. You may also want to consider sliding drawers, as this can help make it easier to find things hiding in the back of the shelves in older homes. Some people have found that slanted shelves make it easy to find exactly what you are looking for.
5. Keep Items Visible: If you place shoes in closed boxes, it is likely you will forget what they are or that you even have them. If you stack items behind other items it will also be more difficult in staying organized and clutter free. If you want to keep items in boxes, choose clear containers or make sure they are well labeled, even possibly with a picture.
6. Consider Convenience: It is likely you have pairs that you wear on a regular basis. These should be stored in an easy to reach spot so it is convenient to find them. You may want to use organizers that go on the floor for these items. Be sure you limit your convenience shoes to only a few pairs per person, otherwise you may find yourself constantly tripping over a jumbled mess.
7. Don’t Forget the Lighting: Good closet lighting will make it much easier for you to be able to find exactly what you want, when you want it. You’ll be able to tell the difference between a black and dark navy blue pair as well with proper lighting. You can have lighting installed by a qualified electrictan, or take advantage of the many battery operated lights that are easy to install anywhere without worry about wires.
A shoe closet can be a great way to keep track of your collection, as well as free up other closets for your different items such as your clothing and more. Following these tips will help you make sure that the design you pick and the method for organizing all of your favorite pairs of shoes will work the best for you.