Even the most organized people tend to be a bit disorganized when it comes to shoes. Some pairs inevitably wind up in the back of your closet while others languish in the mudroom or in the bottom of a travel bag. Being able to clearly see—and quickly locate—your shoes will save you time and prevent you from buying duplicates of shoes you already own. Proper storage can keep your shoes in good shape so they last longer. We asked professional organizer Bridget Urgo, co-owner of The Settler, a home relocation and organization company, how to neatly and efficiently store your shoes.
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Step 1: Take Stock
At the beginning of each season, examine your shoes for scuffing, wear or damage. If you love a pair of pumps with a banged-up heel and they are expensive to replace, take them to your local shoe repair person to be fixed. Otherwise, throw them out. Running shoes should be replaced every six-to-nine months, depending on how many miles you log per week—and any shoes that smell, despite being cleaned, should be tossed, says Urgo. Keep in mind that shoe sizes can fluctuate over time due to age and hormonal changes like pregnancy and menopause, so also try on shoes once a year to ensure they still fit. If they don’t, donate them.
Step 2: Throw Away Shoe Boxes
“Shoeboxes are like iPhone boxes,” says Urgo. “They seem too nice to throw away, but you will never use them and they take up too much room.” While Urgo is has a strict no-shoebox-policy, if you have a very expensive pair of shoes that you’ve worn once and plan to sell on a consignment site, it may be worth holding onto that particular box.
Step 3: Utilize Shelving
Closets instantly look more organized when the floors are clear. “Place boots on bottom shelves; casual sneakers on the shelves above; then flats and sandals; and finally, place heels and pumps on higher shelves,” says Urgo. To help boots stand up on shelves (and to prevent creases and wrinkles) stuff them with Innies Quilted Boot Shapers. Also important: Make sure you can see your shoes. Keep the pairs you’re currently wearing for that season at eye level in your closet. “If you’re tight on space, store out of season shoes on high shelves, or store them away in another room in clear boxes to prevent them from getting dusty,” says Urgo. Clear shoeboxes allow you to spot stored shoes quickly, which will come in handy when you are frantically searching for sandals to pack for a mid-winter vacation.
Step 4: Group By Color
As noted above, you should organize your shoes by type on your shelves—so if you want to wear a specific kind of shoe, you know exactly where to look. From there, Urgo says she always organizes shoes by color within in each grouping. This strategy not only makes your closet look attractive and orderly, but it also saves you from having to hunt around every time you want to wear your black pumps or brown flats.
Step 5: Pair Shoes In Heel-To-Toe Formation
If you are short on space, Urgo recommends placing each pair of shoes in heel-to-toe order—as opposed to sitting them on a shelf, side by side, with both toes facing out. This allows you to see all of your shoes, but saves you a few inches of space between each pair so you can fit more shoes on your shelves.
Step 6: Keep Workout Shoes In The Mudroom
Shoes you exercise (and sweat) in shouldn’t be placed alongside your finest Italian leather loafers in your closet. “We like to store these types of shoes in the space that you go in and out of frequently—like your mudroom,” says Urgo. If you don’t have a mudroom, you can stash sneakers in an entryway bench that has baskets underneath. “A bench with baskets is a great way to create a drop zone, and it doubles as a place to sit and put your shoes on,” says Urgo. (Try this one from Pottery Barn—note that the baskets are sold separately.) Or Urgo recommends the Open Spaces Entryway Rack or the Elfa Utility Shoe Over The Door Rack Solution. “Trust me, this isn’t your grandmother’s door rack!” she says of these sleek, modern-looking systems.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
This story was written by Forbes Vetted contributing writer Lesley Rotchford has been writing about women’s and men’s fashion for 25 years, and the publication of this article was overseen by deputy editor Kari Molvar, who has written and edited lifestyle content, including fashion and design articles, for more than 20 years. We always tap internal and external experts for all of our stories, and for this article, we spoke to professional organizer Bridget Urgo, co-owner of The Settler, a home relocation and organization company in Darien, Connecticut.
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