How to Organize Shoes in a Closet

Shoes are fun and of course practical, but they tend to take up a lot of closet space. It does not take long before even a few pairs can begin to clutter up your closet or home. With the right shoe organization system, it can be much easier to find the perfect pair for work, sports, or a night on the town.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Shelves to Organize Shoes

1
Avoid throwing your shoes on the floor. Lining shoes up on shelves makes them easier to find and reduces scuffs.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Take a good look at your shoe collection and current closet space to see if you need to create some extra shelving.
2
Use a bookshelf as a shoe organizer for a flexible solution. If your closet is big enough, putting a thin or low bookshelf in your closet can create a lot of space for shoes.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Simply line shoes up neatly along the shelves by type or color.
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3
Install extra shelving in your closet for permanent shoe storage. You can easily install shelves to create more options for shoe organization.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Shelves can go on a closet wall or door, or the space behind your bedroom door.
- You can purchase simple shelves made up of planks and hardware at home repair and home goods stores.
4
Use shelf dividers for extra organization. Casual shoes like flip flops, ballet flats and other soft tennis shoes can be stacked in neat rows to save space.
- To keep the shelf looking even tidier you can create small cubbies for flip-flops and athletic shoes using shelf dividers.
5
Create custom shelving for storing heels. Heels are more delicate and could get nicked or damaged more easily than other shoes. Storing them on shelves helps to prevent damage.
- A towel rack, tension rod or metal grid in your closet can serve as a shelf.
- Tensions rods or racks can go inside a closet door or on a wall.
- Hang the heels off of the rack or grid for organized and stylish shelving.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Accessories to Organize Shoes

1
Organize shoes with an over-the-door pocket hanger. Flats, flip-flops and other lightweight, thinner shoes fit well into these hangers.
- Depending on the shoe you may be able to fit multiple pairs into one pocket.
2
Store shoes in a basket or box with dividers. Athletic shoes and other casual shoe are made to handle a bit more wear and tear, so they don’t need to be lined up on a shelf.
- Wine boxes with dividers make a great homemade shoe caddy for athletic shoes.^{[4]XResearch source}
- A basket in the entryway can hold house shoes or athletic shoes and looks much better than a pile of shoes on the floor.^{[5]XResearch source}
3
Place shoes in clear plastic boxes with lids. A transparent box protects your shoes and makes it easier to see them without having to move the boxes.^{[6]XResearch source}
- While these boxes are great for storing any type of shoes, you might have to limit what you store in them due to space or monetary concerns.
- Shoes not worn often or nicer shoes are a good candidate for these boxes.
- You can stack the boxes on top of one another on shelves in your closet, on a bookshelf, or under your bed.
4
Make your own wire shoe hangers. As an alternative to shelves or an over-the-door hanger, you can make your custom hangers.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Make DIY hangers for flip-flops and sandals by cutting and molding a normal wire hanger.
- Use pliers to cut the bottom section from a simple metal hanger (the kind you get from the dry cleaner’s)
- Next, use pliers to curl the ends up and out into two hook shapes. Curl the rough ends into a smaller loop at the end of the hook to avoid getting poked by this end.
- Each hanger hook will hold one pair of sandals. Hang from an existing clothing rod in your closet or install one below your normal hanging rod.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maximizing Your Shoe Storage Space

1
Clean your closet. With a clean closet, you can truly dedicate all of your space to keeping all your shoes together where you need them most.
- Aim for seasonal cleaning in summer and winter to keep the amount of clutter under control.
- Donate or throw out shoes that are worn out or that you don’t wear.
- Remove non-clothing items from your closet and store them elsewhere so you can dedicate more of your closet to shoe storage
2
Hang accessories, scarves and handbags. With a little reorganizing, you may find that you have more room for shoes than you thought.
- Use hooks or hangers to efficiently store scarves and other items that may be cluttering up your closet.
3
Move off-season coats or shoes to another location. With more free space in your closet, you’ll have more space for organizing your shoes.
- Keep your everyday items up close and at eye-level to make them easier to find.
- Storing seasonal wardrobe like coats and snow boots in the garage creates more space and makes it easier to find the shoes you need.
- Switch out boxes of winter clothes for tank tops and sandals in summer so that you always have the most useful items nearby.
4
Utilize floor and door space. Using all the available space in your closet can free up extra shelving for your shoes.
- Install hooks on the door to hang accessories, belts or jewelry to make room for more shoes.
5
Hang boots from hooks or store upright. Tall boots will take up less space in your closet when they are not flopping over.
- When using a shelf to store your tall boots, an empty plastic water bottle or cut pool noodle in the leg will help keep boots upright.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Either store them on a shelf sitting upright, or use boot hangers with clips to save space when organizing your boots.^{[9]XResearch source}
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Expert Q&A

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Question
How do you display shoes?
Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Joanne Gruber is a Professional Stylist based in Los Angeles, California. She has worked in the fashion and style industries for over 10 years, specializing in educating people on the art of re-purposing existing clothing to freshen up a wardrobe. Joanne opened The Closet Stylist in 2007, a personal style service combining wardrobe editing with organization.
Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Expert Answer
Try organizing your shoes by style first, then color! If you have enough closet space, organize your shoes by color and style. For instance, you might sort your heels starting from pumps and going to strappy styles, and ordered from dark to light. After you've sorted the heels, organize your flats from dark to light in the same way.
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Question
How do you fit the most shoes on a shelf?
Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Joanne Gruber is a Professional Stylist based in Los Angeles, California. She has worked in the fashion and style industries for over 10 years, specializing in educating people on the art of re-purposing existing clothing to freshen up a wardrobe. Joanne opened The Closet Stylist in 2007, a personal style service combining wardrobe editing with organization.
Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Expert Answer
Try arranging your shoes so one faces forward and one faces back. That way, you save space, and you can easily see the heel of the shoe.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
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