How to Store Shoes

The importance of properly storing shoes is often overlooked, but it is one of the most important things you can do for your wardrobe. Storing shoes correctly can help extend their life and keep them looking neat and polished.

EditSteps

Don’t throw away your shoe boxes. Shoe boxes are an easy, accessible way to store your shoes. You can either keep the shoes in their original boxes, or buy clear plastic shoe boxes in which to store them.
- These boxes stack nicely, can be placed almost anywhere you have space, allow you to see what shoes you have, and are also great for nicer shoes, such as heels or dress shoes, as they protect the shoe from dust and dirt.

Get a shoe cubby. A shoe cubby is designed to hold individual pairs of shoes in their own little pockets.
- The upside of these is that your shoes are easily accessible.
- The downside is that your shoes are not as protected from dust, and since the shoe cubby is one unit, they take up a lot of space.

Use a shoe rack. If you have the space and budget, a built-in shoe rack is a fantastic option, but stand-alone shoe racks are also great.
- Shoe racks come in all shapes and sizes, so finding one for your spatial needs should be fairly easy.
- A disadvantage of shoe racks is that, just like shoe cubbies, they leave the shoes unprotected, and tend to take up a lot of space.

Try an over-the-door rack.
- These shoe racks are great if you have an extra door to hang them on. They hold many pairs of shoes and make the shoes very accessible.
- The downside is that shoes can get banged up if the door is swung often. As such, this type of shoe rack is often better for shoes such as flip-flops or athletic shoes.

Get a closet shoe hanger. Closet shoe hangers are often made of a canvas material and are designed to be hung inside a closet. They allow for easy access to shoes, but do take up hanging space.

Make use of baskets. Storing shoes in baskets is a great way to maximize minimal space.
- With baskets, you can often just throw many pairs of shoes into each one.
- Baskets are better for soft shoes like flip-flops and athletic shoes, as well as other shoes that you don’t mind get scuffed.
- One downside to using baskets is that you may have a hard time finding a complete pair of shoes since they can get mixed up together rather easily.

Store your shoes on shelves. Shelving for you shoes can either be put into or located outside of a closet, and can be a stand-alone rack or wall shelving.
- An important factor to consider before deciding if you want to use this option is whether you want to see your shoes at all times, since they are prominently on display in this arrangement.
- Unless your shelves are installed with doors, dust accumulation can quickly become an issue with this option.

Store nicer shoes in boxes or dust bags. This will protect them from dust and dirt, and keep them looking fresh.
- If you are not using boxes, put your nicer shoes in dust bags to protect them.

Decide what shoes can be stored in bulk. Softer shoes, such as flip-flops or athletic shoes, can often be lumped together in a bin or box, and don’t need to be individually placed in a cubby or box.

Separate by season. If you live in a climate with distinct seasons, separating shoes by season can be helpful.
- Store the out-of-season shoes in the back of the closet, or in a bin or box under the bed. This way, you have more room to see what shoes you can currently wear.
- When the seasons turn, simply switch out the shoes.

EditTips

When storing out-of-season shoes, make sure they are clean and dry before putting them away.

Get into the habit of reviewing all your shoes once a year to check for any that require repair or that you’d like to donate to a local charity or vintage clothing shop.

Label shoe boxes with a brief description of the shoe. It will help you find what you are looking for easier.

Boots can be cumbersome to store because they generally come in boxes that are much larger than regular shoe boxes. Keep this in mind when you’re thinking about how to organize your space.

If you’re using original shoe boxes, take a picture of the shoes inside and tape it to the outside of the box, so you know what shoes are where without having to go through every box. Where you tape the picture onto each box is up to you, but make sure that you’re consistent with each shoebox and place the pictures in a place you can easily see when all your boxes are stacked together.