The Most Effective Ways to Store Shoes in a Closet

Many people might not know how to store shoes, and this can create wasted time and energy. Whether you have a large walk-in closet or a tiny reach-in closet, it's important to know how to make the most of that space to accommodate your running shoes, boots, formal shoes, sandals, and even work shoes.

Here are some simple tips to follow:

• Don’t Store Your Shoes on the Floor
• Make Sure Your Shoes Stay Fresh While Being Stored
• Group Different Types of Shoes Together
• Invest in Shoe Bins
• Maintain the Structure of Your Shoes
• Consider Underbed Storage

Continue reading to learn more about the most effective ways to store shoes in a closet.

It's not uncommon to think that the floor space in your closet is a great place to store shoes. In reality, that is not the case. When you opt to store shoes on the floor, the area will most likely become messy and cluttered in a short amount of time.

In addition, shoes that are on the floor are more likely to become mismatched or kicked around when you’re moving about in your closet. Quality shoes are an investment, just like the other valuables in your home. Would you leave them sitting on the floor when they’re not in use? Probably not!

No one wants to walk into a closet that has a foul smell. There are a variety of ways to block nasty smells from entering your closets, and being mindful of your shoes can go a long way toward preventing odors from developing.

Before you place any shoes in your closet, make sure they're ready to be stored. For example, if you wear a pair of shoes for a workout at the gym or a pair of boots for a long hike, don’t put them back as soon as you take them off. Placing sweaty shoes in a closet is a surefire way for unpleasant smells to take over the area.

According to Hunker, one method involves liberally sprinkling baking soda inside your shoes and then placing them outside on a dry, sunny day for a few hours. Then, shake out the baking soda and stuff the shoes with newspaper. 

One of the best ways to effectively organize the shoes in your closet is by grouping different types together. First, analyze your shoes and separate the pairs that you wear on a regular basis from those you only wear occasionally. 

Store the shoes that you wear regularly in an area of the closet that is easy to access. Then, organize them by type. For example, keep your running shoes on one shelf, and then place work shoes, sandals, boots, etc. on separate shelves. Doing this will make it very easy to quickly find the pair you’re looking for at a moment's notice!

Place pairs you don't wear often in an area that will take up little space, such as the top shelf of your closet. This is especially true of expensive high heels you may only wear for special occasions. High heels are more likely to be damaged than other types of shoes so keeping them tucked away will extend their life. 

If your closet does not have a lot of available space for shoe storage, you may want to invest in shoe bins. Look for translucent bins made of acrylic or thick plastic. View your footwear while protecting them at the same time. 

After buying a pair of shoes, keep the box they came in. Shoe boxes can work in a pinch. When using shoe boxes, consider taking a picture of the shoes and placing it on the outside of the box so you can find the shoes you're looking for.

Maintaining the structure of your shoes will make it easier to store and organize them in your closet. Not to mention, your shoes will last much longer and look nice when they are kept in proper shape.

If you own multiple pairs of boots, consider buying boot shapers to place inside each pair. Boot shapers keep the boots upright so the tops don’t flop over when stored.

For other types of shoes, try using shoe trees. You can find shoe trees made out of wood or stiff plastic. Simply slide in the shoe trees and they will maintain the shape of your shoes while they're in your closet. Wood shoe trees are great for leather shoes. 

If you have an especially large shoe collection, you may want to consider alternate storage options. For example, if storing all of your shoes in the closet is making it difficult to find space for jackets, coats, and other garments, alternative storage can help a lot.

Underbed storage is a great option when you have more shoes than your closet can hold. A good rule of thumb is to store seasonal shoes or those you don’t wear often under the bed when there is not sufficient room in your closet. 

Organizing a closet and storing your shoes properly stored doesn’t have to be difficult, even when shoes are involved. With just a little bit of time and effort, your shoes will fit right in and you’ll be able to find the exact pair you’re looking for at any point in time.

• https://www.hunker.com/12135271/how-to-reduce-the-shoe-smell-in-your-closet