It’s the last day of the Get Organized Challenge. The final task is to sort through and organize your shoes.
THE TASK
Many of us love shoes. They are fun to buy and a great way to express our individuality. However, as with all things in life, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
Start by removing all of your shoes from your closet(s). Gather them if they are strewn around the house.
Throw away shoes that are:
- broken,
- torn,
- irreparably damaged
Give away shoes that:
- hurt your feet
- you don’t like wearing
- you are keeping out of guilt (“but I paid so much for them…”)
- are very similar to others you own (how many flip flops do you need?)
Clean/polish/have repaired shoes that are:
- scuffed
- muddy
- dusty
- broken, but fixable (e.g. need to re-soled)
Now that you have sorted through them, think about how you want to store them. Here are a few tips:
- Organize your shoes by type (pumps, flats, sneakers, boots).
- Keep boots & bad weather gear downstairs near the door either in an entry/mudroom closet or on a tray.
- If you have shelves in your closet… put your shoes directly onto the shelf. If you like, put shoes into clear plastic shoe boxes – especially those “special” shoes you seldom wear but want to keep nice.
- If you only have floor space… consider buying a tiered shoe rack to gain more space.
- If you have very limited closet space…. Get creative. You can hang a shoe organizer on the back of a door.
Or you can install molding on the wall from which you can hang shoes with heels.
Another alternative is to put up a pegboard for hanging shoes.
- If you can’t fit all of your shoes in your closet… consider using an under-the-bed box for out of season/seldom worn shoes.
- Flip flops can be stored in a basket or nested and stuck into a file sorter or plate rack on a shelf.
- Put supports into boots to keep them standing up while not in use. You can buy boot trees, or even cut pool noodles to size.
As always, the best tip is to keep only the number of shoes that you can easily accommodate in your space. It may seem tough, but the reward of being able to see and access your shoes easily outweighs the cost of letting go.
Do you have a shoe stash that needs some organization or do you have this one under control?
Yes, I do love shoes more then you know and have my fair share, so I am very much in need of going through and cleaning up my shoes. So, thank you for sharing some surefire tips here and going to have to put them to good use now 🙂
Janine Huldie recently posted…Maybe No More Wonderful Wednesday
Okay, now you have me curious. Maybe a post on your shoe collection someday?? Thanks for being a terrific supporter throughout the month, Janine. I hope you enjoyed it:)
Great ideas! I already organized my shoes before work started last month so I threw everything that’s totally damaged. I left only the ones that I really wear. The ones I don’t wear often are under our bed. I can be pretty harsh with decluttering, haha. But it must be done.
Just also wanna let you know that I cleaned up my email inbox both personal and work, thanks to you!! I did follow the folders and even had fun doing the filters. Yey, so helpful!
Being “harsh with decluttering” is AWESOME! And I’m so glad to hear that you tackled and conquered your email inbox and tried the filters. You are making me smile big time over here:)
I have a lot of shoes, I have to say. And way more flip flops that I need but since I wear them all, I am not getting rid of them. I live in flip flops in the summer and I have a bit of an obsession with them. But fortunately they don’t take up much room. My boot collection on the other hand…
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…Lemony Chicken and Cabbage Soup with Quinoa
Hey, to each her own — some love flip flops, some loves heels, some love boots. If you are going to have an abundance of one type, I have to agree that flip flops at least don’t take up much space. I live in them all summer as well, but usually by the end of the summer I’ve 1 or 2 pair that are pretty beat up and worth a toss.
I tend to keep old shoes for way too long for an interesting (to me) reason–I have small feet, so it’s hard to find shoes that fit! So once I’ve got them, I hate to get rid of them, even though I no longer wear them. But this post has inspired me to send them to shoe heaven! LOL!
Anne recently posted…Model Home Tour, Part 2!
I have very small feet as well (5N)… so I totally understand hanging onto any pair I find that fit! But I do try and let them go when I haven’t worn them for a couple of years. Tough, though… since I can’t easily find replacements:)
I need to work on storage but I am starting at the end of your challenge and working backwards! Heading to my closet now. (Exciting Saturday night, huh??)
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…Postcard from Cedar Gap Wilderness Area
To be honest, there isn’t much I would rather do on a Saturday that start dumping out closets and reorganizing (I know… its a little sick!) But I affirm you – you go, girl! I love the idea of working backwards!!
Someone gave me a shoe rack a few years ago and I love it. It fits on the floor of my closet and keeps my shoes tidy so I don’t have to go hunting for the ones I want. Plus, it only holds a certain number of pairs, so when I buy new ones (which is rare – I’m super fussy about comfort, not so much about style) I have to get rid of an old pair.
Janet Barclay recently posted…5 Steps for Building a Smart Habit That Lasts
A perfect example of letting structure provide a limit. I love it! If you have more than a few pair of shoes, it is almost impossible to keep them organized without some kind of rack or shelving.
My shoe wardrobe is pretty under control. There’s one pair that’s looking a little tired, but I don’t want to get rid of them till I buy a replacement – I’m watching for the ones I want to go on sale!
Janet Barclay recently posted…Work life balance in the new year
I have crazy small feet, so spontaneous shoe purchases are rarely a problem for me. In fact, I have to search high and low for shoes that fit. That makes this a personally difficult challenge, since I know I cannot easily get a replacement for a pair I give away.
Great assortment of ideas, Seana. I’ve never seen shoe pegs before!
Thanks for posting to POBC!
Olive Wagar recently posted…HOW TO CREATE A COMMAND CENTER
I thought they were pretty neat, Olive. Of course, this is sort of like shopping for candy for organizers, right? Great to see new inspiration!
Nice process that you shared. Love that image of the flip flop rack. So clever!
Linda Samuels recently posted…What Can “Blank” Do For You?
As with anything else, finding the right structure can make all the difference. I like to provide a few options so people can find one that “fits!”
Great tips for organizing shoes! I love the ideas to organize the flip flops and boots. Would definitely try out this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
Jamie recently posted…How to Clean Mud Off Uggs