Organizing (storing) Your Shoes...

[Serenity*Now]

How do YOU do it?
Conversely, what hasn't worked for you?
Tips? Ideas?

Have a walk in closet with shoe shelves but there's a lot of wasted space above/below and no room for boots or anything with a significant heel. Not very practical.
Would like to do shoe boxes (or in the least, bags) to keep everything dust-free but not sure how practical that is either b/c boxes take up a lot of space (I have a lot of shoes )
Having some "name brand" closet companies come over this week but figure they're just going to push whatever they make/sell. Has anyone done this?
Should I just pair down and move stuff out of season into an empty corner of a spare room?
Does anybody really have a great "method"? I'm at a total loss. If everyone says boxes are the best way to go, then I can just plan for that.
In looking at celeb closets or dream closets, their shoes are always out & visible. But they probably have handmaids that dust & take care of things. Not me; it's a wonder I dress myself most a.m.'s

 

[Deborah]

Ha mine are on a shoe rack that collapses constantly because I bought it from poundstretcher.

 

[Serenity*Now]

Bummer! ^ no worries in that dept b/c we don't have one around here

 

[kAYAPO]

I keep most of my shoes and boots in original boxes as that keeps them tidy and clean (and ensures I don't loose spare heel tips etc).I have shelving in my wardrobe where they are stacked, with the details of the shoes on the end of the box so it is easy to find the ones I want. A friend of mine uses clear plastic boxes they got from IKEA so can see the shoes easily.

I only keep shoes and boots out that I wear regularly, but have given up on shoe racks as had similar problems with them failing apart. Most are made very cheaply and just don't last.

 

[softgrey]

boxes on shelves are the best way to go...
except for boots which i keep lined up on a bottom shelf below my clothes...

i keep the shoes i wear most often at eye level for easy viewing and access and special ocassion and seasonal stuff on higher or lower shelves...

 

[ChiStreetStyle]

I have a tiny little closet in my apartment. I was thinking about buying an IKEA wardrobe because my closet is filled to the brim. The only problem is that my IKEA furniture (malm dresser) hasn't held up that well so I'm reluctant to shell out a couple hundred dollars for something that is going to break.

I'd love to hear from some Europeans who've used wardrobes to organize their shoes and clothing. Most American women (my mother included) seem to prefer walk in closets to large pieces of furniture to hold their clothes.

 

[therawpower]

i love this topic, my shoes are everywhere, i wish someone can post how they organize their shoes

 

[Serenity*Now]

I interviewed 3 closet professionals to get their design ideas & experience.
Since our closets fell down anyway shortly after we moved in (wish I could blame it on the amount of clothes-nope, shoddy construction), we ripped out the wood and hardware and are starting over.

For shoes: I settled on 2 floor units that will be 8ft tall.
The bottom of 1 of them will have 3 lucite drawers (32" x 28" I think...) and hold 4 rows of 4 pair (16 pair per drawer). Then there will be shelving on top of the drawers that are higher in height for boots.
The other shelving unit will be flat shelves so I can use boxes or bags (vs. having slanted shelves).

I'll post when it's done and organized. Bflower:

 

[piggy]

piggy's shoes have taken up an undercover position as a console table! The boxes are from the Container Store - they open from the front, thus vastly reducing the risk of footwear avalanches at the pigpen - no more shoebox Jenga! (^(oo)^)v

all images by piggy - that's me! (^(oo)^)

 

[piggy]

How do YOU do it?
Conversely, what hasn't worked for you?
Tips? Ideas?

Have a walk in closet with shoe shelves but there's a lot of wasted space above/below and no room for boots or anything with a significant heel. Not very practical.
Would like to do shoe boxes (or in the least, bags) to keep everything dust-free but not sure how practical that is either b/c boxes take up a lot of space (I have a lot of shoes )
Having some "name brand" closet companies come over this week but figure they're just going to push whatever they make/sell. Has anyone done this?
Should I just pair down and move stuff out of season into an empty corner of a spare room?
Does anybody really have a great "method"? I'm at a total loss. If everyone says boxes are the best way to go, then I can just plan for that.
In looking at celeb closets or dream closets, their shoes are always out & visible. But they probably have handmaids that dust & take care of things. Not me; it's a wonder I dress myself most a.m.'s

stacks of original shoe boxes never worked for me - inevitably the pair I wanted to wear would be at the very bottom . . .

I do keep my boots in boxes on shelves, as I have far fewer pairs of those.

 

[luisa]

boxes on shelves are the best way to go...
except for boots which i keep lined up on a bottom shelf below my clothes...

i keep the shoes i wear most often at eye level for easy viewing and access and special ocassion and seasonal stuff on higher or lower shelves...

this is how I do it too

but piggy, your method looks so cool! all those louboutins...

 

[Serenity*Now]

*~* Thank you everyone for the insight *~*
Piggy - I didn't know they'd hold a pair of Loub's (heels in all). Good to know. I wonder if the similar ones at Wal-Mart would do the same...

Luisa and softgrey - I think you ladies are right too. I *was* going to do boots under my jeans that are in the "long hang" section of the closet.

Then I designed for high enough shelves above the 4 shoe drawers (see below) to accomodate boots...Didn't happen- I needed 3 boot shelves & the height wasn't enough. The boot shelves are deep/long (because the depth of the drawers below are 28inches), so I'm *trying* to fold those that can, and stack/line 2 rows of boots per shelf. Taller boots have to go in their box above.

There are 4 shoe drawers with acrylic fronts, 28" x 32". Each drawer has 4 rows and holds 16prs-so 64 pairs of heels will go in the drawers.

The shoe wall to the left is for flats is more standard depth and height so it sits in a bit. I can still do shoe boxes though The bottom row is higher to accomodate a bin with flipflops & yoga shoes.
Phew! B) JUST got done and still a work in progress.