I Asked an Expert to Help Me Organize My Almost 100 Pairs of Shoes
Over the years, I’ve adopted more of a Carrie Bradshaw than Marie Kondo attitude towards shoes. I’ve amassed stilettos, boots, and tennis shoes into a hefty collection that I realized now boasts nearly 100 pairs. Hear me out: I tend to lean toward “team anti-declutter” with shoes and clothes because I think the purging of stuff, while satisfying, can also be a gateway to overconsumption and inadvertently have you spending more money in the long term.
That being said, finding a way to organize and store my shoes in a one-bedroom city apartment hasn’t been easy. At my last apartment, I bought a 55-pair shoe tower from Amazon that I jokingly refer to as my “wall of shoes” to my friends. I was able to stuff and stack all my shoes onto the organizer on the far side of my bedroom, and the chaotic display worked for me — even if it wasn’t the most aesthetic option.
However, ahead of moving in with my boyfriend in a few months and an increasingly haphazard display due to some additional shoe purchases, I decided it was time to upgrade my shoe organization and find a more aesthetic way to display my collection. I reached out to Courtney Cummings, the owner of The Stylish Organizer, to help me find the right solution for my space that’d work for my budget of $75 and was rental-friendly. Here’s what she suggested.
Declutter my shoe collection.
First, Cummings suggested taking an inventory of each pair of shoes and asking myself which ones I truly use, need, and love. Despite my hesitation about decluttering my shoes, she convinced me that this first editing step can be really helpful when organizing in a smaller space with limited storage. Plus, you can donate or sell any unwanted shoes that are still in good condition.
After a half-hour of deliberation, I decided to get rid of four pairs of shoes: strappy sandals that are starting to crack and peel, a pair of black boots that are slightly too tight, and two pairs of white sneakers that are starting to fall apart.
Sort shoes into categories.
Once I completed my shoe audit, I sorted my remaining 87-pair collection into seven categories that make sense for my life. I had 16 heels for fancy occasions, three for going out to bars, 21 flats/sandals/summer espadrilles, nine professional work/event shoes, nine tennis shoes, two pairs of hiking boots, and 27 boots.
Add extra storage solutions.
After chatting through my budget, current storage space, and restrictions as a renter, Cummings decided that my existing shoe rack was a good option for how many pairs of shoes I have. However, she suggested “minimizing visual clutter” and the chaotic appearance of the organizer by maximizing hidden storage for off-season and lesser-worn shoes.
She directed me to get a set of flat rectangular under-bed containers, which hold up to 24 pairs apiece and cost under $50 for two. I was surprised by how nice they looked for their price and I liked that the adjustable dividers made it so easy to fit differently sized pairs of shoes, while the clear zip top showed me exactly what was inside at a glance. I put all my warm-weather shoes as well as some tennis shoes that I don’t wear in the two containers (about 30 in total), which I slid under my bed for storage.
Level up the existing storage solution.
With so many shoes now stored under my bed, I was excited to see how much better the remaining pairs would look on my old organizer. To prevent heels and sandals from falling between the metal grates, Cummings recommended that I get these plastic shelf liners with a textured top and a grip bottom. In addition to providing a more stable surface for my heels and other shoes, she said the waterproof design “will prevent any dirt and debris from falling through the openings between shelves” — a win-win for someone who wants to minimize extra cleaning as much as possible.
Arrange my shoes to “magically” create extra space.
I cut out 12-inch-by-16-inch liners to cover the rods of the shoe rack, then started filling in the organizer. I organized my shoes by grouping similar styles together. Cummings gave me the game-changing tip of maximizing my horizontal shelf space by placing one side facing the wall and the other facing out into the room. I was able to add an extra pair or two to each shelf by using this method, and I was still easily able to see which pairs I had on each shelf.
Store tall boots in a better way.
Another challenge I tasked Cummings with solving was finding a way to store my tall boots without them falling over and losing their shape. I love boots, especially the over-the-knee styles, but in the past I’ve just stacked them on the top of the shoe organizer. I noticed that some of them were starting to get misshapen and the leather was starting to crack.
Cummings suggested using the taller spaces and top shelves for boots and booties, then stuffing tall boots with leftover dry cleaner plastic, extra shopping bags, or bubble wrap or brown paper from packages to keep them upright. Other than a few pairs with a less structured material and fit, I was surprised by how well this boot tip worked.
Celebrate the results.
Even though I only ended up getting rid of a few pairs of shoes, it looked like there were a lot less than before due to how many I was able to store under my bed in the new containers. So far, I’m really enjoying how easy it is to find different pairs of winter shoes without sorting through all the summer and spring styles. As a bonus, I’ve also rediscovered some forgotten old favorites that were previously buried under other shoes. Only time will tell whether this less chaotic setup will make me feel more calm (and if I’m able to keep it up), but Cummings suggested following a “one in, one out” rule moving forward to keep my collection under control. “When you purchase a new pair of shoes, examine your current collection and find one pair that can be donated or sold,” she says. “By maintaining this approach, you can continue to control the chaos.”
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
