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You just moved into a new apartment and are determined to set things up in the most tidy way possible. Or! You’re doing an overhaul of your closet and want to make sure every article of clothing has a proper home so you can stay tidy forever. You need to address your shoes since they never quite had resting places and therefore ended up all over the house or in a pile by your front door.

Now what?

So here’s how shoe storage works: there are lots of different options and combinations and can you make yourself cry from all of the confusion. But at the end of day, it’s all about setting your own goals, measuring your space, and finding the right combination of racks and/or boxes. That’s where I come in. I’m going to help you narrow all of the options down (NEVER OPT FOR THE SLANTED SHOE RACKS) and set up the ideal combo so your shoes and self can live a happy and tidy life.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get there:

1) Decide what your goals are. For example: do you want to keep all of your shoes in closed boxes? Do you prefer your shoes out in the open so you can easily grab them? Personally, I suggest using closed boxes for heels and out-of-season shoes, only. But if you love them, use them. Trust your gut.

2) Think about accessibility and frequency of use. If you wear sneakers always, put them front and center. If you’ve got lots of shoes, think about swapping them out seasonally so you’re only staring at the ones that you’re currently wearing. You always want to be able to access the items that you use the most. Always.

3) Measure. Get out that measuring tape and jot down the results. Don’t forget to measure the width, depth AND height. You’ll need all three of these measurements to get the perfect combo. Sometimes things get tricky and you have to measure a few different walls or nooks - stay calm, you got this.

4) Find the right storage solution. This comes down to 3 options and here’s how to differentiate what you want. Keep in mind that you can combine any and all of the above!

1. Closed storage (shoe boxes or drop-front shoe boxes if you’re feeling fancy)

   • Good for shoes that you don’t want to get dusty - like fancier shoes or ones that you use less often

   • Good for stacking and placing multiples on a shelf where a shoe rack won’t fit

2. Shoe racks (mesh or solid wood)

   • Great for placing on the floor

   • Can stack multiples one on top of the other if you have the height

   • Makes shoes very accessible

3. Shoe cubbies

   • Wonderful for flats or smaller shoes that can fit in a cubby

   • Works well for kids so they can easily put things away and retrieve them

   • Can be placed vertically or horizontally

Here are some pics so you can feel inspired.

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