When you go to your closet to find a particular pair of shoes, what do you see?Do you see shoes that have been carefully sorted by style, color or function – allowing you to quickly grab those you want? Or is it one big jumbled pile of footwear, forcing you to dig through boots, boat shoes and flip flops until you find what you were looking for?

You do not have to go to great lengths to bring some organization to your shoes. It’s nice to have built-in shelves with room for your shoes in their shoeboxes, but few people have the closet space to allow for that level of organization.A better answer are shoe organizers that work in your closet, over the door, under the bed – and in almost any other unused space.

Cubbies and Cubes

Just like your school days when you were assigned a “cubby” to store your coat and lunchbox, today’s shoe cubbies can store your footwear. You can add as many cubbies as you need to ensure every pair has a home in the cubby.
Or start getting organized with a set of 12 stacking, clear plastic shoe boxes. Because they are clear, you can find the pair of shoes you want at a glance. No more flipping box tops to find the right pair. And because they are stored in a box, the shoes stay dust free. If 12 isn’t enough for you, then buy a second or third set.

Want something larger? Try a set of white cubes to store your shoes. These 18-inch PVC plastic cubes have a hinged door, keeping the room looking neat. They come three to a set, so you can order enough to meet your needs. Because each cube is 18 inches deep by 18 inches wide and 18 inches tall, it will hold far more than one pair of shoes. You might want to dedicate one to your athletic shoes, one to dress shoes and one to shoes you wear every day.

The classic shoe organizer is a Melamine shoe cube that holds either 25 pairs of shoes or 15 pairs of shoes. Made of laminated particle board, the cube is just 12 inches deep, so it can comfortably fit in the back of your closet. Each cubby is large enough to hold men’s or women’s shoes.

Shoe Racks

Stand-alone shoe racks are an equally helpful solution.

The stacking chrome shoe rack expands from 24 inches wide to a generous 46 inches wide, giving you a close-to-custom fit. If it is not big enough to hold all your shoes, stack another chrome rack on top of the first one and you’ve doubled your capacity. If that is too high for the space, just place it alongside the first one.If you know how many shoes you need to store, choose between the 20-, 30- and 50-pair shoe rack. This steel and polymer rack is easily assembled and has legs designed to stand firm on the carpet. At just 10 inches deep, it will fit nicely in the back of your closet.

If you need to transport shoes from room to room, consider the rolling shoe rack. This heavy-duty, chrome-plated steel rack rests on four casters and holds up to 50 pairs of shoes.

If your shoe collection is far smaller than 50, there are still racks to help you stay organized. The Concord nine-pair shoe rack has natural wood legs and wire frames that let you hang up to nine pairs of shoes. It’s perfect for a small shoe wardrobe, and may also be placed in the garage to store cleats or golf shoes.

Shoe Cabinets

If you prefer to keep your shoes completely out of sight, a shoe cabinet might be the answer. The one-tier shoe cabinet in black looks like a small dresser or end table, measuring about 10 inches tall by 25 inches wide by 18 inches deep. Swing down the door and you find space to store at least six pairs of shoes.A similar style cabinet comes in white. Swing down the door and you’ll find this one can store up to 12 pairs of shoes. Get a double cabinet and store 24 pairs of shoes, or a triple that stores 36 pairs of shoes. Made of Melamine laminated particle board, the cabinets are sturdy and attractive enough to leave out in the room. No one would ever guess it’s your shoes behind those doors.

Shoe Trees

If you have the vertical space to store your shoes, consider a shoe tree. They come in various metal finishes, including chrome and antique bronze. Three round tiers have wire frames that you hook your shoes onto. One revolving chrome shoe tree holds up to 18 pairs and spins 360 degrees so you can easily find the pair you want.

So the next time you look for a pair of shoes and all you find is a big pile of unsorted footwear, commit to trying a shoe organizer. It’s a little work for a long-term benefit.

Author's Bio: 

Get Organized provides you with tips and tools to help you organize your home, office, and any other area that needs organization. ShopGetOrganized.com