Mum Stuff

Shoes Everywhere! The Trick to Keeping Footwear Organised

Picture the scene.

Shoes scattered haphazardly creating an obstacle course in the hallway, dry mud on the floor, one pair that always seem to be in different parts of the house – a familiar sight for many mums juggling the demands of family life.

But don’t give in! With a few ingenious storage solutions and some savvy organisational tactics, you can bid farewell to this chaotic footwear frenzy and enjoy a clutter-free haven of a hallway.

Grab a coffee, dear mums, as I am about to uncover the secrets of keeping your family’s shoes neatly tucked away out of sight, creating a tidy abode and a stress-free existence.

Assess and Declutter

Before diving into shoe storage solutions, take stock of your family’s footwear needs.

Evaluate the number of shoes each member owns, considering their ages, activities, and personal preferences. Does your fella really need those no-longer-white pumps he’s had since 2019?

This assessment will help you determine the appropriate storage solutions and the amount of space required to accommodate everyone’s footwear.

Next, begin your decluttering mission by involving the entire family.

Sort through each pair, discarding those that are worn beyond repair or no longer fit. If anyone puts up a fight, ask them to make a case for the survival of their barely worn footwear. But remember, you are judge and jury.

Once each pair’s fate has been agreed, donate gently used shoes to charitable organisations or consider giving them to a shoe donation drive at your children’s school. Anything no one else would go near with a bargepole, bin it.

This initial purge will not only create space but might also instil a sense of mindfulness about shoe accumulation within your household.

Maybe.

Shoe Storage Solutions for Every Space

With a streamlined shoe collection in hand, it’s time to explore the myriad of storage options and decide which will suit your living space and family dynamics.

From compact solutions for small spaces to expansive systems for shoe enthusiasts, there’s a perfect fit for every household.

Shoe Racks

Shoe racks, available in various sizes and styles, are the quintessential solution for frequently worn shoes. Position them in a convenient location, such as the hallway or porch, ensuring they’re not exposed to direct sunlight, which can cause discolouration and damage. Opt for racks with multiple shelves to accommodate the footwear needs of your entire brood.

Shoe Boxes

Don’t discard those original shoe boxes just yet. They offer a fantastic way to store shoes, shielding them from dust and sunlight while maintaining their shape. Clearly label each box to effortlessly identify its contents, and stack them neatly in a designated area, such as a closet or under the bed.

Plastic Containers

Transparent plastic containers are a versatile and visually appealing option for shoe storage. Ideally you would assign one container per pair of shoes, allowing you to easily locate the desired footwear. However, if you doubt your family’s ability to change their messy ways, one big clear container to dump them in will at least keep them all in the same place and off the floor.

Shoe Cupboards

Essentially a shoe rack inside a cupboard, but the benefit is that they are all neatly out of sight. This would be my choice. You can buy slimline units that butt up against the wall, and fit into even the tightest of hallways. The doors open out and down so shoes can slide in and out. You can even put pictures or smelly candles on top of the unit to make it look nice. Brilliant.

Seated Storage

If you have space, there are many styles of hallways seating which include integrated shoe storage. A monk’s bench or something similar has a seat that lifts up revealing the family’s shoe collection. It’s also a place to sit down to put your shoes on, and some come with coat racks built onto the back of them too, so it’s an all in one station for leaving the house.

Tips and Tricks to Stay on Track

Implementing an effective shoe storage system is just the beginning. Oh yes, you will be pleased to know there is more to this shoe storage debacle.

To ensure long-lasting organisation and prevent clutter from creeping back in, adopt these helpful tips and tricks:

• Seasonal Rotation: Tackle the changing seasons by rotating your family’s shoe collection. Store away sandals and open-toed shoes during the colder months, and pack away boots and heavy footwear when summer arrives, freeing up valuable space. You can get shallow shoe containers that roll under the bed. These work well for off-season storage.

• Regular Purges: Keep an eye on what is being used and which shoes sink to the bottom of the box and stay there. Get rid of anything that goes unused for more than 3 months.

• One in One Out: If you really want to be ruthless, have a one-in-one-out policy. So if your teenage daughter buys new shoes, she has to get rid of an old pair (or at least store them in her own room) before the new pair can be added to the storage container.

• Fines: Time to get nasty. If someone leaves their shoes in the wrong place, dock their pocket money. Or their beer money. Depends who the culprit is. Basically, have some sort of deterrent for lazy shoe disposal. Alternatively, you could flip this and give rewards for proper use of the system you have put in place.

On a serious note, maintaining an organised shoe storage system requires the cooperation of every family member. It shouldn’t be left down to you.

Try to create a sense of responsibility and ownership by involving your children in the process from the outset. You could even assign designated areas or containers for each person’s shoes.

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