Organized Shoe Storage Made Easy

Organized shoe storage became a hot topic of conversation at dinner the other night.  It all started when my husband’s colleague told me that he heard I had a great system for organizing my shoes.  He said that his wife stores all of her shoes in their original boxes.  When he asked her how she knew which shoes were in each box, she said, “I just know.”

As a self-professed designer shoe disciple, I view my shoes as an investment.  Because I take stock of these “investments” on a continual basis, I created an instant visual inventory of my shoes.  By protecting my shoes in stackable, organized boxes, I can extend the life of my favorite shoes.  My system isn’t perfect by any means, but it works for me and stands the test of time.  If your shoe storage system needs help, you can re-create my shoe storage system for yourself.

Here are the items you’ll need to get started:

• Camera or cell phone
• Clear, stackable acid-free polypropylene boxes, sized to fit shoes and boots
• Label maker
• Drawstring cotton or satin shoe storage bags
• Photo printer
• Transparent Tape
• White Foam Board (optional)

Take a color photo of one shoe, placed on a white surface.  Print the photo and tape it on the inside of the clear box.  (Include the original sales receipt for the shoe, if you have it.)  Label the box with the shoe’s brand name, color and type.  For example, “Jimmy Choo Black ‘Abel’ Leather Pump.”  Place both shoes inside a drawstring shoe storage bag, and place inside the box.

As style guru and author Lloyd Boston states, “The right shoes can not only complete your look, they can increase your confidence and add polish to your posture.”

How do you store your shoes?  Let me hear about your system in the comments section below.