Comments on: Organizing shoes….more reader mailbag

By: Billie

Billie — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:26:08 +0000

I have a question….is there a reason why everyone keeps there shoes by the door in an organizational sense? I grew up keeping my shoes in my bedroom closet and I just put my kids shoes in their bedroom closet too.

I am starting to feel silly because I’m thinking that maybe I’m missing out on a huge benefit of having the shoes in the garage or by the door…is it for dirt? Please share!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:32:53 +0000

We have a four shelve shoe rack in the coat closet right infront of the door where the shoes set on it. Then the kids each have a hoook on the back of the door to hang there coats and backpacks it has taken up a lot of reminding but they are starting to automatically put there coats, backpacks on the hoooks and shoes on there shelve. There is a shelve for everyone but my daughter uses hers and half of my husbands. Dad doesn’t need as much room right.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:05:00 +0000

Has anybody found a shoe cabinet that accomodates size 14 mens shoes? Most only go up to size 13.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:51:00 +0000

We have #2 by our garage entry. The kids are usually pretty good about depositing their shoes in there, and when things get out of hand I can assign it as a chore.

Also, we play a shoe game at our house. If anyone finds someone else’s shoes on the floor, stairs, or anyplace other than the shoe shelf or a closet, then we steal their shoes. You can get your shoes back by either paying for them or trading for them if you already have a pair of the thief’s shoes. It’s lighthearted but a great training exercise. We’ve only had one meltdown when eldest daughter didn’t have “the right” shoes on a Sunday morning.

By: Steff

Steff — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:05:00 +0000

i have some of those plain wire shelving units and have 2 sitting side by side next to our sliding door. boys 3 and 4 are able to put their shoes on their shelf and happy to know where they are regularly. this will also definitely work for boots.
for the gloves etc i got an over the door shoe bag thingy and hung it on the laundry room door…
my hubby gets two rows and each kid gets one and that keeps hats, gloves, and one pocket each for misc junk. this is also where the stuff they leave in pockets prior to laundry gets dumped…
and in the off season i just moved it to a closet door in the storage room

By: Cathy from Australia

Cathy from Australia — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:11:00 +0000

Laura I really appreciate the effort you have put into my dilemma! Will let you know what I end up doing. Thanks to all your commentors too - what fabulous ideas. Thanks so much again - I am overwhelmed by your kindness in helping me out.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:51:00 +0000

What great answers to the question! You’re awesome!

By: Twisted Cinderella

Twisted Cinderella — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Oh I love your solution. It is one that I could actually use. I am going to put one like that on my list of purchases!

By: Qtpies7

Qtpies7 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:58:00 +0000

I love the 25 pair cubicles! We have no storage areas at either door to our home, and with 9 of us, the shoes just multiply like you wouldn’t believe! I think 25 pairs at each door would do the trick, but it would be kind of ugly, either at the front door, or blocking a window in my kitchen.
And do you know how BIG teen boys’ shoes are??? I don’t remember my brothers’ shoes being so big.

By: Kili @ Live Each Moment

Kili @ Live Each Moment — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:01:00 +0000

Another option is to just have something big enough to hold a few pairs of shoes and every couple of days have everyone put their shoes back in their closet. That’s waht we do. Well ours is still on a pile on the floor like your readers, but after a day or so I put them all where they go and we start over. Then we do not get an overabundance.

So storage for just minimal (like your first one) would be great for me because I’d be willing to move them every so often.