It can be hard to manage your clutter when you live in a small space – and it can be tiring to hear that the only solution is to declutter, declutter, and then declutter some more. This is especially true when it comes to our closets and shoes.
Just because you live in a small space (be it a compact apartment, shared home or dorm room) doesn’t mean you have to cut back on everything you own. With some smart home organizing tricks you can hide and organize shoes in small spaces and have the best of both worlds.
Here, professional organizers have shared their six best tricks to hide shoe clutter in small spaces that don’t mean you have to pare back your pairs.
6 ways to hide shoe clutter in small spaces
1. Over-the-door shoe organizers
Storing shoes on the backs of doors is one of the best ways to use vertical storage to save space while keeping it hidden the majority of the time.
Jackie Pittman, professional home organizer and founder of Chez Nous Organizing says, ‘This is a great option for dorm rooms or small bedrooms where floor space is at a premium. You can go with an over-the-door shoe rack, from The Container Store with slots for each shoe (this helps keep the shape of the shoe better), or a 24-pocket door organizer, also at The Container Store to store pairs of shoes together.
‘An over-the-door shoe organizer allows you to easily see and access your shoes while keeping them off the floor and out of sight.'
2. Under-bed storage bins
‘In small bedrooms, utilizing under-bed storage is a smart way to conceal shoe clutter,’ continues Jackie Pittman, professional home organizer. ‘Look for slim, slide-out bins with lids to protect your shoes from dust. I recommend a divided under-bed shoe bag, such as the stackable ShoeWorks one from Amazon, that has helpful dividers to keep shoes neat.'
3. Swap shoes seasonally
A great way to get around the limits of small space storage is to swap out your shoes seasonally, suggests Jamie Hord, expert home organizer and founder of Horderly Professional Organizing. This allows you to keep the shoes you currently need tucked away neatly in a closet for easy daily access, with the rest hidden in under-bed storage, for instance.
4. Use a skinny shoe cabinet
Jackie Pittman, professional home organizer says, ‘For tiny entryways, a narrow pull-out shoe holder can be a stylish and functional solution. It provides a place to store high-priority shoes and these days, there are so many stylish options and different sizes to match your decor. It can also double as a helpful drop zone.’
These handy cabinets don’t have to be limited to organizing an entryway, either. Smaller units can be a great way to mount some concealed wall storage while offering a shelf or sideboard that you can decorate, especially in a dorm room.
I love my flip shoe cabinet for organizing my countless pairs of shoes and boots in my small entryway. This option from Wayfair is nice and thin, offering you plenty of vertical storage without taking up much floor space.
5. Sort them into your closet
One of the best ways to hide shoe clutter in a small space is to organize shoes in a small closet, making the most of the dead space.
Laura Price, professional organizer, founder, and creative director at The Home Organisation suggests, ‘If you have dead space between closet shelves or at the bottom of your wardrobe, consider adding shelf inserts or shoe racks to maximize your storage. Freestanding shelf inserts and racks are easy to install, while extendable or adjustable options let you make the most of every inch.
Using extendable shoe racks, such as this highly rated one from Amazon can work well in using up as much dead space as possible at the bottom of your closet.
6. Use multipurpose furniture
Finally, one of the simplest ways to hide shoe clutter in a small space without sacrificing style and practicality is to invest in multi-functional furniture, adds Laura Price, professional organizer.
‘Adding or swapping out furniture that doubles as shoe storage ideas, such as an ottoman or shoe bench, is an excellent way to create extra storage while keeping it discreet and practical. Use these pieces close to the entry so that the first thing you see when you come through the door is a beautiful piece of furniture, not shoes.’
We recommend the Trejan shoe storage bench from Wayfair. It comes in four colors but the dark matte blue is stunning, and would complement a coastal or beachy themed interior beautifully. It will hold around 10 pairs of shoes and has cushioned seating for comfort.
Of course, there will always come a point where you might need some decluttering tips to help cut back some of your shoes to fit it all into hidden storage. If you do need to declutter shoes, start by picking out pairs that you do not wear (be it because they are too worn in, they don’t fit properly, or they are uncomfortable).
More often than not, this will free up enough space for you to store the rest of the shoes you love without overflow piles. If you hate decluttering, give the 10-10-10 decluttering method a go.
