27 Unexpected Storage Uses for Over-the-Door Shoe Holders

These inexpensive organizers can keep your entire home tidy.

Sure, you can store your shoes in them, since that is their intended purpose—but over-the-door shoe holders also come in handy for dozens of other items around the house. Similar to lazy susans and tension rods, they’re impressively versatile. And, they're much more affordable than expensive organizing systems.

Use them to store spices and seasoning packets in the pantry, to organize hair tools and products in the bathroom, or for winter accessories and pet supplies in a coat closet. There truly is no limit to what you can store in these inexpensive organizers, but we're sharing a few of our favorite ideas to help you get organized.

While they come in a variety of styles, consider opting for clear, plastic versions to store your stuff. This allows you to see exactly what’s inside, and these are significantly easier to clean than fabric or canvas if anything spills inside the pockets. Ultimately, the storage capacity is the same regardless of the material so use whatever you prefer. Here are our favorite organizing ideas that use over-the-door shoe holders.

Related: Store More with These Door Storage Ideas

Organize the Kitchen and Pantry

Organize pantry snacks: Hang a holder over the inside of the pantry door and stuff individually wrapped items like granola bars or small bags of chips into the pockets. Keep the kid's snacks closer to the bottom so that they can reach for them on their own. You can even make this a lunch packing station so that mornings are a little less hectic.

Store spices and seasoning packets: No room in the kitchen cabinets or drawers for your spice collection? Drop jars into the pockets and organize them alphabetically so they’re easy to spot. Feel free to also use this for small things that tend to get lost in the pantry such as seasoning packets and bouillon cubes.

Related: How to Store Spices, According to a Professional Organizer

Streamline Bathroom Storage

Store extra toiletries: Bathrooms are not necessarily designed with ample storage in mind. Many times, it’s a challenge to fit what you need in it, let alone backstock supplies such as bars of soap or replacement razors. Hang a shoe organizer on the inside of the bathroom or linen closet door and tuck them in so they’re waiting for you when it’s time to restock.

Keep makeup products organized: If you love to experiment with makeup but lack vanity space to store it all, an over-the-door shoe holder is an easy solution to makeup storage. Use the individual pockets to sort your mascaras from eyeliners and arrange lipsticks by color so you can find what you need and get out the door faster.

Create a hair-styling station: Set up an organized hair station even in a small bathroom by using a shoe organizer to hold brushes, scrunchies, curling irons, smoothing serums, and more. Be careful not to store any hair tools when they’re still warm, especially if you’re using a plastic organizer as it can melt it. Make sure they’re fully cool before placing them into the pockets.

Store nail products: At home mani-pedis have become a popular self-care routine and if you’ve jumped on the bandwagon, you probably own more nail care than ever before. Pop anything from polish bottles to pumice stones and nail clippers to cuticle trimmers into the pockets and simply grab what you need on your next spa night.

Keep first-aid supplies handy: Hang a shoe holder on the inside of the linen closet or bathroom door and use it to organize boxes and bottles of medicine, Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze rolls, and anything else in your first aid kit.

Related: 14 Creative Small-Bathroom Storage Ideas to Maximize Space

Bedroom and Closet Storage Solutions

Organize accessories: Keep scarves, belts, and clutches from getting lost in a small closet by storing them in an over-the-door shoe organizer placed on the inside of the closet. Does it have bifold or sliding doors? Just use the back of your bedroom door instead.

Store cold-weather gear: While scarves used to accessorize, such as those made of silk, should stay in your bedroom closet, the ones that are meant to keep you warm can be kept in the coat closet. An over-the-door hanger is an easy way to keep your winter gear organized. Separate out wool scarves from hats, gloves, and ear warmers in the pockets of a shoe holder placed on the inside of the coat closet door. Kids can store theirs towards the bottom so they can easily grab their mittens and beanies.

Related: This Hanging Shoe Organizer Is My Best Space-Saving Solution—and It’s on Sale for $15

Organize a Mudroom or Utility Closet

Corral pet supplies: Our furry friends come with their fair share of stuff, so it’s important to keep your pet supplies organized—ideally all in one place. Use a shoe holder to store grooming tools, travel items like water bottles, extra toys or treats, leashes, and even their little sweaters for chilly walks.

Keep school supplies handy: Back-to-school usually means gathering a slew of supplies at the start of the year. Avoid having to buy more throughout the year or even the following year by keeping things in one spot so you always know what you have on hand. Pencils, index cards, markers, and more can fit into shoe pockets and kids can simply replenish what they need on the way out the door.

Keep cleaning products on hand: Most standard-sized bottles of cleaning products will fit inside the pockets of a shoe organizer so go ahead and make one your cleaning central. You can also tuck in folded microfiber cloths, melamine sponges, scrub brushes, and anything else you use to get your home sparkling. Be sure to safely store cleaning products by placing them in the higher pockets so little ones can’t reach them.

Replace your junk drawer: Furniture markers and pads, flashlights and lightbulbs, and Command hooks and childproof locks all need a place to live. They’re also all on the small side and can get lost in the shuffle of a junk drawer or in the back of a cabinet. Use a shoe holder to keep them accessible at all times. You can also use it for batteries, but ensure that they’re stored safely.

Related: 7 Mudroom Organization Ideas to Start the School Year Smoothly

Storage Ideas for Kids’ Bedrooms and Playrooms

Store dolls and action figures: Help your kids lean into the Barbiecore trend by displaying their favorites in an over-the-door shoe organizer. Dolls can stand up inside some pockets while others can be used for accessories such as their clothes and shoes. Action figures can join in on the fun so long as they’re small enough to fit into the compartments.

Keep craft supplies tidy: Keep things like paint palettes, scissors, and bottles of glitter tidy and safe from accidental spills by storing them in the pockets of a shoe holder. A plastic organizer is ideal for craft storage because it's easy to see what's in each pocket, and they're easy to clean if needed. Hang it on the back of the playroom door so they stay upright and ready to be used when it’s time to craft.

Keep cards and games together: If your kiddos are always misplacing small games or decks of cards, make an over-the-door shoe organizer the spot they’re stored until it’s time to play. This is also a good place to stash travel games and learning flashcards.

Corral gaming gear and cords: If your kids are more interested in video games, sort their controllers, headsets, and other accessories into a shoe organizer’s pockets so they can always find what they need when they’re ready to play.

Never lose a LEGO again: Organizing LEGO bricks is no easy task but you can come up with a simple system by utilizing an over-the-door shoe holder to store the small pieces. Sort them by color, set, or type inside each of the individual compartments.

Related: 25 Toy Storage Ideas to Help You Tidy Up

Keep Your Home Office Tidy

Keep cords and chargers off the floor: Have a slew of power cords for your various devices and electronics that you can’t seem to part with? Keep them from cluttering up desk drawers or office cabinets by placing them into a shoe organizer that hangs on the back of a nearby door. Use the pockets to separate out chargers from USB cords and so on.

Sort extra office supplies: Even the most organized desk can quickly become cluttered if you tend to hold onto extra office supplies. Instead, place boxes of staples, highlighters, and rubber band balls in an over-the-door shoe holder so they’re readily accessible when it’s time to restock.

Create a gift-wrapping station: Last-minute runs to the store for more bows can be a thing of the past if you set yourself up for success with a proper gift wrapping storage station. Stuff a shoe organizer with ribbon, tissue paper, tags, scissors, tape, and whatever else you need for the perfectly wrapped present. You can even cut some lower pocket bottoms and slide in rolls of wrapping paper.

Keep sewing supplies together: Whether sewing is simply a hobby or a source of income, the things that come along with it add up. An over-the-door shoe organizer can be used to at least corral spools of thread, leftover fabric, buttons, and small tools such as seam rippers and fabric shears.

Related: 21 Home Office Storage Ideas for a More Productive Work Space

Garage and Outdoor Storage Solutions

Keep track of gardening tools: Safeguard gardening gloves, packets of seeds, and hand tools like trowels and pruners that can otherwise get easily lost in the shed by sticking them into the compartments of a shoe holder.

Store summer essentials in the off season: Hang a shoe organizer near the backdoor or in the garage and use it to store things such as bottles of sunscreen, sunglasses, and rolled-up towels. Grab what you need on your way out to the backyard or pack your beach bag in a matter of seconds.

Creative Travel Hacks

Transport camping gear: While you may not have a door in the great outdoors, per se, you can get creative and hang a shoe holder over some fishing line attached to a couple of trees. Then, fill the pockets with kitchen utensils, bottles of bug spray, hand sanitizer, and more so the whole family can retrieve what they need. It can also come in handy if you’re short on pantry storage space inside your RV or camper.

Streamline fall tailgating: Similarly, feel free to attach a shoe organizer to your tailgating tent and stock it with cutlery, antibacterial wipes, and even snacks to fend off hunger while the main course is cooking on the grill.

Kid's travel storage: Road trips make good family memories so long as the kids are kept entertained until you arrive at your destination. Use a short shoe holder and hang it over the back of both front seats. Tuck toys, activity books, and snacks inside the compartments so that they can reach for what they need without asking. Additionally, you can roll their little outfits and slip them into the pockets before rolling the whole organizer into a suitcase for easy packing.

Related: Organize Your Car with These Helpful Tips from The Home Edit

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