We Asked Two Home Organizers for Their Best Shoe Storage Solutions and Were Not Disappointed

If you know the struggle of having a massive pile of mismatched shoes at the bottom of your closet, beside your front door, or anywhere else in your home, then it's probably time to invest in a shoe storage system. Especially if you're working with a small space and/or trying to wrangle the shoes of multiple family members, proper organization has never been more important! To get the top tips on the best solutions for any and every closet out there, we talked to Kenzie Harkey of Simply Dare home organization and Ashley Byrom, a realtor and professional organizer.

First things first when it comes to shoe storage solutions, you need to evaluate what you're working with and what your needs are. "You want to really understand your inventory so you are customizing the solution to fit your needs," Kenzie says. "It's so easy to overlook this and it's really important to know shoe count before sourcing a storage solution." This means taking inventory of all your shoes and dividing them into categories, like heels, flats, boots, etc. Ashley also recommends taking this time to edit down your shoe collection. "We completely empty the closet—clean, dust, and wipe the walls down—and then I have client touch and look at every piece of clothing and shoes and decide what to donate/edit." After taking inventory, you'll want to measure your closet space so you know exactly how much room you're working with. From there, you should be ready to go.

But we all know that half the battle is continuing to keep your closet clean after organizing. Part of this comes down to what storage solution you choose, which is why it's important to take the process one step at a time and invest in a high-quality system if need be. "I love closets because keeping them organized is so easy once you have a system," Ashley says. The other part, according to both Kenzie and Ashley, is a donation bin. "Keep a donation bin or bag in your closet so you can immediately toss clothes you don't prefer to wear anymore in there," Kenzie says. Ashley also recommends a once-a-year clean out when you can re-evaluate all your clothing and shoes and decide which ones you want to keep or donate.