A graphic of a wardrobe containing lots of organised pairs of shoes

Episode 266 – How to declutter shoes

This is something that every single one of us has in our homes but often we don’t have the space to store as many as we have. In today's podcast we're talking shoes; why we have so many and how to store them when you’re struggling for space

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Transcript of this podcast episode

00:00
This is something that every single one of us has in our homes. But often we don't have the space to store as many as we have. In today's podcast, we're talking shoes. Why do we have so many? And how to store them when you're struggling for space?

00:26
You're listening to the declutter whole podcast, bringing you tried and tested no nonsense tips and advice from the leading experts in decluttering, and organizing your home. Now, here are your hosts, Ingrid Jansen, and Lesley Spellman.

00:49
Hello, and welcome, listeners. I'm Ingrid. And I'm Lesley. If you're new to the declutter hub podcast, you're so welcome. What you'll find is that we try and find a fun factor in the serious business of decluttering. And if you've been in for a while, you know exactly what we mean. So thank you so much for listening.

01:09
If you'd like to get involved in conversations related to this podcast, it all takes place in our Facebook group. So come and join our lovely, warm, supportive community. To find the Facebook group go to declutter hub.com, forward slash group to find out more, or you can search for the declutter hub community on Facebook. Well, hello,

01:29
Lesley, I am very excited to talk about today's topic. Because as far as I can remember, and we are 266 episodes in so I might be mistaken. We've never talked about this before.

01:43
No, we've never talked about it for us, which is there's a reason for that. I think it's really hard. And it's very hard to get that information out. In 20 or 25 minutes in the podcast. I think that would probably be one of the reasons but we're gonna go for it was like, people want us to talk about shoes. Let's talk about shoes. Right? Yeah. So before we get started, I feel as if I might have more shoes on you.

02:13
I think lately that is without a shadow of a doubt true?

02:19
Well, we put I remember when that because one of the one of the tasks in the reset your home challenge that we do with regularity is to count and confess your shoes. And we did it right one time, didn't we do it? He was and what was your number?

02:32
If I remember correctly, I think somewhere like 30 I said that was a

02:37
lot. I don't think I've got 30 No, I have no because I've got but I do keep it quite, ya know, if we talk about all of the things that we're going to talk about, right? You kind of you've got your shoes in the wardrobe, and then you've got other shoes dotted around the house that's we're going to talk about so. I don't know what my number is. I keep it keen. I make sure I can you know, I've got an allocated a finite amount of space that I allocate them to, I'm gonna say between 30 and 40. I can't believe you've got it. Yeah, we'll take three pairs of shoes.

03:11
I think I surprised myself as well. But I mean, I've got a lot of different flip flops. I like flip flops, and I walk around a lot of them. But I also even include like my hiking boots, you know what I mean? In my snow? I mean, in that I've got some boots and but yeah, I think what I see you when we kind of have something nice to go to like and then of course I can't wear heels anymore. I'm wearing a lot of my flats. So yeah, don't have loads of different ones. So maybe you're like, Oh, she only got three pairs of shoes. Yeah,

03:41
you're only just 50 What do you mean that you can't wear heels? You can wait. There's nothing about you that will stop me from wearing heels.

03:49
I know. I know. But I like the free time. I just I just get blisters and I just don't like it. I like it. I like it. But yeah, no, I actually I am going to that is on my on my list to go through my shoes again. I think I need to go on your list of buy a pair of high heels. I'm gonna go I'm gonna go on a mission. Are you going to? Well, I do like wedges wedges are better wedges. I can do much better than high heels.

04:20
You know, you have to be a dedicated follower of fashion and grid. You've got to go through the pain.

04:26
No, absolutely not. I disagree

04:29
by that. Have you ever worn high heels? When like when it's been a while you were like 17 or

04:39
I don't think I've ever really, really done the really high heels. I don't think I ever ever should come to that. And never really Ward like the massive like nine inch heels never done that anyway.

04:52
Nine inches is a lot. I'm not sure there's that many nine inches out there

04:55
or six, four or whatever. But I've never done that the height of really high Yo, sup never enjoyed it.

05:02
Now I have a whole new now that you in your 50s might have a whole new thing in life. Yeah, who knows? Who knows? When you get to the end of this, you might get a new resurgence of energy for shoes. Well, before we carry on, and I keep berating you about your shoe choices, Ingrid, let's get cracking with what we're going to talk about today. So first things first, I think the problem with shoes in homes is there's not one designated spot. Most people have got shoes scattered around the house for lots of different reasons. Yeah. So why are shoes scattered around?

05:36
I think because everybody's got different house rules. And what do we mean with that? Some people wear shoes indoors. Some people don't. Some people come in via the back door. Others are just coming in through the front door, the back door to side door. It just depends. Sometimes people have a separate kind of utility room in the back where maybe that goes to the garden where the wellies live and maybe the crocs. You know, there's lots of different things. Some people have indoor shoes, so they take your shoes off at the front door when they come in. But then they've got shoes there that they only wear indoors because they don't want to walk around with socks or bare feets. There's a lot of different rules in different houses. And I think when people come to my house, they see some of the shoes at the front door. And they're like, Oh, do we have to take off our shoes? And I'm like, well, not necessarily, but you can if you want to. So I'm not strict with strict but I'm not prescriptive to visitors. But I think me my husband and the kids, we all kind of take our shoes off when we walk around our house.

06:40
Do you say your shoes off kind of family? Yeah, yeah, they we wear shoes on kind of family. I always feel more comfortable when I've got my shoes on. But then I've ridiculously recently bought an almost white carpet for my stairs. And I don't know why, what I was even thinking but now we have had to be calm issues our family upstairs. So all of downstairs is apart from my office, which has got carpet in it. And all of downstairs is hard floors, which is fine. So it's just choose off when you go downstairs. But I'm not bothered about when you go upstairs, sorry. But I'm not bothered about downstairs. And I think that makes a difference. Because what that has meant now is that my resets involve moving shoes much more often than they used to before because those shoes are getting kicked off various places around the house. Yeah,

07:29
yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think as well, you know, I think every person is different, right? Some people just as soon as they sit on the sofa, they kind of float down and then the shoes are taken off. And they've walked around for ages portraying around their house, but other people religious, the first thing they want to do is like, ah, get the shoes off. So I can be comfortable and put my nice comfy slippers on or flip flops on or whatever it is.

07:51
Yeah, there's religious reasons as well, why people take shoes off as well. You know, that's kind of standard kind of cultural thing. And I think it's interesting because when people think about all wear my shoes are bet people think about the shoes that are kind of like upstairs or wherever your clothes are. But you've really got to consider the other shoes in your house how many other Wellington boots the crocs by the back door to go out into the garden, you know, the hiking boots that you've got downstairs, there's still a little bit more day your running shoes, if you go run in your gym shoes that you don't take upstairs, they're scattered around. And so we have a lot more shoes than perhaps we think we do whenever we do that kind of count your shoes. People are a bit shocked, aren't there. And I think it's fair to say there are some people who love shoes that you know who absolutely love what they represent. Often shoes don't let you down in sometimes in the same way that you your shoe size doesn't often change that much. And so wherever you might be changing weight and your clothes, your shoes can remain fairly constant and can stick with you for decades. You don't have to constantly go through them because you're changing size. And so I think a lot of people view shoes as a collection. There are certain things in life are viewed as a collection books is one isn't it in good DVDs is one. And shoes often fall into that category as well.

09:21
Oh, yeah, I have decluttered I've helped clients many is a wardrobe that didn't have any clothes, but only I choose. But they could tell me exactly what kind of pair of shoes which color. I mean, and I helped them then because they were a shoe person. So I would not say right which user we're going to declutter because I would kind of feel that was like a complete No, no apart from the odd couple of pairs, but the rest we would just arrange so it would be then easier to find them and we would you know categorize them and put them in color. I've helped some of my clients put Polaroid photos on the book says because they did lose track of how many they had. And then it would help them remember, so they would wear them. But a shoe person is a bit like a book person, you know, once they're like, No, you can't pry them away.

10:13
Yeah. And there's, there's not a problem with that. And so the thing is about this sort of shoe podcast, there's definitely no right or wrong answer in terms of how many shoes people have got, it can be some people have got five or six pairs of shoes. And some people have got 250 pairs of shoes. It's about how that impacts the rest of your home, whether you're willing to give space to those 250 pairs of shoes, if that's your TOS in, and what you do with them, how you store them, and how you make sure that you've got them kind of categorized in a way that's going to make sense to you to find them when you choose to wear them. I think that's what it's all about. So there's no right or wrong answer to anything. Everyone's got a choice. And you can't even you know, silly things banded around like, Oh, if you've not worn them for a year, then took it out which we hate those kinds of things, right? Those kind of blanket statements about what you should declutter that involved timescales. You've got to look at what the purpose of it and can you see yourself wearing them again, and be realistic, it's about being realistic, you don't have to wear every pair of shoes once a year in order for them to earn their place in your home. But you do have to be realistic about whether that is something that you keep overlooking in favor of another pair of shoes, for example, right?

11:28
Yeah, absolutely. Because that's what we see that with shoes. I mean, you've got indeed the collectors with the really, really large volumes, right? They love their shoes, but people with six pairs, 30 pairs, 40 pairs, or whatever it is, we see the same pattern as with clothing, we wear the same type of shoes over and over again, just like with clothes is the 8020 rule often comes into play, we wear 20% of our shoes 80% of the time. So what you see then, in the 30 pairs, there's like six or eight pairs, absolutely nearly worn down to the bone, that you know the the soul is going to Hills needs replacing that there's some little threads on the leather, because that has been loved and worn. And then there's a whole group of shoes that you like, they really look really quite new, because they just haven't been worn either at all or just only a few times. So we see that 8020 rule in full force, don't we?

12:31
Definitely. And those are the ones that cause the visual clutter, those 20 percents as well. They're the ones that are going to be out in the same way that clothing, you know, the ones that are going through the laundry, the ones that are hung over chairs or on the back of doors. That's the visual clutter and that's created by the things that are in use with regularity. Right?

12:48
Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. And I don't know it's, it's, it's interesting. I actually do like decluttering shoes. I mean, I'm going off on a tangent here, but actually, I really enjoy it. I think it's always very satisfying to declutter shoes.

13:03
Yeah, like decluttering shoes, because I like seeing now shoes. Yeah, I think there's just something about something nice about a nice pair of shoes. It is nice to declutter nice things, isn't it? Yeah.

13:15
Yeah. I think for me, I like to really abide by like the finding them all. I like to categorize them. I like to do the you know, the counting yourself with the client or just in my head and kind of and then going, Oh, why do I just I don't know, I just really enjoy that much. It's

13:33
like super practical. I'm just like, Oh, that's such a gorgeous parachutes. Don't even wear it or they're lovely. Oh, no, don't throw this away. They're so gorgeous, you could wear them with this thing was like I like the categorizing the locking. I don't know I just like the shoe was. were so different. And so let's talk about decluttering a little bit and some of the emotions that are going to stand in your way that are going to stop you from making the right decision about their shoes. So we're coming to this from an angle that you're like, Okay, it's time to tell us about the people that have got collections and you do with your shoes or whatever is your want. But there's gonna come a time when you know in your heart of hearts, you kind of got too many you carried on by and and you've not got rid of any kind of, and they take up a lot of space. And so you have to keep this under control. So what kind of things are difficult when it comes to shoes and why? Why should we start to look at things as an opportunity to let go off?

14:32
I think we hang on to shoes because they're part of our our lives. And sometimes we hang on to shoes in for a life that we no longer leads. So I think it is especially people who have retired and worked in a corporate job their whole lives. And suddenly they're like, oh, you know, It's same as with the clothing that they're just not wearing anymore to suits and the jackets and all of those things, or any other type of clothing you would always wear to work The shoes kind of, it's the same idea, you know, if you always would work and you had to wear very sturdy shoes, and maybe you're like, but I don't want that anymore, or maybe you grow within, in heels or whatever it was, you're like, so bored of it, but they kind of linger in your wardrobe. And then we have to kind of go, wow, that's not my life anymore, I actually really can consider letting those go without wear them in my current life. Yes, I

15:28
think there's definitely a realism about where you are in your current life and letting go something because sometimes it is hard these these emotions are hard, you know, to let go of something that you're perhaps loved is a difficult one, then, you know, the next sort of stage on from that is, is not, you know, ultimately retirement typically is a choice or, you know, or not necessarily just retirement, but a transition, you know, it could be at the early stage of your adulthood where you, you know, start to become a new mom or something like that. And you're going to, you know, you're not going to wear four inch heels and you're tottering around with your new baby. There's different transitions that you go through that involve different kinds of footwear, there's also transitions that are perhaps not quite so welcome, like medical transitions like English, saying she can't wear high heels, I would challenge that I think that's a choice, rather than a medical issue, if I'm being really honest. And so I think it's kind of like when our bodies mean that we are our feet then mean that we can't wear what we used to wear, that's hard if arches have dropped or we've got bunions or whatever that might be that may or something with circulation, all manner of things that affect our feelings pain, or you know what I mean? On top Bashi is that I had for 18 months, all of those things are going to affect your shoe choice. And that's not and some of these things are temporary. So my plantar fasciitis kind of was temporary, even though it still sort of, but anyway, not about me. But those kinds of things, you know, I had to change what I wore for 18 months when I had that, you know, to mean, but some of those things are permanent, and they're never going to be reversed. And so and that's hard, it's hard to go. Do you know what, I've got 30 pairs of beautiful shoes that I love and cover in my wardrobe that I because of a ridiculous medical condition have to say goodbye to and that's not an easy decision to make.

17:19
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So, you know what I think, as well as the what we want to talk about is, I think we just also love the comfortable feeling of shoes, you know, I just did you slip on down day, your comfy shoes, you know, you know, you're going to be fine, you can walk in them for ages, you're going to be happy as Larry. So what typically happens is that we keep buying the same sort of shoe, don't we? Because we know it will be worn in our wardrobes at some point. It's a bit like our go to item, isn't it? It's the same with clothing. We like a certain brand, or we like a certain type of clothing. And we're like when we're shopping, we're like, oh, but we know that one is going to work. And it's the same with shoes. Yeah, whatever color or brand or you know, that's a good fit, I'm gonna get my money's worth out of them.

18:12
Yeah, you need to be very mindful of that you need to be very mindful that you're not overpaying. So if you're really comfortable in trainers, you you need to make sure that if you've got 10 pairs of trainers that you've bought, because you love them, that you're not favoring three or four and never get into the kind of five to 10, if that makes sense. And so if you're like, Oh, well of trainers and trainers never let me down, then be mindful of the ones that are sitting towards the bottom of the pile. If that makes sense. I think you know, we've talked quite a lot about collections and how coveted they can be for a lot of people and how people love them and how it makes them feel, you know, a shoe that doesn't let you down and can really kind of enhance an outfit or how you feel or what you're wearing is going to be something that's very high on that list of retail therapy hits. Right. Yeah. So if you want the dopamine hit for a lot of people, a pair of shoes is going to be on that list.

19:01
Yep. Yeah, absolutely. And the thing is, what then happens if we overbuy on those items, and they sit in our wardrobe, especially if they weren't very expensive, we might end up feeling guilty because we know we kind of maybe went a bit too far the thrill of the shopping kind of got to us. The sales assistant was so nice, and she was so helpful. And then we kind of felt obliged to to buy something for her from her. And then it's a bit like me, yeah, they're still in the box. They're brand new, and I see them but I actually made a mistake. It was a mistake purchase, or I'm saving them for a special occasion. I've had shoes that were like yeah, they're so nice. I haven't worn them yet. I'm like well, I don't know what you're waiting for. But you know the good times are now so please wear this nice stuff. But yeah, yeah, but they're so expensive and I don't want to ruin them and like well, if they're just sitting in your in your in your cupboard, that's a shame as well. So there's a lot of guilt and full to choose

19:59
that wanna lay with the cost of things as well. And equally, if you get a bargain as well, you kind of keep hold of that it was interesting when when we were doing the reset your home challenge and somebody who is a shoe, a shoe lover and shoe collector, we had kind of large volumes of shoes. I posted a picture of all her boxes, you know, so she's kept the original boxes for the shoes and was and it took me back to when I lived in America. So I lived in America when I was kind of early 30s. And those sales in places like Macy's and Bloomingdale's are crazy on shoes. So you might get a pair of shoes that might I don't know, let's say probably less than but probably $100 or something, you might get that for $20, that real bargains on shoes, aren't there as well. So that's an extra hook in for people who have clutter to get a bargain. Like that means why would I leave it behind? So you need to be you know, there's a lot of things that go on with shoes from the acquisition stage. You know, acquisition of shoes is a big problem, I think for a lot of people, because it's something that it's a nice thing to have, right? And then But then we've got to think about the volumes of those shoes. You know, it's easier to keep a jumper than it is to keep a pair of shoes. It's particularly hard to store. And that's what we're going to talk about after the break. Right, Ingrid?

21:09
Yes, indeed. We are going to talk about how do you store all the shoes. So we'll see you after the break. Well, Lesley, we talked about having shoes, but now we're going to talk about how do you store all of these? And this is a big conundrum. Big conundrum. I love this word.

21:28
Nice word. And why is it a conundrum? Because shoes

21:31
are tricky. They're like in all different shapes. I mean, the knobby, the size is the same, although if you live with different people, you've got different kinds of sizes as well. But you know, you need to store flip flops or flats is a completely different ballgame than trying to store boots with that are knee high. You know, it can really be tricky.

21:53
Definitely is really, a boots are an absolute nightmare. Not gonna lie. I think it's one of the things I must admit that there are many things as a professional organizer, that when I go in, I know what I can do with that to make it look better. Yeah, and shoes is something shoes and boots are something that I'm never 100% happy with. Yeah, unless that person has got bespoke storage and beautiful, and loads and loads of a dressing room or whatever. If you're like a normal person, a normal house, and even if you've got a normal amount of shoes, if there is such thing, it's still really hard because you've got to compromise. Honestly, I'm always kind of like, that's the best I can do. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I just look at a wardrobe, you can look at a kitchen and go That's incredible. Shoes. I can't ever say I'm like that is amazing. Unless it is bespoke shoe storage.

22:46
Yeah. And then it almost always has to be the same type of shoe in the same type of container to really make it look nice. You know what I mean? I think we get asked this question a lot. And it remains a tricky thing to answer. Because everybody's homes are different. The place where people keep their shoes, amounts of shoes, the amount of people, indeed front and back doors. But we still wanted to give you some suggestions that you can think about that might work in your home.

23:18
And it's almost like it to me, these are almost like firefighting type suggestions. This is why we've not talked about shoes, because honestly, we haven't got the answers. That's what it is like, everything's different. You think about you know, we were saying 30 to 40 pairs of shoes, you're a family of five family of four, let's go average family size. That's wondering 60 pairs of shoes. Yeah, that a big, right. That's a big amount of volume. That's got to be put somewhere. So how do we deal with that. So we've already talked about at the beginning that within your home, there will be various places that how shoes, it's unlikely that all those shoes are going to be in one spot, unless your choice is to keep all your shoes downstairs by your front door, for example, which some people do. And don't put the shoes upstairs. So for me, I feel like it should potentially be split by shoes that you need to go in and out of the house with regularity. So kids school shoes, the ones that you've got the boots that you're wearing all winter long, they might stay downstairs. But if you're going out on a Saturday evening, and you're putting those, you know, killer heels on for example, they're not going to be left by the front door, they're probably going to be upstairs in a dressing room and your bedroom and a wardrobe, whatever that looks like for you. And then you might have another area if you're looking at where you've got things like Wellington boots, hiking boots, maybe trainers, if you're running that kind of thing, you might have another area that they are or it might be the same area by the front door. So let's say that we've got like outdoor shoes outdoor, well used all the time shoes to deal with. And then we've got types of shoes that we only use infrequently. Yeah, so let's talk about the everyday type shoe. is on what kind of solutions that we put in place for those?

25:03
Yeah, well, that's really a good example. So because I recently have done this in my own house, so I always had shoes in my hallway on the floor. And I knew I was looking for a new system because the shoes were going to annoy me because like Max's feet have like, I don't know, to get Dick feeds. So the tiny little shoes when they were little, both of my kids are now all these of course, size seven and size 11 shoes with four people, I was like, Okay, we need to change this around here. So I have now opted to get a shoe rack at my front door. And that meant actually completely changing around my hooks that I had on my wall. So I had to kind of hire hooks for the adult coats. And I had lower hooks for the children's coats. But then of course, the children are getting bigger, so the coats are getting bigger. So the coats are on the floor. And I was like this is not ideal. So I had to rethink that whole area got a whole new coat rack, put that up higher. And then I realized I could fit a shoe rack on the roads, where each person can have their three most worn shoes. So indeed, the school shoes, the trainers and whatever else pair, and then I can stack them all there and then everything else is upstairs. Because I just don't want to trip over shoes the whole time. And yes, this does mean during the week, I'm not too fussed if a pair of shoes is lying about. But in the weekend, I'm going right I am under putting all the stuff back that I know they're wearing everything overflow back upstairs. And I do have a few kind of garden shoes at the back door to stacked on top of each other. Not nice to look at but I can't put a rack there. It's just like, yeah, it is what it is. And then I've got a cupboard somewhere where my wellies live. Yeah, I'm stairs.

26:50
So playing devil's advocate here, I'm looking at that system. Yeah, I'm going okay, but you're organized. You're an organized person that will maintain a system yet, but you said you're not too fussed in a week. And you'll reset basically, you'll do a reset in the same way. So basically, in my house, it's people come in the front door, and I've got like a coat rack, like a more of an ornamental coat rack with a with a kind of thing at the bottom, like a, I don't know, like a plank of hunting, what's it called, like a ledge at the bottom. And so typically, shoes will get put either underneath that coat rack where they get kicked off or on this, if if I decide that I want to sort of tighten them up a little bit, they'll get put on this rack and then on the weekend, I will then put all the shoes that needs to go back upstairs in my basket, Tim upstairs and reset them. The problem with that is you have to do that kind of regular reset of those. Otherwise, it gets completely out of control. Because what we talked about a lot is barriers, right and grades. So we talk about barriers to getting things done. We're both organized people that have got habits in our weekly reset. If you're not that person very quickly, if you've got a shoe rack, which is quite prescriptive in terms of lining things up and looking quite neat and tidy. It's all going to be completely wayward. And your idea that you wanted a nice little neat shoe is going to go awry straightaway. So this is about realism. And this is all about where you need to understand your own behaviors and whether you're going to be able to maintain a system. So if I go into a home, and I know that that's probably you know, fit. If I go you know, to England, I typically work in more messy homes, right where people are a little bit more chaotic. We're trying to put in systems in place that are going to work. And you know, if you've got little kids as well, that are definitely not going to put their shoe straight and all that kind of stuff. A little sort of trog tub at the front door can be perfect because everyone can just throw their shoes in and then dig through them when they want to find them. So if you're not the kind of person who is going to meticulously straighten those shoes up, perhaps the solution for you is a tub where they can just be contained in a sort of rudimentary fashion. And that's good enough for you and actually the tub, keeps it all contained and doesn't look wayward.

28:59
Yeah, absolutely. I think you could always also think about a storage bench in your hallway if your hallway has a little larger size. Be careful though because the storage bench of course is closed from above. So what happens if people put stuff on top of the storage bench which then means that shoes that sit inside the storage box can't be taken out anymore. So if you are using an ultimate or storage bench you have to make sure that top stays clear so you can open that lid and get the shoes out and that is probably something that every couple of weeks or so it has to be kind of checked through to see you know if everything is still in there because of course shoes Lesley are dirty you know we walk around them outside. You always see you know, insides of tubs and trucks but also storage shelves ultimates it gets really dusty inside. So this is a job he can't leave for I don't know how long because you probably need to just take everything out just to run a quick Hoover through really make some massive difference.

30:01
I know we talk a lot about daily resets, weekly resets, we talk about non negotiables. And maybe straight in those shoes up on these racks in these trucks putting things away because people will just kick their shoes shoes off. Like, you know, we live in houses where we have been trying to install systems for years, but our kids all I do it. I'm not taking my shoes off and putting them neatly on the thing. I'm kicking my shoes off as well. You know, I mean, and then I might be the one but but then I feel like it, that's okay, because I'm the one who's gonna tie them up. Like I'm the same like we have it. You know, the last, we're not thinking about that when we take the shoes off. We're not straightaway thinking, Oh, I now need to go and put them in their designated spot and make sure they tidy for the morning.

30:44
Are we Yeah, yeah, we'll

30:45
take the shoes off. You know, sometimes you taking the shoes off when you sit on the sofa, and and it just underneath the sofa or whatever. It's tricky. It's really tricky. But the most important thing is realism. Yeah, but that's kind of a little bit of a helping hand, in terms of the kinds of things that you can do in a hallway. Don't do anything that's got too many barriers in it. So when we've already talked about the storage bench, there are shoe shoe things from Ikea, which we don't love, which are it's kind of IKEA is sort of narrow draw unit that pulls out. And we find that the shoes just go. It looks amazing in IKEA. But the reality is that shoes just get thrown in writing grid. Yeah, if you like it, it's great. We are a little bit like just doesn't work. I'd rather just have a rack or, or a tub or something like that you

31:33
have personal choice. Definitely. Yeah, definitely,

31:35
let's talk about the shoes that are in your wardrobe. Now most of us to be fair are just going to have to put the shoes on the bottom of the wardrobe. If you can get a pull out rack, you know if you are using, I mean, my favorite wardrobe system is the pack system from Ikea because I just think it's so versatile. They have trays, they have pull out racks which are brilliant just to be able to get that visibility on your shoes. So if that's possible for you to do something that pulls out and go for it not always possible, sometimes you just need to put the shoes on the bottom of your wardrobe floor or something like that. One of the things that's quite useful sometimes that we do with some clients who need visibility on things is we turn the shoes at the front of the shoes are facing towards you and away from you. So the thing that you see is the front of the shoe and not the heel of the shoe. That makes sense. Yeah, think about flipping those around. That's quite useful as well. And then if you're not on the bottom of a wardrobe, then you're going to go to if you've got the benefit of space, the luxury of space, you can use boxes, Ingrid? Yes,

32:37
yeah, we've got you know, you can buy plastic shoe boxes in different sizes, they've got them for heels, they've gotten for boots, they're stackable, because they've got lids, another good system could be the boxes that actually don't have a lid but actually have a drawer in them you can pull out. So that is very helpful if you've got because the problem is if you stack very high, then it gets really tricky to get the shoes that are on the bottom of the pile. But if you've got a nice system with drawers you can pull out that can be really helpful. If you're like, I would love that. But budget wise, I just can't do that yet. Just then we say keep your shoe boxes, your original shoe boxes, and stack them nicely or stack them away, you can easily take them in and out. Or like I said, maybe take a picture of a Polaroid or a photo or you know, take some photos on your phone, print them off and stick them on top see keep visible what you have. Because as soon as the those are in boxes that are not visible, you forget what you have, we see all the things you forgot the shoes, I kind of somewhere in my head knew I had them but because I don't see them, I ended up not wearing them. So there are some other options, too. Other suggestions we wanted to make is under bed storage. So if you're really struggling for space, maybe your only option is to get a larger box for under your bed, maybe on wheels, ideally with a lid because of course mattresses give off a lot of dust. So you probably want to have a lid. But it is less accessible. It is Let it be you have to compromise you have to compromise if you're short on space,

34:19
definitely have to compromise. So I think really Ingrid, honestly, we could go on for hours about possibilities for shoes, but hopefully we've given you a few hints and tips. Just think about our shoe course and the membership is lengthy right? And we go into so much detail about all the different options that you can have the solutions that we have found, but mostly the overarching thing is make sure you've got a reason and are being realistic for keeping these shoes because they they need to justify the space that they're taking up in your home because they're so bulky. And if at all possible. Try to remove the barriers to you putting the shoes away. Yeah, so and in terms of shoes too. over age, you know, he was talking about the there are some shoe stores, you know what, especially the drawers and the ones that front open are fantastic. They can sit outside of a wardrobe as well. And they can look quite nice as standalone, they don't need to be inside your wardrobe, that gives you other options as well. But they're expensive, you know. So to get one now shoe box might cost you 1012 pounds, that's going to take time to build up. So don't be scared to do this gradually, you know, if you're if you've got a goal in mind and go by the end of this year, you know, the end of next year, for example, at the end of this year already, I want to completely do you know, the same way that you'll do hanger swap gradually. Because these things you know, to go for the storage solutions is fantastic. But we've not all got 304 in Japan, so suddenly spend on new hangers or new shoe storage. So these things need to be done gradually about have those goals in mind and make sure that they're all very similar. So yeah, it's my kind of making me nervous, because I still don't feel like there's so much you know, in the same way that there are so many things that we can't achieve. Sometimes with clients, it's the same in this podcast, there's so many ways that you can do things. And it's very much governed by the amount of shoes you've got, what you're doing day to day, what your family dynamics are, and how much storage you've got. And so there's definitely not a one size fits all when it comes to shoes.

36:14
Absolutely. So we would love for you to tell us listeners that this book has been insightful for you. And now you're not thinking, Oh, actually, I've got no idea how many shoes there are in this house, or how many shoes I've got. Maybe I need to have a little look and maybe come the mob. And maybe I need to think about how many I have and then actually count them up and come clean in the comments. Or maybe some of the things we said in the first half of the book, because that really resonated with you and you're like, I had never looked at it this way. I'm going to share this with Ingrid and Lesley, tell us we read all of your comments. So thanks so much for being here. We appreciate you. And we hope that we see you again next week on our next podcast.

37:05
Thanks so much for listening to the declutter hop podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to us in your podcast player so you don't miss an episode. And we'll see you next week.

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Say Goodbye to Shoe Clutter: The Ultimate Guide

Are you looking for an effective way to declutter shoes and organise them in an efficient way? Our top tips are here to help you say goodbye to shoe clutter, so you can get your wardrobe organised and keep it that way. With our helpful tips and tricks, you'll be able to declutter shoes like a pro in no time.

Why Decluttering Your Shoes is Important

Decluttering your shoes may not seem like a top priority when it comes to organising your home, but it can have a huge impact on your overall tidiness and efficiency. When you have too many shoes scattered all over your wardrobe or hallway, it not only creates a cluttered and messy look, but it also makes it difficult to find the shoes you want to wear.

By decluttering your shoes, you can save time and reduce stress. Imagine being able to easily find the perfect pair of shoes for any occasion without having to rummage through piles of mismatched footwear. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about practicality too.

Decluttering your shoe collection also allows you to take stock of what you actually own. It's easy to accumulate a large number of shoes over time, but how many of them do you actually wear regularly? Letting go of shoes that you no longer love or wear can free up valuable space and make room for the shoes that truly bring you joy.

So, if you're tired of dealing with shoe clutter and want to create a more organised and streamlined wardrobe, it's time to start decluttering your shoes like a pro. Keep reading to learn the best tips and tricks for a clutter-free shoe collection.

Assessing Your Shoe Collection

Now that you understand why decluttering your shoes is important, it's time to assess your shoe collection. This step is crucial in determining how to organise your shoes effectively.

Start by taking all your shoes out of your wardrobe, hallway, or wherever you keep them. Lay them out in a well-lit area so you can see them clearly. This will give you a visual representation of just how many pairs you own.
Next, begin sorting your shoes into categories. You can group them by style (e.g., trainers, high heels, flat shoes), occasion (e.g., work, formal, casual), or even by season. Categorising your shoes will make it easier to see which styles you have an excess of and which ones you may need to invest in.

As you go through your collection, ask yourself some important questions. Have you worn these shoes in the past year? Do they still fit properly? Are they in good condition? If the answer is no, it may be time to let go of those shoes. Be honest with yourself and only keep the ones you truly love and wear regularly.

By assessing your shoe collection, you can gain a better understanding of your style preferences and identify any gaps in your footwear choices. It's an essential step towards creating a more organised and clutter-free shoe collection.

Sorting and Categorising Your Shoes

Now that you've assessed your shoe collection, it's time to dive into the sorting and categorising process. This step is essential in creating an organised and clutter-free shoe collection.

Start by gathering all your shoes in one place and begin sorting them into categories. This can be done based on style, occasion, or even season. By grouping your shoes together, you'll have a better understanding of what you own and what you might be missing.

Next, take a look at each category and evaluate if you have an excess of certain styles. Do you have too many pairs of trainers or high heels? Are there any categories that are lacking? This step will help you identify any gaps in your footwear choices and allow you to make more intentional decisions when shopping for shoes in the future.

Once you've sorted and categorised your shoes, consider investing in storage solutions that work best for you. This can be shoe racks, shoe boxes, or even clear plastic bins. The goal is to find a system that allows you to easily access and see your shoes, whilst keeping them organised and protected.

By following these tips, you'll be on your way to creating a clutter-free and well-organised shoe collection that sparks joy every time you open your wardrobe.

Deciding What to Keep and What to Let Go

Now comes the time to make some tough decisions about what shoes to keep and what to let go. It can be challenging to part with shoes, especially if you have sentimental attachments or are tempted to hold onto them "just in case." However, by decluttering your shoe collection, you can create more space and ensure that you're only keeping the shoes that you truly love and wear regularly.

One strategy is to ask yourself a few key questions. First, consider if you have worn the shoes in the past year. If not, it's a good indication that you don't really need them. Next, evaluate if the shoes still fit properly. Feet can change size and shape over time, so if a pair is uncomfortable or no longer fits, it's time to say goodbye. Additionally, examine the condition of the shoes. If they are worn out, damaged beyond repair, or beyond your repair skills, it's time to let them go.

It can also be helpful to consider your lifestyle and the types of shoes you actually wear on a regular basis. If you have multiple pairs of similar styles that you rarely wear, it may be worth letting go of the duplicates. Remember, the goal is to create a more streamlined and organised shoe collection that reflects your style and needs.

Decluttering your shoe collection can be a difficult task, but by being honest with yourself and letting go of shoes you no longer love or wear, you can create a collection that brings you joy and makes getting ready each day easier. So, go ahead and start decluttering your shoe collection with confidence!

Organising and Storing Your Shoes

Now that you've assessed and sorted your shoe collection, it's time to tackle the task of organising and storing your shoes. By implementing some effective storage solutions, you can create a clutter-free and visually appealing shoe collection that is easy to access and maintain.

One of the most popular and efficient ways to organise your shoes is by using shoe racks. These come in various styles and sizes, allowing you to customise them according to your needs. Shoe racks not only keep your shoes neatly displayed but also help maximise storage space.

If you prefer a more concealed storage option, consider using clear shoe boxes. These boxes are great for protecting your shoes from dust and damage while keeping them easily visible. Plus, they stack neatly, making the most of vertical space in your wardrobe or hallway.

Another option is to use hanging shoe organisers. These typically have pockets that can hold multiple pairs of shoes and can be hung on the back of doors or in your wardrobe. This is a great space-saving solution for those with limited storage space.

When storing your shoes, make sure to place them in pairs to prevent them from getting lost or damaged. You can also consider using shoe dividers or inserts to help maintain the shape of your shoes and keep them looking their best.

By following these tips on how to organise and store your shoes, you'll be able to create a clutter-free and visually appealing shoe collection that is easy to maintain. Remember, the key is to find storage solutions that work best for you and your space. So, go ahead and transform your shoe collection into a well-organised and efficient system!

Ongoing Tips for Keeping Your Shoe Collection
Clutter-Free

Now that you've successfully decluttered and organised your shoe collection, it's important to maintain your newly achieved clutter-free status. Here are some maintenance tips to help you keep your shoe collection organised and clutter-free:

1. Regularly assess your shoes: Set aside some time every few months to assess your shoe collection. Check if there are any shoes that you no longer love or wear regularly. Be honest with yourself and let go of any unnecessary pairs that are taking up space.

2. Practise the "one in, one out" rule: For every new pair of shoes you bring into your collection, consider getting rid of an old pair. This rule helps you maintain a manageable number of shoes and prevents them from piling up again.

3. Clean and care for your shoes: Regularly clean and care for your shoes to keep them in good condition. This includes wiping down leather shoes, removing scuffs and stains, and storing them properly. Taking care of your shoes will not only make them last longer but also prevent clutter caused by damaged or dirty footwear.

4. Stay organised with storage solutions: Make use of the storage solutions you've implemented, such as shoe racks or clear shoe boxes. Ensure that your shoes are always returned to their designated spot after each use to avoid any clutter or disarray.

5. Rotate your shoes: To prevent your shoes from sitting unused for long periods, consider rotating them every few months. This way, all your shoes get a chance to be worn, and you'll have a better idea of which ones you truly love and wear regularly.

By following these tips, you'll be able to keep your shoe collection organised and clutter-free for the long haul.

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Bethanie Branton says:

22 November 2023 at 1:09 AM

Hello ladies! Another fantastic podcast. I feel i might be out of place here; i joined the group on Facebook but haven’t posted because i feel like maybe i don’t belong. I have four pairs of shoes-a regular pair of tennis shoes, a work pair of tennis shoes, a pair of leather shoes for church, and a pair of flip flops i wear only in the house (because of fallen arches and plantar fasciitis). After listening to your podcast i went out and replaced my old work shoes. The old regular pair of tennis shoes became outside work shoes and the old pair of work shoes went into the trash. So one in one out for me. As far as organizing…. My tennis shoes stay on a mat by the front door, my flip flops stay in my closet if i am not wearing them, and church shoes are on a shelf in the coat closet. I try to make sure to keep things like shoes, clothes, toiletries in check so it doesn’t become a mess. Have a great week! Bethanie

Reply

Episode 266 – How to declutter shoes

Say Goodbye to Shoe Clutter: The Ultimate Guide

Why Decluttering Your Shoes is Important

Assessing Your Shoe Collection

Sorting and Categorising Your Shoes

Deciding What to Keep and What to Let Go

Organising and Storing Your Shoes

Ongoing Tips for Keeping Your Shoe Collection
Clutter-Free

Episode 329 – 10 ways to avoid overwhelm when decluttering

Episode 328 – How to keep the plates spinning in a busy home with Anna Burns

Episode 327 – New Year new you or New Year same you?

Episode 326 – 10 motivational decluttering quotes to take you into 2025

Leave a Reply

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want to get started right away?

Episode 266 – How to declutter shoes

Say Goodbye to Shoe Clutter: The Ultimate Guide

Why Decluttering Your Shoes is Important

Assessing Your Shoe Collection

Sorting and Categorising Your Shoes

Deciding What to Keep and What to Let Go

Organising and Storing Your Shoes

Ongoing Tips for Keeping Your Shoe Collection Clutter-Free

Episode 329 – 10 ways to avoid overwhelm when decluttering

Episode 328 – How to keep the plates spinning in a busy home with Anna Burns

Episode 327 – New Year new you or New Year same you?

Episode 326 – 10 motivational decluttering quotes to take you into 2025

Leave a Reply

want to get started right away?

Ongoing Tips for Keeping Your Shoe Collection
Clutter-Free