How To Reuse A Crate For Better Shoe Organization In Your Closet

Can you imagine having as many shoes as Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines, who had 3,000 pairs of shoes? Whether you have thousands, hundreds, or even tens of shoes, you may need some tips for organizing your shoes in your closet, which @KeepItSimpleSparkles shows us her secret: crates.​​ She illustrates the power of storing sandals and other flats upright in a crate instead of flat. Why? Storing them flat wastes lots of space. Plus, if you stack them on top of each other, many sets of shoes will get buried. Stacking them upright allows you to quickly see and grab each pair instead of diving for shoes to find your favorite ones.  

A few comments also added some good insight into enhancing this method. One commenter mentioned not storing the sandals nested inside one another but storing them sole to sole instead. Since the dirt from the bottom of one shoe will get inside the one it's nested in, using the sole-to-sole placement method is more sanitary. According to a study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile were among the pathogens found on the bottom of shoes. So unless you plan to clean the bottom of each shoe before storing them, reduce contact with germs by storing them with soles against each other — you can also keep them held together with a rubber band.

Luckily, a crate isn't an expensive item and you may find some for free. That's why you can include this option with the plethora of Dollar Tree DIYs for optimal shoe storage — including the Crafter's Square Rectangular Wooden Crate and the Sterlite White Storage Mini Crate only cost $1.25 at the store. You can even get a 24-count of them for $30 to build out your closet or other storage areas. 

In addition to storing flats upright, turn the crate on its side and use dowels to stack larger footwear. If you have heels, sneakers, and boots, you'll need more vertical space and can create shelves by stacking two or more wooden crates. By installing three wooden dowels into each crate, you can quickly create interior shelves for these shoes. In the video, @KeepItSimpleSparkles also mentions using a stackable shoe organizer on the shelves — doing so can save about 50% of your storage space. you can get started with the NVGSN Shoe Slots Organizer 20 Pack for $25.49. An easy shoe storage solution for the entryway involves using wicker baskets, but you could switch those out for crates to keep the space clean and still create rustic charm.

Whether you lay the crate flat to stack flat shoes or create a DIY shelf, taking time to organize a shoe closet can save you time and mental stress when getting ready. Plus, shoes can become damaged over time without proper protection, especially if they're being thrown around in your closet.