If you have a love for shoes like I do, you probably have a shoe storage problem. AND if you are also like me, you don’t have a closet like the one pictured above, which would allow you to easily see all your shoes at once. My storage problem causes me to forget what shoes I actually have, and that leads to me missing out on the opportunity to complete my look with the perfect pair of kicks! One of my goals for 2020 is to take back control of my closet! I wanted to share with you a few ideas I am putting into practice this year...

1) Use the space under your bed to store away seasonal shoes. This reserves the space in your closet for the shoes that you are most likely to wear in the current season. If space is limited, reserve your closet for shoes that are in season. Taking the time to do a seasonal swap not only helps you free up space but also provides you with the opportunity to make decisions on which shoes need to be thrown away, donated or sold, leaving room for new updates next season!

2) Organize the shoes in your closet not only by season, but also by occasion. Stack, align or organize shoes that are for daily use in a different location than special occasion shoes. If you store your shoes in shoe boxes, invest in a cheap polaroid camera and place a picture of the shoe on the outside of the box so you know what’s hiding inside.

3) Let go of shoes that no longer have a place in your life. Shoe styles come and go, our feet change, shoes wear out. The rule I live by with my entire closet is... If I haven’t worn something in an entire season, then I no longer need it -- it’s time to part ways. Parting ways doesn’t mean you have to throw it out. I highly encourage you to donate or consign shoes because there are a lot of people who are in need and can make great use of gently used shoes. However, at some point in the life of every shoe, it’s just simply time for them to go -- even IF they are your favorite pair.

4) Lastly, make a list. If you love a good spreadsheet, consider creating a shoe spreadsheet that contains a tab by shoe category or by season. This allows you to know in an instant what deficits you might have for the upcoming season. You can quickly pull this up on your phone while you are out shopping, eliminating the need to “go home and see what’s in your closet."

It’s a new year, so take the opportunity early to get “shoe organized” as you head into the Spring season!