20 Easy and Unexpected Ways To Use A Hanging Shoe Organizer

ByChas

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Looking for fresh ideas for that trusty (and crazy cheap!) hanging shoe organizer? I was dared to come up with 6 clever storage hacks using this clear plastic wonder. And guess what? It only took me less than 10 minutes to whip up not six, but 20 ways to use a hanging shoe organizer.

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It may not be the prettiest, but you’ll be surprised at all the myriad things you can stuff in these snug little pockets. Who needs those fancy baskets and containers when you have a small space, anyway?

Here is the basic shoe organizer, they run about $10. You can click here if you are interested in purchasing one.

So, here’s the star of the show—the humble shoe organizer. You hang this on the back of a door, but it can fit just right on other spaces like a wall or closet door.

Want one? Feel free to check out this link!

Organizing Ebook

Shoe Organizer Ideas Video

Hanging Shoe Organizer Ideas in the Kitchen

Let’s start organizing right at the heart of your home: the kitchen!

1. Snack Central

Got little ones with bottomless appetites? This shoe organizer is perfect for munchables that vanish too quickly. Load up the pouches with quick-grab treats: drink mixes, protein bars, crackers, lunch snacks, and more. 

You can fill it with quick grab snacks for busy kids. I filled mine drink mixes, granola & protein bars, crackers, lunch snacks, etc.

2. Spice Rack

Organize your go-to seasonings and cooking spices to make meal prep a breeze. And with 24 pockets for all your favorite flavors? Count me in!

Another option would be to fill it with your seasonings for cooking.

3. Kitchen Supplies Keeper

Never lose a whisk or spatula again. Fill these transparent bags with utensils, baking essentials, and all those odds and ends. Hook the holder up at the back of your pantry door, and just grab everything you need when preparing for your next recipe!

Fill it with your utensils and baking supplies.

Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer Ideas in Other Home Areas

Next, let’s tackle the madness (read: clutter) everywhere else:

4. Winter Corner

Say goodbye to winter gear jumble! Stick your cold-weather accessories like hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, and waterproof bags in one convenient spot—where else but at the back of the door, so you can get toasty before heading out?

Use it for your cold winter gear - hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, hand warmers, waterproof bags...

5. Cleaning Supplies Receptacle

Drowning in cleaning supplies with all those oddly shaped bottles, sponges, and wipes? Tackle the mess with a shoe organizer. Hang it by the laundry, and presto, your cleaning arsenal is tidy and ready for duty!

Use it to store your cleaning supplies in.

6. Toy Tidy-Up

Turn your shoe holder into an organization superhero. Keep your children’s plushies, Legos, action figures, dolls, and matchbox cars off the floor and into these deep pouches.

Store your children's toys, stuffed animals, legos, superheroes, etc in one.

7. Cord Control

Cord clutter catastrophe, be gone! Corral your power cords, extension cords, charging cables, timers, and all sorts of wiry mess.

Bonus Tip: Label each slot so you know whom they belong to.

It can organize your extension cords, power cords, charging cords, timers, and more in.

8. School Supplies Section

Rulers, tapes, scissors, staplers, crayons—imagine everything in its place for your next art project. Or repurpose it as an office organizer to keep your stapler, paper clips, rubber bands, markers, post-its, and calculator in perfect order.

It is great for making a school supply, crafting station, or office organizer to hold your rulers, scissors, stapler, crayons, markers, post it notes, tape, calculators, markers, crayons, colored pencils, paper clips, rubber bands, and more.

9. Calendar Counter

Spread cheer and countdown to special days with an advent or birthday calendar. Is graduation on the horizon? Fill it with snacks, dorm needs, and school supplies for your college-bound adventurer. 

Make an advent or birthday countdown calendar, fill it with gifts to count down the big day. It's also great for a graduation gift! Fill it with supplies needed for college - snacks, school supplies, dorm room needs, etc.

10. Entertainment Hub

No more desk space for your CD/DVD or video game collection? Tuck away all your favorites in this hanging shoe organizer. With clear plastic pockets, you can see the titles easily when you’re in the mood for some entertainment.

It's great for storing your DVD &/or CD collection.

11. Tool Time

Why take a hike to the garage every time you need a different implement for tending to your veggie patch? Keep all your tools and gardening supplies within arm’s reach using a shoe holder.

You can use it for your tools and gardening supplies, and hang it in your home, garage, or shed.

12. Crafting Command Center

Arts and crafts supplies, assemble! Use a hanging shoe organizer to keep those colors in order and brushes in tip-top shape. Contain the chaos so creativity flows!

Keep your paint and paint brushes in order and in great shape.

13. Wrapping Station

Keep your gift wraps, ribbons, bows, tapes, and scissors on standby for when you need them. And here’s a bonus tip for wrinkle-free wrappers: Use the bottom three shoe spaces to store them. Cut a slit in the bottom of the first two holders, slide the wrapping tubes in, and voila!

It's a great way to keep your gift wrap, ribbon, bows, tape, scissors, and more ready for when you need it.

Hanging Shoe Organizer Ideas in the Bathroom

Tiny bathroom? No problem! Hanging shoe organizers are great in the bathroom.

14. First Aid Organizer

No more frantic searches for that elusive band-aid or aspirin! Stash your meds and supplies in these clear slots for quick access during any medical emergency.

Use it to hold your bathroom first aid supplies and medications.

15. Bathroom Supplies Caddy

Make every inch of your bathroom count by stowing away your extra toiletries and beauty tools in this on-the-door organizer.

Organize your bathroom supplies and needs - great for those small bathrooms, apartments, dorm rooms, etc.

16. Accessories Repository

So many accessories, too little storage! Give your jewelry, belts, hair clips, and all things stylish a new home in these spacious compartments.

It can hold your jewelry, belts, and hair and other accessories.

Other Uses for a Hanging Shoe Organizer

Wait, there’s more!

17. Clothing Space Saver

Is your closet overflowing? No worries! Roll up some of your clothes and organize your kids’ outfits. This storage solution can hold socks, shirts, tanks, shorts, leggings, leotards, tights, and legwarmers.

Roll up some of your clothes and you can save space, & organize outfits for your kids. It holds socks, t-shirts, thanks, shorts, leggings, leotards, tights,& legwarmers extremely well.

18. Book Nook

Calling all bookworms! I’m sure you’ll love the idea of keeping your literary treasures organized and dust-free.

Great for holding books (and stuffed animals) - school teachers - this one is for you ;)

19. Trinket Holder

Deck the halls without the stress! Store all your holiday ornaments in this shoe organizer and keep them out of sight when the holidays are over.

It's a great way to hold your ornaments and keep them safe.

20. Hat Haven or Coat Closet Extension

This one’s a special shoutout to my son—transform your organizer into a storage for baseball caps or hats. And if you need extra space, a shoe organizer can double as a makeshift coat closet.

This one is actually for my son! Make a place for your baseball/hat collection.

The Obvious Shoe Storage Solution

Then, there’s the obvious way to use a hanging shoe holder—for storing shoes, including:

  • High heels
  • Flip flops
  • Tennis shoes
  • Dress shoes
  • Gym shoes
  • Lots of shoes

 20 Ways To Use A Hanging Shoe Organizer Video

DIY Hanging Shoe Organizer

Is this basic hanging shoe organizer too drab for your taste? Time to get crafty. Gather these essentials for a unique shoe organizer:

  • Fabric of your choice
  • Clear plastic pockets or fabric pockets
  • Sewing supplies or fabric glue
  • Dowel or wooden rod
  • Hooks or hangers

Now, let’s make a one-of-a-kind hanging shoe organizer:

  1. Cut a large piece of fabric and stitch or glue the hems.
  2. Place a dowel at the top and fold enough fabric over it. Leave extra for the seam.
  3. Pin the fabric in place and ensure the rod slides right out.
  4. Sew or glue along the bottom to make a rod pocket.
  5. Measure and cut your extra fabric into equal-sized rectangles. Fold and seal the edges with fabric glue.
  6. Attach the pockets onto the fabric, ensuring even spacing. For clear plastic pockets, keep them symmetrical for a tidy look.
  7. Find the perfect spot and use hooks to hang your DIY masterpiece.

How to Hang Over the Door Shoe Organizer Without Hooks

Don’t fancy punching holes in your door? Here are some alternatives to make your shoe organizer stay put without the need for drilling or screw-in hooks:

1. Fishing Line or Sturdy Thread

A clear fishing line or sturdy thread is practically invisible and won’t leave a mark on your door.

Create a loop at one end of the string, and hang it on one corner of the door. Then, thread the string through the holes in the organizer, and make another loop at the other end.

Finally, hook it at the opposite corner of the door. As you load up the pockets, the weight of the contents will make the line taut.

2. Command Hooks

Attach Command hooks on your door spaced exactly as the grommets at the top of your organizer.

Ensure the contents are the right weight for the hooks, and apply Velcro in a few spots to prevent any movement when swinging the door open.

3. Single Over-the-Door Hooks

Mount the same number of hooks as the eyelets of your shoe organizer over the top of your door.

Line them up with the holes, and secure the organizer in place. Fill the pockets as usual.

Shoe Organizer Ideas

Now in addition to the above, you might be looking for ways to store pairs of shoes because you have a lot of footwear and maybe not enough storage space or closet space in your entryway, mudroom, etc. Here are a few shoe storage ideas to help with that shoe collection!

My daughter keeps some of her coats and some of her shoes in her room.  We just disperse them throughout the house and bring them down when it's the right season.  

You can use a shoe organizer to help with space saving needs. My daughter was able to use this to hold sneakers, dress shoes, flip-flops, sandals, and more!

I use Dollar Store bins in my closet to help with additional storage I also use them to help with my shoes.

I grabbed some shoe boxes at the dollar store and stack them vertically on my closet shelving in the closet to help with storage.

Grab a dollar store bin for this simple and effective flip flop organization hack. Place your flip flops in a V shape inside the bin. Continue stacking the flip flops in the bin until they are all in place. This method provides an easy and space-saving way to store sandals and flip flops. Once organized in the bin, put it on a shelf for convenient access and a tidy storage solution.

Create shoe cubbies with dollar tree bins and cubes.

You can pick a color of crates that you like whether you like bright and vibrant or more subtle. You can also paint the crates any color you like with a little spray paint. Here you'll see I build a little storage shelf that can hold books or other display items. I placed a couple of inexpensive serving trays on top, or you can measure the top and have a local hardware store cut a board to size to place on top.

You can also stack crates and create your own shoe shelves or shoe storage cabinet, on a budget. You can find this tutorial at Fantastic Milk Crate Ideas with Endless Possibilities, You Won’t Believe It

Place it by your entryway door. I added shoes at the bottom and winter gear like hats and mittens to the top. You could change this up with snacks as well as sunscreen and sunglasses. Anything that you need for grab-and-go any season of the year.

If you don’t have a lot of storage you can create your own DIY shoe rack or DIY shoe storage. This was a tomato cage, flower baskets, and some bowls from the dollar store. You can find this tutorial at Dollar Tree Planters: Easy and Awesome DIY with Video

*One big tip I can give everyone - If you are feeling nostalgic it is not your day to clean out your closet. You have to be ready to purge to have a good day or you'll end up not getting anywhere. When you do purge, put it in a bag or box and don't look back. If you open it later you'll be bound to pull stuff back out. Just say no!

A little side tip on tall boots, cut a pool noodle and place it inside to keep them in great shape. You can find all of this information at Easy DIY Closet Organization; Tips and Tricks For Maximizing Your Closet Space

9 Ways To Use Wire Hangers (10) shoe hanger

How do you hang shoes with a hanger? In this tutorial, I share how to bend a wire hanger to store those flip-flops and sandals in your closet. You can find the full tutorial at Creative Home Hacks for Using Hangers Around the House

Now everybody gets a single shelf for shoe storage and each person gets four pairs of shoes that they use the most during this season.  The rest will go into each person's room.  So much better don't you think?

You can also organize your footwear in a shoe cabinet. Here is our near the front door, and each family member gets a row to store their shoes.

Hanging Shoe Organizer and Shoe Storage Ideas Q & A

How do you organize a large amount of shoes?

One creative way to organize a large amount of shoes is to use a hanging shoe organizer. You can store multiple pairs in the pockets, saving space and keeping them easily accessible.

What’s the best way to store shoes in a closet?

Storing shoes in a closet efficiently can help keep them organized and in good condition. Here are some tips for the best way to store shoes in a closet:
Use shoe racks or shelves: Install shoe racks or shelves to keep shoes off the floor and organized. Adjustable shelves can accommodate different shoe sizes and styles.
Consider shoe organizers: Shoe organizers such as hanging organizers or over-the-door shoe racks can maximize vertical space and are especially useful for small closets.
Keep similar shoes together: Group shoes by type (e.g., sneakers, heels, sandals) to make it easier to find the pair you need.
Store shoes in clear boxes: Transparent shoe boxes allow you to see the contents without opening them and help protect shoes from dust and damage.
Utilize under-bed storage: If space is limited in your closet, consider using under-bed storage containers or organizers for seasonal or less frequently worn shoes.
Rotate shoes seasonally: Store off-season shoes in less accessible areas of the closet to make room for the ones you wear regularly.
Use shoe trees or inserts: Use shoe trees or shoe inserts to help maintain the shape of your shoes and prevent them from creasing.
Keep shoes clean before storing: Wipe down shoes and let them air out before storing them to prevent odors and prolong their lifespan.
By following these tips, you can keep your shoes organized, easily accessible, and in good condition within your closet.

How do you store multiple pairs of shoes?

Storing multiple pairs of shoes efficiently requires a combination of organization and maximizing available space. Here are several methods to store multiple pairs of shoes in a closet:
Shoe racks or shelves: Install multiple tiers of shoe racks or adjustable shelves to accommodate several pairs of shoes. Arrange the shoes in rows, with taller shoes at the back and shorter ones in front to optimize space.
Stackable shoe racks: Stackable shoe racks allow you to create vertical storage space, which is especially useful for closets with limited floor space.
Over-the-door shoe organizers: Hanging shoe organizers that hang over the closet door or on a closet rod can hold multiple pairs of shoes without taking up floor space. They are particularly useful for smaller items like flats, sandals, or sneakers.
Under-bed storage: Utilize under-bed storage containers or organizers to store shoes that are not frequently worn or seasonal. This frees up space in the closet for the shoes you wear regularly.
Clear shoe boxes: Transparent shoe boxes allow you to stack shoes on top of each other while keeping them visible and protected from dust. Label the boxes or take photos to easily identify the contents.
Double-hang closet rods: Install a second closet rod below the main one to double your hanging space. Hang shoes with loops or straps, such as heels or sandals, from the lower rod using S-hooks or specialty hangers.
Rotate shoes seasonally: Store off-season shoes in less accessible areas of the closet or in storage bins to make room for the shoes you currently wear.
Maximize unused space: Utilize any unused space in your closet, such as the back of the door or the space above the closet rod, to hang shoe organizers or install additional shelving.
By implementing these storage solutions and organizing your shoes strategically, you can efficiently store multiple pairs of shoes in your closet while keeping them easily accessible.

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Would you like space saving organization? I was given the challenge by Hometalk to come up 6 ways to use a hanging shoe organizer. With in 5-10 minutes I had come up with 20! Here are all the different ways you can use a hanging shoe organizer to help out in your home.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it—20 ways to use a hanging shoe organizer. Do you have any ideas you want to add? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Learn more about “Why to Deep Clean and Organize Your Home” to save money, function better, and keep your sanity.

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Chas, the creative force behind Chas' Crazy Creations, is a renowned DIY expert, innovator, and passionate crafter with over 30 years of experience in repurposing, upcycling, and home improvement. Combining a successful career in dance program management with extensive expertise in digital marketing, website development, and consulting, Chas brings a unique blend of artistic vision and practical know-how to the DIY and crafting world.

At Chas' Crazy Creations, visitors find a treasure trove of crafting and home project resources, including detailed tutorials, creative inspiration, and practical tips. Chas specializes in making creativity accessible to all, offering projects ranging from budget-friendly upcycling ideas to seasonal and holiday-themed crafts. The website caters to crafters of all skill levels, featuring easy-to-follow instructions and projects utilizing everyday materials.

Beyond DIY, Chas is a sought-after motivational speaker and business consultant. Leveraging deep experience in digital marketing, SEO, social media management, and brand building, Chas helps businesses grow and thrive in the digital landscape. As an advocate for hands-on creativity and sustainable living, Chas' mission is to inspire and empower others through engaging, innovative content that bridges the gap between traditional crafting and modern digital strategies.

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51 Comments

  1. So many ideas! I love it. I have 2 of them that I used to use for product samples. Most of those have been used now so I’ll be looking for new ways to use them to keep that room organized. It’s gonna happen! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Oh I love that idea! They are really quite useful and space savers. I am thinking I should have had a few of these to help me out when I was in college. I bought one for this project and now I am trying to decide which one I truly want to use it for – lol.

      Reply

      1. LOL I was wondering about that!

        Reply

  2. I use one in my pantry to hold plastic wrap, foil, waxed paper etc plus syrup, salad dressing etc. You gave some other great uses.

    Reply

    1. Thank you and that is a wonderful tip for everyone too. Thank you for sharing how you use yours 🙂

      Reply

  3. This is awesome! I seriously just got my clutter monster daughter one for her birthday.

    This one really grabbed me: It can organize your extension cords, power cords, charging cords, timers, and more in.

    YES! Getting one for the office right now!

    I LOVE your site!

    Reply

    1. Oh my gosh Bonnie, thank you so much – you are so sweet and just made my day 🙂 I’m so glad that this can be helpful for both you and your daughter 🙂 Sending you a big hug!

      Reply

  4. So many wonderful ideas!! I especially like the DVD organizing idea, and the action figure one. Oh, and the power cords! We have a tangled mess of power cords that I never know how to store. So thank you for sharing your ideas!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Katrina, and I am so pleased that some of these ideas are useful to you as well 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing Tamar. Does she have any additional ways that you’d like to share?

      Reply

  6. Oh my golly! I am getting some of these. I love the idea of extension cords etc and the cleaning supplies! LOVE IT! Saw this on Grace at Home link party. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Cindy, and I’m so excited that some of these ideas will work for you!

      Reply

  7. so many impressive creative organizational ideas hard to decide which one or which room to tackle first 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you Sue and I totally agree. I used one shoe organizer for this post and now I’m trying to decide which one to use it for and/or if I need to buy more – lol 🙂

      Reply

  8. I LOVE shoe organizers that you can hang on your doors! I love that it is another way that you can organize stuff. I love that you show there are so many different ways that you can organize with the shoe organizer! The ideas are endless, it seems like! I currently use shoe organizers, and I need to take time to organize them better.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Natalie, what are some of the ways you use your shoe organizers?

      Reply

  9. You are a wealth of wonderful ideas and we’re happy that you share them with us at Celebrate Your Story!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Sandra and thanks for hosing a wonderful place for all of us to share ideas 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thank you Sue and thank you for stopping by 🙂

      Reply

  11. That’s brilliant, a challenge to find 6 and you come up with 20!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Julie, it was a fun challenge. I was lucky to have inspiration strike 🙂

      Reply

  12. Great idea with the baseball hats! I’ve tried hat holders and they don’t work at all. Really good organizing tips here!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Carissa, I totally understand as my son’s hat collection is always a mess. I had a hard time where I was going to finally put my shoe organizer with all of these ideas, but in the end I think that is the winner for me (until I buy more – lol).

      Reply

  13. I bought one for my Sister and she keeps her cat’s treats and toys in them! Thanks for the idea!! ?

    Reply

    1. Thanks Lynn and thank you so much for sharing another idea 🙂

      Reply

  14. I have a plastic one that holds sandals/flip flops/swim goggles etc on the back of my deck door and at the end of the season I roll it up and tie it so I can put it up on the shelf for the winter. I also have two of the old metal ones – one is attached to the wall in my bedroom closet (for shoes – who knew!) and the other is attached to the wall behind my bedroom door. That has all my scarves, a couple tote bags, and my robe and slippers.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for sharing how you use them and how they work for you 🙂

      Reply
  15. Anne smith says:

    Chaz,
    You did a great job and love your website.
    000000000

    Reply

  16. More great ideas, have to look into this one to see if it will fit with what we do. Love it otherwise.

    Ms. K

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much and hope it works for you too.

      Reply
  17. Mary Murray says:

    Are used mine as a cell phone garage in my high school classroom. I hung it in the front of the room, and I placed two charging stations below.It was a win-win.

    Reply

  18. What fantastic ideas. I had never thought of using a shoe organiser like this.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Kim, I’m thrilled you like some of the ideas 🙂

      Reply

  19. I use one in my sewing room to hold the embroidery supplies I use most often. Temporary sprays, stabilizes, alcohol, starch, tapes etc. Save me the extra step of having to get down boxes from my shelves. I find it a time saver. I label the sleeves so I aways know which is water soluble, cut-a-way, etc.

    Reply

  20. Chaz I already use these in the pantry, laundry and closets but I’ll give you another one – in the garage for ‘some’ of DH’s tools. Rather than moving 100things on a shelf, he can easily see where his particular tools are at a glance and it hangs on the side of a metal cart so it takes no additional room. Now if he could just be a little neater. Thanks for the ideas. Ticia

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for sharing Ticia, that’s a great idea!

      Reply

  21. I love space saving, practical storage ideas like this. I can never seem to have enough storage!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Donna, and I totally agree!

      Reply
  22. Marilyn Lesniak says:

    ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    Reply
    1. Linda S. in NE says:

      Thank you for all the unique ideas. As a paper crafter/card maker, I have a shoe organizer hanging on the back of my craft room door. It has clear plastic openings, so always easy to see what is stored inside the pocket. I use it to contain my most used paper punches. Most of my punches have the diagram as well as the size of the cutout printed on the front. For example, 11/4″ Circle, 1/2″ Square, etc., etc. The larger punches can be quite heavy, but seem to stay in the divided sections with minimal sagging. This makes organizing this hard to store item quick to put back where it belongs, and easy to locate the next time it is needed.
      Thanks again for sharing all the ideas from your readers. Visiting from “Between Naps on the Porch”.

      Reply

      1. Thank you so much for sharing Linda, love learning ways everyone uses them.

        Reply

    2. Thank you so much Marilyn for another wonderful party.

      Reply

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