Where to put all our stuff

[Stac4Grace]

There are eight people in our family and we are trying to condense some of our belongings. We all have at least two pairs of shoes (one for work/school and one for play/outside stuff). Our house isn’t the biggest and we are running out of room to put things. We have already gotten rid of the things we no longer use or need so the main thing is trying to be more organized. We like to keep our shoes by the front door on a rug which would be fine except there are so many they end up all over the house. What do others do with their shoes to keep your place a little tidier? Thank you.

 

[Simon_X]

Couple ideas. They sell a wire type rack that you a fix to a closet wall that holds many pairs of shoes can be organized nicely. Also, you can buy or make a cubby type shelve that you could store each pair of shoes… just a thought…

 

[Stac4Grace]

The strange thing is that we don’t have any closets on our main floor and the only two doors that we can use already have clothes hanging on them ugh! We do have a couple of the wire racks upstairs in the kids rooms for the shoes that are outgrown and waiting to be handed down to the next kid.
I like the idea of the cubby type shelf though, thanks!

 

[BamaRider]

So everybody has to take their shoes off when they enter the house?

 

[AmberDale]

So everybody has to take their shoes off when they enter the house?

Um, is that not normal? We do this, to try and save the carpet a bit. Guests can take them off to feel at home or leave them on, but typically those who live here or younglings take off shoes.

You can buy a rack that fits near your door, won’t fit 16 pair though. We used this when we had 9 people living with us (my family and sister in laws family). All shoes went on their, unless they weren’t worn daily.

 

[Stac4Grace]

So everybody has to take their shoes off when they enter the house?

Yes, mainly because the kids are ages 11 and under and they seem to always have some kind of mess on their shoes, especially if it’s been raining. Of course it’s optional for guests. We just want it to look somewhat neat.

 

[MomaMary8]

We are in the same boat as you, but we are a family of 10! Twenty shoes at the door is a tripping hazard. I try my best to have the kids take them to their rooms, but that doesn’t always work in wet/wintery weather.

I have a storage bench I’m re-finishing that I’d like to put in the entry and that will hold the mittens, hats etc, and we can tuck wet shoes under. In the basement, we have hooks for snow gear and jackets with a mat on the floor for the wet shoes to dry.

Its difficult keeping things in their place when you are short on space. I’d love to hear some tips.

 

[Stac4Grace]

God bless your beautiful family MomaMary8. You’re right about it being difficult when there is a lack of space. I wish the people who gutted this house before we bought it would have put in closets, at least one. Oh well…I hope to get some more ideas as well. Blessings

 

[gardenswithkids]

Shoes…I trip over shoes all the time. I love it when the children go barefoot in the summer.

… I wish the people who gutted this house before we bought it would have put in closets, at least one. Oh well…I hope to get some more ideas as well. Blessings

Don’t be so sure a closet would resolve the issue. We have a big walk in closet, but I have to constantly remind people to put their shoes away. They prefer to stop at the door–often causing a traffic jam–then take of their shoes and leave them for others to trip over. Oh, except for the toddlers, who often leave their shoes in the sandbox overnight to collect the rain.

Whatever system you get in place, you will need to re-work it from time to time as feet grow. I tried the storage bench right at the entry; it worked for little shoes, but not for teenage boy shoes. (Eventually, I move the bench.) A big box without a lid might also serve the purpose–you could try a cardboard box to see how that works. I’ve seen people use nice baskets to hold shoes. A plastic laundry basket might even do the trick, (that’s what I use to store outgrown shoes in the basement.)

Another idea, do you have a room like a formal dining room that isn’t used much? I’m sometimes tempted to put a shoe rack in our formal dining room, but I would really prefer it if they would simply learn to use the closet.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

There are eight people in our family and we are trying to condense some of our belongings. We all have at least two pairs of shoes (one for work/school and one for play/outside stuff). Our house isn’t the biggest and we are running out of room to put things. We have already gotten rid of the things we no longer use or need so the main thing is trying to be more organized. We like to keep our shoes by the front door on a rug which would be fine except there are so many they end up all over the house. What do others do with their shoes to keep your place a little tidier? Thank you.

Go vertical!

I have one of those little rolling wire carts that have three or four tiers of baskets. They’re cheap, so get more than one.

 

[BlestOne]

We are in the same boat as you, but we are a family of 10! Twenty shoes at the door is a tripping hazard. I try my best to have the kids take them to their rooms, but that doesn’t always work in wet/wintery weather.

I have a storage bench I’m re-finishing that I’d like to put in the entry and that will hold the mittens, hats etc, and we can tuck wet shoes under.

This is exactly what I did… put a bench by the door that we could put shoes, hats, mittens, etc in… so what is it holding?.. extra bedding! I have a really small house and it got really bad when the kids were younger and had boots, scarves, mittens, hats… the only way we got through it was to make the kids put all wet gear right in the dryer (not the boots) and turn it on, then store them in their bedrooms. Of course this didn’t work when you wanted to leave quickly and they were hunting for that left glove… why is it always the left one? For shoes and boots I got a boot tray to keep my floors dry… but they just don’t make them big enough for more than 3-4 pairs… it was a mess… that tray is long since gone, shame too, I would love to use it for the dog food and water! Finally, I cleared a drawer in my desk and filled it with gloves and hats… then when the kids couldn’t find theirs I handed them what they needed and took it back when they came home. Hint… this worked for hubby too since he is as bad as the kids!

 

[Oz_Girl]

Because I own a lot of shoes I use a bookshelf to hold them all. I think the trick is just use it for holding shoes not storing anything else like keys and bags and mail on top. I have to admire your ability to only have two pairs of shoes. I don’t know if I could

 

[Stac4Grace]

Because I own a lot of shoes I use a bookshelf to hold them all. I think the trick is just use it for holding shoes not storing anything else like keys and bags and mail on top. I have to admire your ability to only have two pairs of shoes. I don’t know if I could

Hey, a bookshelf is a great idea…I just might have to give that a try, thanks!!

 

[puzzleannie]

DD has two shoe bags handing on utility room door (they all enter thru the garage) that is just for school shoes, and church shoes, and house shoes (crocs mostly or slipper-sox)

in the garage just outside she has a plastic utility shelf unit from Lowes with a shelf for each member of the family (actually there is a unit on either side of the door, so younger members can reach their shelf), boots, play shoes, sports shoes go on that shelf. each also has a plastic basket with holes for mittens, scarfs and gloves,

there are hooks on the end to hang jackets, snow pants etc.

next to each shelf is a wire basket about 3 feet high for baseball bats, hockey sticks etc. there is another basket just for balls–soccer, volleyball ets.

bikes hang on large S-hooks mounted on garage wall (and adult bikes hang from the ceiling)

now nothing is on the floor and they can actually park a van and a car there in the winter. progress.

now she needs a system to keep backpacks and schoolbooks from piling up on the kitchen table before dinner