Carolyn J. Braden • 5 Minute Read
How to Organize Shoes on a Budget With Clear Storage Totes
How I Organized My Shoes on a Budget After My Shoe Boxes Kept Falling on Me
Have you ever opened your closet, reached for something, and suddenly found yourself being attacked by your own belongings? That was me with my shoes. My shoe boxes kept falling on me, and honestly, I had reached the point where something had to change. 😂
The bigger problem was that I couldn't easily see what shoes I actually owned. Some were tucked away in boxes, some weren't being worn anymore, and some had even started to disintegrate simply from sitting around unused and being stored in our home with no air flow post Hurricane Ian for over a month. I lost some good shoes due to that. So, I decided it was time to solve the problem.
My goal wasn't to create a picture-perfect closet overnight or spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy closet system. I wanted a budget-friendly shoe organization solution that allowed me to see what I owned, get rid of what I no longer needed, and make getting dressed easier.
And that is exactly what happened.
I found several affordable Brightroom storage totes at Target, including three different sizes that worked perfectly for my shoes. Then, once I started organizing my shoes, I realized this wasn't just a shoe organization project.
It was the beginning of editing my entire closet. And the best part?
You don't have to do it all at once.
When Your Shoe Boxes Keep Falling on You…Try This Easy Closet Solution!
🛍️Shop the Post
Support me as a creator and shop my links with no extra cost to you! See my creations come together via my Amazon Shop plus get buying links at affordable prices!
We also love shopping CVS ❤️ (the ExtraCare card savings stack helping you to save!) and here are some of our CVS finds to stock up on (especially when you get that 40% off coupon!) and love Walmart (Walmart+ gets you free shipping and delivery on many items) and Sam’s Club for extra savings on beauty, fashion and we love their furniture too!
🛠️We also love Lowe’s (see our Lowe’s storefront here) for all our home improvement projects and gardening loves (and animal lover loves too!).
📕Bookmark or pin this one by clicking the Pinterest SAVE button on the images in this article for creative magic in an instant.
👉More Product Loves❤️
You can also get the products I’ve featured and more of my product loves via my Target shop here or my CVS Store here (use your ExtraCare card to double up on savings!) or via my shop my store here or below:
🔗Links in this article go out to either the brand website, Amazon, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, or Lowe’s where we source our supplies based on discounts, budget and pricing.
My Favorite Budget-Friendly Clear Shoe Storage Find From Target
My Budget-Friendly Shoe Organization Solution
I found clear storage totes from Brightroom, a Target brand that I love, in several sizes that worked well for different types of shoes. I found similar sized clear totes by Sterlite via Amazon too, so use my link to see those if you are an Amazon shopper. I did like the pink addition to my closet from the Target brand though and the prices were a bit better. The shoe totes at Walmart are affordable too.
The clear design was especially important to me because I wanted to be able to see my shoes without opening a box. How many times have you completely forgotten what you own because it's hidden inside a box? Exactly. Being able to see my shoes means I can actually remember what I have, which makes choosing a pair much easier.
I used three main sizes of totes all of which have sort of “lips” or an edge which helps them to remain stacked as I get out one box, helping them to not fall on me!
I painted these fun shoes-see them here….sneakers fit best in the smaller totes
Small/Basic Shoe Storage
The 6 qt smaller totes worked well for everyday shoes (and were big enough for my shoe size-6.5-7) such as:
Sandals
Flats
Smaller casual shoes
These are the shoes that don't require a lot of vertical space, so the smaller containers make good use of the shelves without wasting room.
The Simple Clear Storage Solution That Finally Organized My Shoes
Medium Shoe Storage
The 9.5 quart modular medium, more square-shaped totes worked well for shoes that needed a little more room, including:
Booties
Chunkier heels
Larger dress shoes
Shoes with more substantial soles or embellishments
Having a slightly larger container meant I didn't have to cram these shoes into something that wasn't designed to fit them.
Budget-Friendly Shoe Organization for Wire Closet Shelves
Large Shoe Storage
Then there were the shoes that definitely needed more room! These may be best for people with larger shoe sizes too,
The larger 16-quart totes were perfect for taller boots, including:
Cowboy boots (I was able to double up two pairs in one tote)
Tall boots
Other shoes with extra height
Separating shoes by size and type made the whole system much easier to manage. Some tall boots still are in their boxes as I’m trying to figure out if I need to keep them or not.
Love these boots so much…get them here via my shop my
Why I Chose Clear Storage Totes
One of the biggest reasons I wanted clear shoe storage was visibility. I don't want to have to open six boxes to find the pair of shoes I was thinking about wearing. With clear totes, I can look at my shelves and immediately see what I have. That also helped me discover something else:
I had shoes I wasn't wearing.
Some shoes no longer fit my lifestyle. Some hadn't been worn in a very long time. And some had actually started to deteriorate from sitting unused or just being really old. That made this more than an organization project. It became a closet editing project.
👀Check out my 1-minute 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
Organizing My Shoes Made Me Edit My Closet
This is something I think is important when you're organizing any part of your home. You may start with one problem and discover another opportunity along the way.
I started with:
“My shoe boxes keep falling on me!”
But as I pulled everything out and looked at what I actually owned, I started asking myself:
Do I still wear these?
Do I still like these?
Would I buy these again today?
Are they still in good condition?
Those questions helped me create different piles.
I had things to donate. I had things that I may try to sell. And I had things that honestly just needed to be considered garbage. That last category isn't always fun, but keeping something simply because you've had it for years doesn't make it useful. Sometimes the best organization solution is simply owning less.
Pretty & Practical Closet Organization With Water Hyacinth Baskets
I Didn't Stop with the Shoes
Once I had my shoes under control, I started looking at other areas of the closet.
I added some water hyacinth baskets from Target and Home Goods to help organize clothing, belts, accessories and other odds and ends that didn't have a great home. I also created a basket for shoes that I wear frequently and want to be able to grab and go.
We actually have baskets in our foyer for our everyday shoes, too. Those have been helpful because the shoes we wear most often don't necessarily need to go back into the closet every single time. Sometimes the best organization system isn't about putting everything away perfectly. It's about creating a system that actually works for the way you live.
See my makeup vanity organized area here or in my 1-minute video above via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden.
Don't Forget Your Vertical Closet Space! Easy Hat Storage Idea
Don't Forget the Vertical Space
Another problem I noticed was that we had unused space above the closet door. So instead of trying to squeeze more things onto the floor or shelves, we went up. I added a wood accordion rack for my husband's hats, giving them a designated place while taking advantage of space that wasn't being used. This was a great reminder that when you're organizing a closet, don't just look at the floor and shelves.
Look up!
Vertical storage can give you additional organization space without requiring a bigger closet.
I Organized My Closet for Under $200—But You Could Spend $0!
Organizing Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune
I spent less than $200 on this organization project, including the storage containers and other items I added. You could find baskets at a thrift store or shop around like I do to find the best prices. And honestly, you could potentially spend $0. You don't have to replace your existing shoe boxes if they're working for you.
You don't have to buy matching baskets.
You don't need an expensive custom closet system.
You can use what you already have, rearrange your shelves, repurpose baskets and containers, and create a plan for what needs to go where. The clear totes were a solution that worked particularly well for my problem because I wanted to see my shoes.
But the bigger lesson is this:
Organization doesn't have to cost anything. It just needs a plan.
My Budget Shoe Organization Before & After: One Small Problem at a Time
You Don't Have to Organize Your Whole Closet in One Day
And this is probably the most important thing I learned from this project.
I'm still not finished editing my closet. And that's okay.
The shoes are done.
The hats are done.
I've started organizing clothing and accessories. I've started donation and selling piles. And I'm continuing to work through the things that no longer belong in my closet. Instead of looking at the entire closet and thinking:
“I have to organize ALL of this.”
I broke it down into baby steps.
Shoes first.
Then hats.
Then clothing.
Then accessories.
Then whatever needs attention next.
When an organizing project feels overwhelming, it's easy to avoid it completely. But when you give yourself one small problem to solve, suddenly the project feels possible.
My New Shoe Organization System
Now my shoes are stored on the wire shelving in our closet in clear totes, organized by the amount of space they need. I can see them. I know what I own. I can easily grab what I want. And, most importantly, I'm no longer getting taken out by an avalanche of shoe boxes every time I open the closet. 😂
That's a win in my book.
And because I could actually see everything, I was able to make better decisions about what deserved the space in my closet and what didn't.
The Problem Solution Girl Takeaway
This project started with a very simple problem:
My shoe boxes kept falling on me.
But solving that problem led to something even better.
I created a shoe storage system that works for me, got rid of shoes that were no longer useful, discovered shoes I had forgotten about, started editing my clothing, organized accessories, created a place for everyday shoes and found unused vertical space for my husband's hats.
And I'm still not finished. That's okay.
You don't need to finish your entire closet today.
You just need to find one problem and solve it.
Start with the shoes.
Start with one shelf.
Start with one drawer.
Start with one basket.
Start with whatever is annoying you the most.
Because sometimes getting organized isn't about a massive makeover.
Sometimes it's simply about taking one little problem and finding a solution that makes everyday life easier.
And if your shoe boxes are falling on you, too...maybe that's your sign. 😂
🎬Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too:
The Ultimate College Laundry Kit: A Beginner’s Laundry Guide + Why I Chose a Personalized Hulken
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.