How do you organize...

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-11-2009, 09:11 AM

shoes near the front door?

We have no coat closet in our house, so we have an organizational issue there. We put up a coat rack on the wall near the door, so coats, backpacks, purses, etc. get hung there.

But my problem is shoes! I have a really cute storage bench near the front door, and in the summer times shoes get tossed into the bench. But in the winter, when shoes are covered with wet snow, I can't throw them into the bench, so hats, mittens and scarves go into the bench.

The best I have seemed to come up with is, is to put a towel down and have everyone put there shoes on the towel, so they don't leave wet, salt spots on the hardwood. However, no one but me actually puts their shoes on the towel. Everyone just kicks them off and leaves them where they lay, so I am constantly, picking up shoes. And the area near the front door looks like a disaster area!

Anyone have any tips on how to store wet shoes with no closet? I'd like it to look a little nicer since it is the first thing people see when they walk into my house!

**nvmommyx6** · 01-11-2009, 09:17 AM

During the winter if their shoes are wet thay are always pretty good about making sure they put them on the hearth for the wood stove to dry, but any other time of the year, since we dont have the room by our front door they are supposed to just keep them in their rooms!
And of course I have taken up the hobby of throwing piles of shoes that are not supposed to be there out the front door
ROFLMAO

**cmdarlin** · 01-11-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by nvmommyx6

I have taken up the hobby of throwing piles of shoes that are not supposed to be there out the front door
ROFLMAO

Thank you for the laugh. It gave me a cute visual.

I don't have a coat closet either. Right now I just have a cheap, indoor-outdoor rug by the door that shoes go on. Maybe a tub of somekind where they can just toss them into it? Of course though, they might end up with wet feet next time they put them on.

Debbie

**justpeachy92** · 01-11-2009, 10:06 AM

We have one of these that we slide our everyday shoes into.

http://www.target.com/Rubbermaid-Con...pmrank&rh=&pag

And one of these for boots, with a rubber mat underneath it.

http://www.target.com/Whitmor-Faux-L...e=1&rh=&page=1

**Grainlady** · 01-11-2009, 10:51 AM

No shoes parked at the front door at our house. The old, a place for everything and everything in it's place.... Shoes and boots are stored in our bedroom closet where we can easily find them - not at the entrance to the house, which would only contribute to the blight of every home - clutter.

If shoes are wet from snow/rain, we dry them off and put them away. If we take shoes off and put on slippers or house shoes, the shoes get put away in our closets.

**3LittleMonkeys** · 01-11-2009, 04:03 PM

They make plastic boot trays. The problem is they are hard to find. I swear everytime I see them I say "Oh I will pick that up next time." Well next time comes around and then they are out of them!

Personally its impractical to put everyday shoes back in the closet for our household. Esecially when they are covered in snow. If the shoes/boots are really bad then they stay out in the garage till they dry off.

**Marie78** · 01-11-2009, 04:26 PM

We have a boot tray just inside the entrance to our apartment. This is a good visual for guests to realize they need to take off their shoes at the door. We only keep one pair each on this boot mat. That leaves room for guests to use the boot tray also. The rest of the shoes/boots are stored in our closets in a hanging shoe organizer. The boot tray is great for keeping the floor from getting wet...especially this time of year with snow everywhere. It's also great for the spring/fall when shoes tend to be a little muddy.