Declutter & Organize Shoes Using A Simple Curtain Rod Hack

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When it comes to organizing your clothes, you know all about hanging your coats and dresses up on a standard curtain rod. However, did you also know that you can hack a curtain rod to make it suitable for shoe storage as well? Turns out you can, and if done right, it looks incredibly classy and stylish, too — just like a night out on the town, but without the blisters on your toes.

As far as supplies go, this DIY storage hack is pretty simple. It requires a curtain rod plus its mounting pieces and any screws that come with the curtain rod set. If you have a lot of shoes to store, you may need more than one rod. You'll also need a drill with a bit that matches the screws that come with the set. It'll likely be a Phillips head, though there's no guarantee of that, so be sure to check. A level, such as the PREXISO 2-in-1 Line Laser Level, will ensure that the rod hangs straight. A carpenter's pencil will come in handy when it's time to mark the wall.

The true hack with this home-organizing trick comes from choosing a curtain rod that matches your decor style. As such, a decorative rod might be best suited for this purpose. These are rods, like KVEEO Store's Vintage Bronze Curtain Rod with Bird Finials, which add an element of whimsy to an already quirky decor style. In this case, there are carved birds on the ends of the rods. Or if you have an industrial or rustic decor style, try something like ENJOYBASICS Blackout Curtain Rod For Windows. 

A set-up like this, if done right, is intended to be displayed out in the open. This genius shoe-storage idea plays off the fanciness of the shoes and the rod. Set aside a good bit of space on the wall for one or more rods. You might even consider making an accent wall in your bedroom by painting the shoe wall a different color than the walls around it. Or if you're limited on space, set up a tension rod between two wardrobe closets to hang the shoes on. Just be sure to hang the rod close to the back wall so that the toes and soles of the shoes can rest against the wall. 

Once you're done deciding on the wall, use the level to determine where the ends of the rods will go. You can either use a tape measure or the curtain rod itself to measure how long the distance between the screws for the rods will be. Drill holes in the wall for the screws. Attach the wall mounts for the curtains to the wall at the points where you drilled for the screws. Once your curtain rods are on the wall, hang your high-heeled shoes up by their heels on the curtain rods and insert the flat ones behind the rod. And here's a bonus: If you have some strappy, low-heeled sandals, use Rivexy Store Heavy-Duty Black S Hooks to hang the shoes on the curtain rod. Simply hang the straps over the S-hook and hang the hook on the rod for a fun way to keep your summer sandals out of the way.