Utilize The Space Under Your Bed For Shoe Storage With A Dollar Tree Hack

Shoes are one of those common things that we all have but can be quite difficult to store because, let's face it, they're oddly-shaped. It's not like they're perfectly square boxes that can be stashed neatly in some out-of-the-way corner. No. They have features like spiked heels, tall calf-length sides, and over-sized soles. Not easy to categorize or store at all. Fortunately for our errant shoes, there are Dollar Tree storage items, that, while they don't exactly turn our shoes into boxes, they do the next best thing. Items like slotted plastic baskets are boxy in shape and big enough to accommodate most types of shoes, from long shiny Go-Go boots to Keds sneakers. In other words, the shoe storage hack you need is waiting to be found on your next trip to Dollar Tree. 

First up, you'll need Dollar Tree's Assorted Rectangular Slotted Plastic Baskets. They come in at 15.6 inches by 11.7 inches by 4 inches. That makes them long enough to accommodate long pairs of boots and wide enough to fit assorted sizes of shoes. However, the sides aren't so tall that they can't fit under the bed. How many of the baskets you'll need for this storage project depends on the pairs of shoes you need to store and their dimensions. This hack also requires some Tool Bench 8-inch Nylon Cable Ties and a pair of scissors. You could also find a few large pieces of scrap cardboard, a ruler or measuring tape, and a pencil useful for this clever DIY Dollar Tree shoe storage idea, too. 

Although it's possible to just toss some shoes into the baskets as you go with this set-up, you can do some advanced planning before you go shopping at Dollar Tree. This helps you make better use of your space and also determines how many baskets you'll need. For this portion of the project, draw out a rectangle that has the same dimensions as the DT baskets on your piece of cardboard. You may need to make more than one of these.

Lay your shoes out on the cardboard pattern in different configurations. This is kind of like you're drawing out a floor plan for a room. Knowing where each piece fits allows you to maximize the use of the space in your Dollar Tree storage baskets. Put each shoe grouping aside, leaving it on its cardboard pattern, and then count the piles of shoes you have once you're done. Each pile equals a basket, and the number of piles equals the number of baskets you'll get from Dollar Tree.

Once you have the Dollar Tree baskets, arrange each of the piles of shoes in the baskets in the same configuration that you placed them in on your cardboard pattern. Tie the baskets together with the zip ties, going end to end, like train cars. (Potentially, when you do this, you could fill enough baskets to stretch from one side of your bed to the opposite side.) Once that's done, slide the "train" of shoe baskets under the bed. Finally, make a handle for the end baskets with a zip tie that you've formed into a loop.