13 Ways To Repurpose A Hanging Shoe Storage Around Your House

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In a busy home, it can feel like you're always tripping over someone's shoes. And, when trying to tame that shoe clutter, you might try all sorts of solutions, from shelves to over-the-door shoe organizers. Sometimes, those solutions don't work, so you move on to other ideas. Don't toss those old organizers yet, though. The rows of pockets on shoeholders are perfectly sized and shaped for storing many other items including plants, tools, gloves, electronics, and toiletries. It's one of many effective ways to utilize a door for storage when you don't have any other space. If you don't have any of these organizers on hand, grab some at the thrift store or department store to contain clutter in your kitchen, garage, bedrooms, and other spaces.

Using over-the-door shoe holders for other items makes organization easier — it allows you to sort items into individual pockets and keep similar items together. Clear pockets make it easy to see what's inside each compartment, but opaque shoe holders are just as effective for storage. You just might need to label the pockets to help you spot what you need. And while these organizers are meant to hang over a door, you can also hang them on walls with a few Command hooks to hold them in place. 

Turn a shoe organizer into a vertical garden if you're limited on planting space. Each pouch creates a spot for flowers or herbs to grow, allowing you to create textured greenery. Add a few drainage slits at the bottom of each pouch to the front layer only, using a utility knife. Fill the pouches with potting soil to keep it light, and plant the tallest plants in the top row to allow them to gain height. You can hang your vertical planter over a door or on a wall, fence, trellis, or another sturdy structure.

Over-the-door shoe racks are one of many items you can use to organize your pantry. The pouches are ideal for smaller pantry items, like individual snack packets, drink flavor pouches, and small bags of food. Those small items can easily get lost on pantry shelves, so this option keeps them safe and easily visible and accessible. You can also use a shoe holder for plastic and paper products, like disposable cutlery, napkins, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. Those items can take up valuable shelf space that this storage solution lets you reclaim.

There are many smart ways to store and organize cleaning supplies, and this includes an over-the-door shoe organizer. Bottles of cleaners fit neatly in the individual pouches, and the rest of the pockets can be used to hold sponges, cleaning cloths, scrubbers, and other cleaning tools. Stash these organizers in your bathroom, laundry room, or utility closet. You can also clip it to a hanger to make it portable, so you can carry it to the space you're cleaning and hang it somewhere nearby.

If you need simple toy storage ideas that will help keep your playroom tidy, consider an over-the-door shoe holder for smaller items. Think Barbie dolls, action figures, and all those plastic animals your kids play with. Using a clear organizer makes it simple for your little ones to spot the toys they want instead of digging through bins of items. Young kids may have trouble reaching higher pouches. You can cut the organizer in half and attach the sections to the bottom of the door or wall with Command strips to make it more accessible.

Bins of sunscreen, lotion, and other personal care items get messy, and you may have to dig through lots of containers to find what you need. Instead, save shelf space in your closet by installing an over-the-door shoe holder, and fill it up with your toiletries and personal care items. Since the containers are spread out in the small pouches, you can scan the contents quickly to find what you need. This is also an effective way to store extra toiletries that you stock up on, so the family knows where to grab more items.

A shoe organizer is the perfect storage hack for cluttered wrapping paper, with some modifications to hold long rolls. Decide how many pockets you want for the wrapping paper rolls, then cut out the bottoms of the pouches above those sections, so that the long rolls can go right through. Any remaining pouches are perfect for holding tape, name tags, scissors, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, and other gift-wrapping items. Instead of digging through cupboards or wrangling rolls that won't stay put, simply go to your DIY gift wrap hanger to get what you need.

Count down to an exciting milestone with a shoe organizer. The inspiration project is an advent calendar, but you can also track the days until a birthday, vacation, move, or other monumental occasions. Each pouch represents a day in the countdown. In an advent calendar, you might put a small toy, candy, mini book, or other items in each pouch. If you're counting down to a surprise, each pouch might include a clue, or if you're going on vacation, tuck in items to take on the trip. 

Don't have a dedicated craft room? Keep your crafting supplies close at hand in an over-the-door shoe holder. If you have a separate craft area, this solution also works with other genius craft room organization hacks. Start by organizing all of your smaller craft items into groups, based on the type of supplies and how you use them. Then, slide them into the pouches on the organizer. If you don't have a door in your crafting area, hang the organizer on the wall or on a shelf.

There are things every organized home office needs, including dedicated storage for supplies. With an old shoe pouch, you can hide those extra office supplies inside a closet or keep them easily accessible on your office door. Or, cut a smaller section off the rack and attach it to the side of your desk or to an office bookshelf. Since most items you use for office tasks are small, they should fit easily into the pouches. Beyond pens, sticky notes, and staples, items like electronic cords and office cleaning supplies also fit well.

Turn an over-the-door shoe rack into the perfect garden tool storage solution in your garage. The pouches also work well for small hand tools and gadgets that you use for DIY and repairs. Since garage space is often limited, this idea can give you a little extra storage space on your garage door or wall. Shoe holders are flat and lightweight, so they won't stick out far even with tools inside. And since they hang, they don't take up any of your precious garage floor space. 

It's frustrating when you can only find one glove or your favorite pair of sunglasses goes missing. Instead of using a pouch organizer for shoes, use it for those accessories that don't have a dedicated home of their own. In the winter, use the pouches for hats, gloves, scarves, ski masks, and other winter essentials. Year-round items that fit into the pouches also include wallets, small handbags, and sunglasses. Hang your accessories holder in your mudroom, entryway closet, or bedroom to keep these items handy.

Finding the one cable you need can feel like an impossible mission. It's easy to end up with tangles of electronic cables in drawers and storage bins throughout your home. Instead, store all of your cords, chargers, cables, spare battery packs, remotes, cases, and other accessories together in an over-the-door shoe holder. You can wind the cords carefully and put them in separate pouches to prevent tangling. Use a clear design or add labels to keep track of the contents.

If you're dealing with a cramped bathroom or your shower is overflowing with products, use a plastic shoe holder to contain those items. This works best with an over-the-door holder that has holes along the top for hooks. This way, you can hang it from the rings for your shower curtain on the curtain rod. It also works on the back of the bathroom door or on a wall. Put toiletries that you use frequently into the pouches to keep them accessible.