Large Family Organization...Socks and Shoes

This is my second post on Large Family Organization.  Organization is something near and dear to my heart as it just makes life so much easier and cuts down on chaos which leads to stress...something I don't need.

Sometimes, it is the little things in a large family that can send the home spiraling into chaos.  Getting out the door can be one of those things...especially when I am looking for matching shoes for so many little feet and I'm going to be late!  We utilize a "goodbye couch" (a place for everyone to sit when they are ready to go), but, if the socks and shoes are missing, they never make it to the "goodbye couch".

Socks and shoes have been an issue in our home for many years.  The older kids can put their shoes away but the littles don't always follow through and then I find one shoe here and another there...or maybe just one shoe...haha.  One issue was that I was storing the little boy's shoes and socks in their closet...upstairs.  Maybe I'm just lazy, but I don't really enjoy climbing the stairs 10-20 times a day.  So, when it is time to go somewhere, and I have to go all the way upstairs and collect three sets of socks and shoes...only to have to carry them all back up and return them to their place when we get home, it creates extra work and takes up time.

Not anymore!!

I recently found an organizational tool that has made this so much easier.

I was looking through a re-sale store a while back and found a shoe rack for $6.  I thought it was such a useful and unique organizational tool that I picked it up even though I wasn't sure how or where I would use it.  I placed it by the door that we use when leaving the home and started stacking shoes on it.  After a little re-organization and brainstorming I decided to use it mostly for the little boy's shoes.  I grabbed a plastic box (which I happened to already have) and put all of the little boy's socks in it.  I then placed it on the changing table (by the door that we leave through).  I grabbed another unused plastic box for the baby's shoes and also placed it on the bottom shelf of the changing table.  Then, I hung the little boys' shoes on the new shoe organizer. 

Here are the little boys' socks and Ransom's shoes on the bottom of the changing table.  Super quick and easy.  I don't know why I didn't do this years ago.

I have a hanging shoe organizer for each of the older three kids in their closets and it seems to work pretty well.  Here is a picture of Abby's shoe organizer.  We are still working on getting both shoes put away...haha.  The older boys have similar shoe hangers but slightly larger as their shoes tend to take up more space.

 One day, I hope to have a "family closet" (tons of great ideas on Pintrest) in a room next to our laundry room to keep all of the kids clothes and shoes but for now, this works really well. It is so nice to be preparing to leave the house and as I change the diapers, I just reach over, grab socks and shoes, and put them on little feet...without going up and down the stairs.