How to Organize all your Winter Accessories

Have you entered that time of year when you glance around your home and wonder how to organize all your winter accessories?

The cold weather here in the Midwest means that throwing on some flip-flops and heading out the door is a thing of the past.

In the cold winter months, we are talking about tackling all those gloves, mittens, scarves, and oh-so-many winter hats.

Here in Missouri, we can go from needing a lightweight hat one day to a full-out snowsuit and heavy winter gear the next.

So not only do you have winter accessories, but you have them for the various temperatures Mother Nature can throw at you in 24 hours.

Let’s not forget that the amount of winter accessories multiplies with each member of your family too.

That means you can have quite the collection of stuff living somewhere on the floor if you’re lacking an organizational plan.

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Taking Control of the Winter Accessories Mess

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If you’re here reading this you probably have stocking caps overflowing in a basket in your mudroom where you toss them every night.

Or you have gloves hiding under your entryway bench or piled on top of the dryer.

The worst part about the above scenarios is that it then takes forever to find that one certain mitten your child wants or a hat that fits your youngest without covering his eyes.

Our easy way to store winter hats, gloves, and scarves is the answer to this messy problem.

Read on to see how I took charge of our winter accessories storage issue and you can too. All you need is a simple door to tackle this winter chaos.

Winter Accessories Storage with an Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

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It’s not rocket science, but implementing a simple over-the-door shoe storage organizer was the key to organizing my family’s winter accessories.

Instead of hats and gloves in a basket, or all over the floor, they now have a home.

The best part? Even if the organizer gets a little messy, it’s hidden behind a door so no one will see it!

This isn’t to say my boys put their winter gear in the proper place (we are working on that), but at least when I pick it up, there is a specific place for everything.

Being the Amazon addict that I am, I ordered this OTD shoe organizer and have used it with no ripping or tearing issues for over 4 years.

Why this Shoe Organizer is my Favorite

I like this organizer because it has clear sections so everyone can quickly see what they need.

This makes finding those needed items in the mornings much easier.

The fact that it has 6 rows was also a selling point because everyone in my family has their row with the bottom row being for extras like hand warmers. 

The pockets are large enough for scarves, but they might spill over the top a bit.

I keep ours in a closet, but they could easily fit in an OTD organizer if you want to include them.

Originally I had a plan to label the sections with each family member’s name.

However, as my boys get older they are sharing the same hats so I’m glad I didn’t go through with that plan.

It would make sense to do so if your children don’t share their winter accessories.

Choosing your Shoe Organizer

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It seems like a simple concept to order an organizer and get the project done.

But there are a ton of options when it comes to choosing an OTD shoe storage organizer. I mean like a TON!

Let’s take a minute to discuss the different kinds that might work for your family.

SIZE OF THE ORGANIZER

One of the first things you need to think about is the size of the OTD Organizer you want to use.

Perhaps one row for each family member? Or would a smaller organizer work and everyone share?

COLOR & PATTERN OF THE ORGANIZER

They make shoe organizers in all kinds of colors and patterns.

On Amazon, I have seen blue, green, pink, purple, black, white, gray and brown. So if you want to match a room color or have a favorite, there is probably an option for you.

The patterned OTD organizers available are harder to find, but they are available. I love this Blue with Lantern Patterns Organizer.

One more thing to consider is the material of the front pockets.

They can be clear plastic, mesh, or the same material as the shoe organizer itself.

Clear pockets are great for helping children find what they are searching for easier.

Mesh pockets are going to allow more airflow through if your winter items accidentally go into the pocket wet.

Where to Place Your Organizer

Finally, the last thing you need to think about is where are you going to hang it.

You could do the back of your mudroom door or attach it to the wall in the garage by your entrance door.

Other options could be your laundry room door, foyer closet, or even your child’s bedroom.

To get it over the door there will be brackets hanging out on the other side.

If you are putting this where you will see the brackets and they will bug you, using command hooks is a great alternative.

Also, I’ve read some reviews where the hooks in certain kits can scratch your doors, so be careful when you first install your OTD shoe organizer. Command hooks would again be a way to avoid this.

Winter Accessories Storage Complete

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If you are in the organization mood, check out our Guide to Organizing Kids’ Shoes too! It’s another step on the path to not tripping when you head out the door.

We have one last tip before you start organizing your gear. If your shoe organizer bangs the door or slides, use velcro dots at the bottom corners.

I will say that when my husband and I open the door, our organizer doesn’t move.

But when our boys open the door it is a completely different story. It’s like having 3 tiny tornadoes in the laundry room.

I had the velcro dots left over from a Halloween party game and they worked perfectly. A little bit of duct tape would probably work too in a bind.

Hopefully, you now have a plan to take control of those misplaced mittens and missing hats. Which should make life easier; which is always a good thing!