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Key Points
- Keeping shoes out of the bedroom creates a calmer, healthier space that supports better rest and relaxation.
- Shoes track in dirt, bacteria, and allergens, which can harm your health if left near your bed.
- Storing shoes elsewhere reduces clutter, improves air quality, and keeps your bedroom feeling neat and peaceful.
After a long day at work, all you want to do is sprint to your bedroom, rip off your shoes, and lie down in under 10 minutes flat. But wait! Leaving your shoes haphazardly strewn next to your bed won’t be setting yourself up for success. In fact, the seemingly innocuous habit can have surprisingly serious consequences.
We talked to two medical doctors as well as a professional organizer, and they all agreed: Don’t leave your shoes in your bedroom. Here’s why to finally kick the habit or make an easy storage swap.
- Dr. Meagan W. Shepherd, MD, a board-certified allergist/immunologist, owner of Shepherd Allergy
- Dr. Blen Tesfu, MD, general practitioner, Welzo
- Lana Lorena, luxury pro organizer at Organize with Lana
The Real Reason to Keep Shoes Out of the Bedroom
Your bedroom should feel like a place where you can truly relax, so leaving litter (via your shoes) near the place you sleep is definitely not your best move. “A calm, restorative bedroom starts at the door,” says board-certified allergist Dr. Meagan Shepherd. “Shoes carry allergens and germs that can disrupt clean air, trigger asthma, and even interfere with restful sleep.”
Along with everyday dirt and grim, shoes can introduce mold spores, pet dander, and pollen into your sleeping space, Shepherd explains. For asthma and allergy sufferers in particular, this can be problematic and cause stuffy noses, runny eyes, and/or nasal drainage.
Dr. Blen Tesfu, a general practitioner, also notes that shoes can pick up bacteria like E. coli and chemical residues like pesticides, which are especially unwelcome in a place dedicated to rest.
Particles can even circulate through your HVAC system, adds professional organizer Lana Lorena, which can further contribute to dust buildup and respiratory irritation.
How Odors Affect Sleep
“Odors are airborne particles,” Shepherd explains. “They can irritate the nose, disrupt breathing, and even trigger headaches and asthma, making restful sleep harder.”
Strong odors—such as stinky shoes—can keep the body from reaching deep REM and can even activate stress responses, even if we don’t consciously notice these sleep pattern disruptions.
5 Better Ways to Store Your Shoes
If you’re used to keeping your shoes in your bedroom, you’re certainly not alone. But where to put them instead? Here’s what our experts had to say.
- Create a Drop-Off Zone: “The ideal alternative would be to set up a special drop-off zone outside of the doorway, even a small mat or storage rack,” says Tesfu. This is helpful to stop the spread of contaminants indoors.
- Go Multifunctional and Portable: Lorena recommends looking for shoe storage solutions that can pull double (or even triple) duty. Rolling carts, collapsible organizers, or furniture with hidden compartments, like storage benches or coffee tables, offer flexible solutions that work in smaller spaces.
- Use Vertical Space: Tesfu recommends purchasing tall racks or behind-the-door organizers to maximize your storage in tight areas.
- Consider Hidden Storage: Rolling bins, sealed ottomans, or entry benches with built-in compartments keep shoes contained and can prevent dust from spreading.
- Try Washable Baskets or Clear Bins: Shepherd suggests using containers that can be easily cleaned, making it simple to see and access your shoes.