Smart Ways to Store Your Shoes
Keeping your footwear organised and out of the way just got easier
Amanda Pollard
22 December 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you often trip over stray sandals in the hall or regularly spend ages trying to locate one half of a pair of trainers, it’s probably time to ramp up your shoe storage. Check out these clever ideas to find the perfect place to stow away your shoes.
Put them under a bench
Keep your shoes where you need them by popping them under a hallway bench. The drawers here have plenty of room for everyday footwear, and the open handles provide enough ventilation to avoid nasty odours. The owners can pull out their shoes before they perch on the bench to put them on.
Keep your shoes where you need them by popping them under a hallway bench. The drawers here have plenty of room for everyday footwear, and the open handles provide enough ventilation to avoid nasty odours. The owners can pull out their shoes before they perch on the bench to put them on.
Slide them away
The true potential of an understairs storage area is often lost, as it can be hard to reach the awkward corners in the space. Some clever joinery, however, can turn the area into a brilliant home for shoes.
These pull-out cupboards put an end to any rummaging around in the back of the understairs area for those trainers. They’ve been fitted with slanted shelves, which allow for a better visual so you can pick out your shoes with ease.
The true potential of an understairs storage area is often lost, as it can be hard to reach the awkward corners in the space. Some clever joinery, however, can turn the area into a brilliant home for shoes.
These pull-out cupboards put an end to any rummaging around in the back of the understairs area for those trainers. They’ve been fitted with slanted shelves, which allow for a better visual so you can pick out your shoes with ease.
Multi-task in the wardrobe
If you don’t have space for large understairs pull-out cupboards, try a similar idea on a smaller scale. Here, the designers have created three open shelves that pull out to reveal plenty of space for footgear.
Leave enough room between the wardrobe’s hanging rail and the top shelf to fit your longest garment above the shoes – many experts say that 120cm is enough room for coats, for example.
The key dimensions to know when designing storage.
If you don’t have space for large understairs pull-out cupboards, try a similar idea on a smaller scale. Here, the designers have created three open shelves that pull out to reveal plenty of space for footgear.
Leave enough room between the wardrobe’s hanging rail and the top shelf to fit your longest garment above the shoes – many experts say that 120cm is enough room for coats, for example.
The key dimensions to know when designing storage.
Show them off
If your shoe collection consists of beautifully made items, you might want to put them on show. A glass-fronted cabinet is a great idea, and this unit with top-hinged doors displays the footwear perfectly.
Going bespoke is one option. Alternatively, you could hunt around in second-hand sales for a vintage display cabinet that will really make a feature of your shoes.
Find a local joiner in the Houzz
Professionals Directory.
If your shoe collection consists of beautifully made items, you might want to put them on show. A glass-fronted cabinet is a great idea, and this unit with top-hinged doors displays the footwear perfectly.
Going bespoke is one option. Alternatively, you could hunt around in second-hand sales for a vintage display cabinet that will really make a feature of your shoes.
Find a local joiner in the Houzz
Professionals Directory.
Put your stairs to work
Utilise the redundant cavities below your stair treads with handy drawers for shoe storage. This is a fiddly job, so to get it right make sure you hire a talented professional who will ensure your drawers and stairs are safe, and that the runners work efficiently. Ask your joiner to add ventilation to get air to the footwear inside.
Utilise the redundant cavities below your stair treads with handy drawers for shoe storage. This is a fiddly job, so to get it right make sure you hire a talented professional who will ensure your drawers and stairs are safe, and that the runners work efficiently. Ask your joiner to add ventilation to get air to the footwear inside.
Pop in some racks…
Already have a hall cupboard? Make it work for shoes by fitting some simple wire racks like these ones. It’s a good idea to include enough room on the lower deck for boots, so measure your tallest boots and plan your shelves accordingly.
Already have a hall cupboard? Make it work for shoes by fitting some simple wire racks like these ones. It’s a good idea to include enough room on the lower deck for boots, so measure your tallest boots and plan your shelves accordingly.
…or use rods
Instead of racks, you could have some dowel rods fitted in the hall cupboard. The column of thin rods here is ideal for slotting shoes into, and keeps them tidy and easy to see at the same time.
Instead of racks, you could have some dowel rods fitted in the hall cupboard. The column of thin rods here is ideal for slotting shoes into, and keeps them tidy and easy to see at the same time.
Open up the stair storage
An alternative to pull-out cupboards below the stairs (see above) is this shelving idea. Each cubbyhole is the perfect size for the family’s different footwear, which helps to keep the area organised. And the designers have deliberately kept the storage open-fronted for quick and easy access.
An alternative to pull-out cupboards below the stairs (see above) is this shelving idea. Each cubbyhole is the perfect size for the family’s different footwear, which helps to keep the area organised. And the designers have deliberately kept the storage open-fronted for quick and easy access.
Display against a design
Not everyone has the time or budget to build bespoke shoe storage, but you can certainly make the best of what you have.
These simple shelves have been jazzed up with wallpaper to form a beautiful backdrop for the owner’s collection of heeled shoes. Choose a striking design that makes a feature of the footwear, but avoid something that overpowers them.
Not everyone has the time or budget to build bespoke shoe storage, but you can certainly make the best of what you have.
These simple shelves have been jazzed up with wallpaper to form a beautiful backdrop for the owner’s collection of heeled shoes. Choose a striking design that makes a feature of the footwear, but avoid something that overpowers them.
Upcycle for a quirky piece of art
It’s worth thinking outside of the shoebox when you’re considering footgear storage, and this is a great example. Some old-fashioned cubbyholes have been repurposed as a place for kids shoes. The footwear looks cute tucked inside the little recesses, and the shelves have become an unlikely piece of artwork.
Tell us…
What do you think of these ideas? How have you stored your shoes? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
It’s worth thinking outside of the shoebox when you’re considering footgear storage, and this is a great example. Some old-fashioned cubbyholes have been repurposed as a place for kids shoes. The footwear looks cute tucked inside the little recesses, and the shelves have become an unlikely piece of artwork.
Tell us…
What do you think of these ideas? How have you stored your shoes? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
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The shoe cupboard next to the bed is probably something that should be used as an example of what not to do....how unhygienic! 🤢 And not to mention unattractive.
Makes me wonder what condition your shoes are in ? 🤔 Beautiful storage for showing off beautiful shoes 👍
In beautiful condition! but I still wouldn’t want my Choos in my bedroom... that’s what you have dressing rooms/boot rooms/hallways etc for...