Shoe Racks Blog

Over the Door Shoe Racks are Space Efficient and Easy to Use

For the most space efficient Shoe Storage, an Over the Door Shoe Rack is pretty hard to beat! There are many different styles out there, from plain canvas to white mesh materials, and many more I’m sure. I have chosen this one because it is really cute and colorful. Unlike traditional shoe racks, it is designed to appeal to teenagers, but I honestly could see myself using it – the stripes and the colors that are used are fun and flirty, great for girls of any age, I think!

This OTD shoe rack is shorter than some, but if all you need is a few pockets for shoes that you access regularly, this is great. Everyone has a door, and therefore everyone can probably use an over the door rack. They mount over the door without using screws or nails, so you can be sure you are not doing damage to your walls. This is a great benefit for kids going off to the dorms, or for anyone who rents their home instead of owning.

Actually, these over the door shoe racks are great for organizing other things too. Use them to hold scarves, belts and accessories. They can act as a very large mail and bill sorter – you can use safety pins to label each pocket so you won’t be tempted to dump mail on the counter when it comes in. In the laundry room, these organizers can hold anything from small bottles of detergent, fabric softener and stain sprays to small tools for everyday home improvement projects.

I love these organizers for pretty much every room of the home, (can you tell yet)? The possibilities are endless here, have fun with this OTD Rack!

Bonus: It says “My Stuff” and it’s very affordable!

Shoe Armoires and Closets: (Yes, You Heard Right: A Whole Closet Just for Shoes)

I love armoires in the bedroom. An armoire is a beautiful furniture piece that can add style to your bedroom décor, and also gives hidden storage. The most obvious way to use them is to store your clothes. They usually have drawers underneath and a cabinet above that opens up with either shelves or a closet rod for clothes storage.

Another type of that is great in the bedroom is a TV armoire. Many people like to have a TV in the bedroom but they don’t necessarily want to see it (or have other people see it). Most TV armoires even have drawers so you can still get some clothes storage out of them.

But, if you have a lot of shoes that you use (or at least admire) frequently – too many for a regular shoe rack, you might consider giving them their own special armoire – this is what I like to call a Shoe Closet! It’s not literally a whole closet, like a walk in closet that celebrities have, but it’s just a nice place devoted just to your shoes. Maybe you don’t have a built in shoe rack in your closet, but you can still give them the important placement in the bedroom that they deserve.

When choosing an armoire for this purpose, I recommend that you get one that already has shelves in it, instead of a closet rod (since a rod isn’t going to do you much good in this situation). Here is an example of one such armoire, a beautiful espresso bedroom armoire at Stacks & Stacks. If it doesn’t have enough shelves already, you can fix that easily by putting some kind of wire or wooden shelf or shoe rack inside the cabinet, that way you can maximize shoe storage (just make sure you check dimensions of all products first).

Another nice thing about using an armoire is that then the shoes are right at eye level, no more digging around on the ground for the right pair!

Weatherproof, Outdoor Storage for Shoes in Winter

There are many times that shoes need to stay outdoors.  In the winter, snow boots are kicked off at the front door and exchanged for cozy socks or slippers.  In the summer, muddy shoes, work boots, wet sandals from the pool all wreak havoc on carpets, so they also need to come off.  But, where to put all of these shoes? 

Most of us already have shoe racks, we keep them in the back of the closet or in the entryway.  But you definitely don’t want to put your dirty shoes in these racks.  Below are some suggestions of products that can be used as outdoor shoe racks. 

But first, a few things to consider before choosing: 

1. Weatherproof?  Is the product basically weatherproof?  If you are going to it literally outside, you want to make sure that it will at least keep out the moisture.  However, if you are using it just inside the door, you may be able to get away with a simple basket. 
2. Mess – Will it contain the mess?  Outside you may not be as worried about this. In fact, you may want to choose something for outside that allows water to drain out the bottom.  Inside, however, you don’t want mud and melted snow dripping on your floors, so you will want a solid plastic organizer. 

Here are some great ideas I’ve found that can help keep your outdoor shoes organized. 

• Patio Deck Boxes – since these are designed to live outdoors, you can leave them outside without worry.  This patio storage box even has a seat!  They are also great in the summer for storing patio decor such as throw pillows and chair covers. 
• Plastic Storage Boxes – Very inexpensive, and number one when it comes to containing a mess of any kind.  TIP: If you plan on using a plastic box outside, drill a few holes in the bottom so that water can drain through to the ground.

 Shoe Bags for Athletes, Travelers and Shoe Fanatics 

Shoe Bags are like a shoe rack on the go!  It is nice to keep a shoe bag on hand for a lot of reasons.  Here are a few different shoe bags, and a few different ideas for how (and when) to use them. 

1. Travel – Here is a nice travel shoe bag, it is made of a thinner material than traditional, hefty shoe bags, so you can squish it into your luggage more easily, without taking up any extra space, (which means you can bring more clothes, right?)  Throw a few of them in your suitcase, just in case you bring home more shoes than you left with J. 
2. Car – Keep a shoe bag in the trunk of your car in case you make an unexpected trip to the beach or have to change a flat in the mud.  Better yet, put a spare pair of shoes in the shoe bag so that you can swap them for the ones you just got muddy.  This is especially a great tip if you have kids (you moms know what I’m talking about).   
3. Athletes – Golf shoe bags are great for serious golfers, and also for every other athlete.  If you have little soccer players at home, get them a bag for their cleats – they will think it is a gift for them but you know that it’s more about you and your car.  Leather is a great option for athletic shoes, especially the sharp, pokey kind.  Young athletes will love something from Adidas, Nike or another trendy athletic gear company. 
4. Shoe Fanatics – What can I say, a nice shoe bag can get your nice pumps to and from a party without damaging them, and you can wear something more comfortable (think Slippers) in the car, no one has to know! 

Hall Benches:  A Place for You (and a place for Your Shoes)! 

I love the idea of a hall bench in general.  They give your home a refined look, defining any space with a suggested place to rest.  Hall benches can be used in the bedroom, hallway or entryway.  They are a great place for you to sit, and many of them have built in storage, too. 

This is a sneaky way to get in some extra shoe storage in the home without taking up any extra space with a shoe rack, while still sticking to your favored decorating style.  Speaking of style, hall benches are available in every type, from antique style gossip benches to elegant woods and even clean, contemporary style models.  Oak, Cherry, Black, White, whatever bench you are looking for to match your home, you will have no problem finding it! 

Here are different types of hall benches, and some tips on how you can use them as an [unexpected] shoe rack. 

1. Bench – A plain old bench is great for sitting while putting on your shoes.  Keep this simple style at the end of your bed or in the entryway, with your most frequently used shoes underneath.  Since this bench doesn’t have storage, you will need to protect the floor with a rug or even a thin sheet of clear plastic. 
2. Bench with drawers – This is nice for keeping purses, wallets and shoes handy by the front door – make sure to check interior drawer dimensions to see if they will fit your favorite shoes. 
3. Bench with Cubbies -  Cubbies are always great for shoes, why not put some seating on top (After all, who doesn’t like to sit while putting their shoes on?)  This one is designed exactly for this purpose – Shoe Cubby underneath and Bench on top.  And, as I always say, kids love cubbies so you just might be able to get them to take their shoes off at the door this time!

Need a New Year’s Resolution?  Nike Offers Another Type of Shoe Recycling

Almost everybody is getting on board with the environmental movement, including big name athletic shoe maker Nike!  A great way to start the new year off right is to clean out your closets.  Donating what you don’t need anymore is great for your family and it’s also great for thrift store shoppers. 

So, if you are starting spring cleaning early this year, as I am, you may run into a few pairs of running shoes in your shoe rack.  Some shoes can be donated for reuse around the world (see my Holiday post about shoe donating charities) or even sent to the goodwill.  But, some gym shoes are just too warn (a good sign that you are getting your exercise, right?) for use by anyone else.  In this case, resist throwing them in the garbage, where they will pile up with others in landfills for decades to come. 

Nike Grind has been collecting shoes (22 million and counting) for almost twenty years, and the results are amazing.  And no, they don’t have to be Nike brand to be recycled – any brand of athletic shoe is accepted!  Basically the shoe is sliced into three pieces and each piece is used for a different product.  Track surfaces, gym tiles, basketball court cushioning and consumer products like zipper pulls are just some of the many things that your shoes can become in their next life.  It couldn’t be easier to do – there are many dropoff locations around the country and they will handle the shipping for you.  Read up on more of the benefits and details about donating at http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/. 

There are some great products available at StacksAndStacks.com that use recycled products:  Recycled Aluminum Doormats, Recycled Office Organizers, Recycled Plastic Luggage.  Do your closet and the world a favor by having your shoes recycled. 

Tried and True Kids Shoe Organizers 

It’s not easy to get kids to put anything away, least of all their shoes!  Here are some tips on kids’ shoe racks – how to pick them and how to use them! 

1. Color: We all know that kids are attracted to colorful objects.  Toddlers and young kids love basic primary colors, and teens love to be trendy.  If they see something fun and colorful, they might just be inclined to use it.  So, for your little ones, go for bright blues, reds, yellows and greens.  For pre-teens, tone down the colors a little bit and find something that’s stylish and fits their personality.  Here is a great hanging shoe organizer with trendy stripes and colors.  It goes right over the closet rod and is very narrow, leaving them plenty of hanging room for their clothes.  Is your child about to go off to college?  She will love a more sophisticated look to match her grown-up style, as offered by this black and white damask over the door shoe rack.  
2. Accessibility and Ease of Use:  It HAS to be easy enough to use.  This tip applies to people of all ages – are you really going to put your shoes on a shoe rack that is not easy to use?  Probably not, and neither is your toddler (or your husband, for that matter).  For kids, make sure the shoe rack is within reach of their little arms.  They can probably reach the lower pockets of an over-the-door rack, but an over the closet rod style may frustrate them.  Cubbies are easier than anything, and kids love putting stuff (not just shoes) in cubbies, just like they learn to do at school.  In a pinch, the absolute #1 easiest shoe organizer for a young child is just a big basket or bin.  Here is a colorful tub that no one can argue with as a shoe rack.  It is colorful and also doubles as a toy bin or laundry hamper. 

The Joys of Custom Built-In Shoe Racks:  What to do with Yours! 

We just moved, and were very lucky to have landed in a home with a custom shoe rack built-in to the closet!  Very exciting for me!  A built-in shoe rack can serve endless purposes.  Obviously, it can be used for shoes.  But it can also be used for many other closet-type items, from office storage to bathroom and clothes storage! 

Built-in shoe racks come in many different styles.  Some are slanted (like mine – see picture), and some are flat.  They can be made of wood, which is great, or cedar, which is even better!  (Check out my tips on cedar closet storage items). 

If you don’t have a ton of money to spend on custom closets, as most of us don’t, you may want to check out wire closet shelving.  These are great – they are inexpensive, and a definite do it yourself weekend project (also great if you are a renter since you can easily remove them when you move).  Many hardware stores carry these wire shelves – you simply measure the space where you want them, cut to size using bolt-cutters, and install!  A lot of people use them to make a whole closet organizer, but you can also just make a tall, narrow custom shoe rack with them. 

If you happen to have a built-in shoe rack in your closet now, here are some tips on what to use them for besides shoes:  I am using mine for storage of extra things around the house.  From keepsakes at the top to TV cables and cords, movies and extra toiletries, the possibilities are endless.  I found that this is also a great place for storing out of season clothes, such as the kids swimsuits and swim diapers. 

I made labels using a sharpie and sticky printer address labels and put one on each shelf – easily removable and it makes staying organized a cinch!  If you are lucky enough to have one of these custom shoe racks, you will find that there is no end to its uses!

Discover the Benefits of Cedar in and Around the Closet

Have you ever smelled cedar wood?  It has a beautiful aroma that smells woodsy and almost a little bit like cologne, but in a very natural way.  Cedar is available in the form of hangers, shoe racks and some people even line their entire closet with it. 

It has been known for years that cedar wood has some natural qualities that can benefit your clothes and shoes.  Here are some of the many benefits of cedar that you may not know about, and some suggestions of how to use it in your closet. 

1. Smell and Deodorize: Cedar is a scented wood.  As said before, the aroma that the natural cedar oil gives off is very fresh and natural.  If you keep your shoes in the closet, you can combat the stale old shoe smell with many different cedar products.  Here are some inexpensive cedar aroma blocks that you can literally toss anywhere, in your closet organizer or boxes of out-of-season clothes, and you can even toss them right into your shoes to freshen.  I also like cedar rings which slip onto the top of your clothes hangers – great for deodorizing the closet. 
2. Insect Repellent:  Cedar wood oil is a natural insect repellent.  That is why many people line their entire closet with cedar planks – it keeps moths and even fleas away, saving your clothes from insect damage. 
3. Durability:  Cedar wood is also decay resistant, so you can be sure that it will last for many years.  It is also very sturdy yet lightweight, that is why a lot of patio furniture is made of cedar.  Here is a beautiful cedar shoe rack that I really like from StacksAndStacks.com – it’s a great one for anywhere in the house: the closet, in the entry or hallway, and even right outside the door. 

Aroma Tip:  To renew the beautiful aroma of cedar, simply sand the wood lightly with a fine sandpaper.