Shoe Racks Blog

What to do with Athletic Shoes and Sports Equipment!

Everyone is getting in shape these days!  For kids, sports are a natural form of play, along with which comes piles and piles of sports equipment.  For grownups, fitness and sports involvement are on the increase, and, just like with kids, so are the athletic shoes and equipment!  An obvious place to keep all this sporting goods equipment is in the garage, but without the right organizer, you are still going to be losing shoes, tripping over ski poles and slipping on skateboards! 

So, to organize your athletic shoes in the garage, a great way to start is with a sports storage rack, many of which include a shoe rack with them, since most sports require shoes (many requiring special shoes, like cleats, golf shoes and boots).  A shoe rack in the garage ensures that your sports shoes can remain muddy, dirty and smelly, without ruining interior carpets and flooring.  It’s also great for kids because they will see that their sports equipment goes on the rack, and putting two and two together, they will realize that their muddy shoes need to go there too. 

There are many different types of sports racks.  For golfers, a golf storage rack keeps golf bags upright, and usually has some kind of shelves for shoes, hats, gloves and more accessories.  If you are into bikes, this garage sports and shoe rack holds bikes, shoes and more sporting goods.  Two bikes can mount to the side of it, while the shoe rack underneath holds every type of athletic shoe.  Hang backpacks from the hooks, and keep skis in the upright position.  And, for multi sports and outdoor enthusiasts, a tension pole allows you to customize your sports storage with snowboard hooks, ski racks, bike racks, tennis and even general baskets for shoes.

Imagine having a million pairs of shoes, just piled up in the closet, some in the kitchen some in the living room and a few by the bed. You get the occasional “would you pick up your shoes!” and even you get a few stubbed toes from your own shoes. The truth is, you know that when you put those shoes back in the giant pile in the closet, you may never find them again.

The answer to this problem is simple - a discrete shoe cabinet.  I love the whole idea of shoe cabinets. Not only does it keep your shoes out of the way, it keeps them organized and eliminates that scary pile in the closet.

This particular shoe cabinet is from StacksAndStacks.com. It holds up to 36 pairs of shoes and has three separate pull out sections. The sections open allowing you to easily see your shoe selection.   The best part about a shoe storage option such as this one is that your shoes are out of sight. There is no clutter in the closet, no expensive storage units to keep stacking - just one unit that would actually be able to go anywhere in your house.

There are other styles that are smaller in size or different styles. Not only does storing your shoes keep them off the floor but it also keeps them in good condition. By storing them in a unit such as this one, you keep the shape of the shoe, they get proper ventilation and they stay clean. When your shoes are in a giant pile in the closet they scuff each other and get in weird shapes from laying in every direction.   Shoes are not cheap, so invest in a storage system that will help you maintain and take care of your shoes.

Find Shoe Storage in the Unlikeliest Places!

Do you feel like you’ve already filled every single inch of every shoe rack in your home?  I do!  If you’re not ready to part with your important footwear, but you are fed up trying to find places to put it, have you looked under your bed lately?  The under side of a bed is a great storage place, but is often overlooked in homes.  You can put virtually anything under the bed for storage, and specially designed underbed boxes make this a cinch!

Here are tips for different types of under bed storage for shoes, how to choose them and how to use them!

1. Under the Bed Storage Boxes – these are storage boxes that can be used for anything, from sweaters and shoes to holiday decorations.  They are usually long and pretty flat, so they will slide under the bed easily.  They sometimes have lids and wheels, some are rigid plastic and others are canvas, or vinyl.  These are all great for holding shoes, except for an underbed storage drawer, because the shoes tend to get caught when pulling the drawer out (the underbed drawer is great for other items, though, including towels and linens).
2. Under Bed Shoe Chest – this is a great box, designed just for shoes.  It holds up to 16 pairs of shoes, each is divided by a plastic divider.  I like the fact that it is crystal clear, so you can see what is in there without opening it.  It is also a nice, flexible vinyl material, which is really easy to pull in and out from under the bed!

Tip: If your boxspring is on the floor, and you don’t have underbed storage space, a set of bed risers can help.  Bed Risers raise your bed, when on a frame, from 4 to 15”, giving you tons of storage options underneath.  Most underbed storage boxes are about 6” high, so you will need to have at least that much clearance.  Check all measurements on the boxes and risers before purchasing.

Additional Resources:
Bedroom Organization Tips

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!

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.

Mud Season

Winter will be here soon, and with it, snow, rain and, more than likely, MUD.  In my house, I seem to be the only one who understands the concept of taking your shoes off inside. 

My kids track dirt and mud in from the backyard and my husband from the front yard.  Since my kids are too young to read, a reminder sign won’t work, and I’m not sure my husband would notice it anyway.  So, instead I have found ways to arm myself with some tools to keep mud outside (or at least contained right inside the door). 

My Mud Bid

1.  A shoe rack at the door: 
–If mud and snow are your main concerns, pick a shoe rack that has solid shelves so that dirt won’t fall through (which would defeat its purpose).  Also, pick one that is easy to clean - plastic is best because you can literally hose it off outside or in the bathtub.  If you can’t get plastic, a laminated particle board style would be the next best choice because you can easily wipe them with a wet cloth.

2.  Plastic Bin – For Serious Mud Control: 
We live in out in the country, so in the rainy season we can have major clumps of mud on our shoes.  I keep a cheap-o plastic bin right inside the door because it’s easy enough that anyone, even young kids can handle using it.  The added bonus is that when I’m ready to wash the shoes I can just pick up the bin and take it to the sink without dropping dirt all over the place.

3.  Soccer Mom Secret (and hockey moms, football moms, etc)…–
I played a lot of soccer growing up, as did my three sisters.  For my mom, this meant a great deal of proud moments but also a lot of muddy cleats to deal with.  Her solution was a shoe bag that we could throw our muddy cleats into after practice and before we set foot in the house.  Bonus: they also keep unpleasant smells contained -