Feb 26

This Week’s Product of the Week proves that shoe racks do NOT have to be dull.  Read on for what is probably one of the most luxurious shoe racks you’ve ever seen.  And, it’s more affordable than a custom built shoe organizer.

All I can say is WOW! This shoe organizer packs a punch in terms of style and function!  You choose your wood tone, your size and your configuration to make a custom shoe rack that fits your needs exactly, at a fraction of the cost of a real custom built model.  The Shoe Traps Modular Shoe Cubby System is one of the coolest shoe racks I’ve seen on the market.  There are three different sizes of shoe boxes to choose from, large, medium and small.  Each shoe cubby has a glass door on the front with a magnetic closure, it couldn’t be simpler to use!  The glass doors are cool for three reasons.  First, they look beautiful lined up next to one another, each framed in a wooden box.  Second, they allow you to see what’s inside, and show off your colorful and beautiful pumps, flats and men’s shoes.  And third, they keep dust, moisture and insects off of your shoes.  A Spanish cedar lining offers the benefits of aromatic cedar, which acts as a natural insect repellent and also a natural deodorizer.  So choose whatever variation works best for your shoe storage needs, and simply stack them together using the provided adhesive strips – very easy to use and looks great in the closet or anywhere in the bedroom or hallway.  The wood choices include cherry, mahogany and maple finishes.  For a more finished look, each color also has a platform available that can hold a couple of your choice of cubbies.  All in all, I would say for the price, this is one of the best high-end style shoe racks available!

Jan 03

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). 

customshoerackIf 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!