Shoe Racks Blog

Traditional Shoe Boxes get a makeover with updated materials and style.  Read On.

There’s no question about it, shoe boxes are one of the best ways to protect your footwear from dust, insects and moisture.  I remember that my grandmother always kept her cardboard shoe boxes from the shoe store and piled them high on her upper closet shelf, mostly for dress shoes that she didn’t wear everyday.  There were probably about 20 boxes.  This was great for protecting more expensive shoes. 

The cardboard could certainly keep dust off of the shoes, and she would even stuff the tissue paper back into the front of the shoes to maintain their shape (this problem can now be solved with shoe pops or shoe trees, both affordable and readily available at StacksAndStacks.com).  The problem with this system of shoe preservation and shoe organization was that you had to dig through dozens of boxes to find the right pair of shoes to match your outfit.  So while the cardboard boxes are protective (for a while, at least, until they start collapsing), they are also very secretive, each protecting the identity of its contents from our eyes. 

This problem can be solved with some great new inventions in shoe boxes.  These are permanent solutions that will last for years.  They are not free, like the cardboard variety, but they are a wise and cost effective purchase, because they will protect shoes (not cheap either) from the usual damage.  Clear plastic shoe boxes is the choice of many people, because they really let you see what’s inside, and allow you to almost create a display of your favorite shoes, perfect for shoe lovers like me!  A more discreet choice are fabric shoe boxes.  Now you may think that you can’t see through the fabric, and you are correct.  But, the manufacturers thought ahead and made these shoe boxes with a little window, so you can still see what’s inside – a great, neat look for any closet!

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