Shoe Racks Blog

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.

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. 

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.

Donate Your Old Shoes to Bring a Smile to Someone’s Face this Year – A new, fresh idea for Holiday Giving!

Get in the true holiday spirit by donating your shoes to those in need this Christmas.  It’s that time of year again when we are reminded of what the holidays are supposed to be about.  We all know that times are tough, and we may even see them get tougher.  Not just here, but around the globe, the impact of our economic troubles are going to be felt hard by everyone, especially in developing countries.  Those in need are going to need even more. 

So, in addition to your usual charitable contributions this year, you may want to consider digging through your shoe rack to see if you have any shoes that you can donate this year to help someone else out.  You may think they are old and useless, but it is guaranteed that someone around the world will appreciate them very much.  

Here are some shoe donating companies and non profits that I found.  (You can always check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure your charity is legit, but, since you are donating shoes, obviously it’s not as much of a concern as sending off a check to someone.)

A match donation:  One for One

http://www.tomsshoes.com/ourcause.aspx  I like this one because if you buy a new pair of shoes from them, they will, in turn, donate a new pair to Argentina or South Africa.

Donate your usable shoes to them and they will send them oversees to someone in need:

http://www.solesunited.org/ 

http://donateyouroldshoes.org/

http://www.shoebank.org/  - an almost 20 year old operation, but drop-off locations limited to the Texas Area

Find the nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army, they are all experiencing a drop in donations due to the economy. 

http://locator.goodwill.org/

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf 

My #2 Cool Shoe Tool Pick: Electric Shoe Polisher

For a totally polished, perfect look, consider purchasing a shoe polishing system. If you have nice shoes, especially expensive ones, then you should polish them often to keep them looking their best at all times.

A newly polished shoe serves two functions:

• It looks like a new shoe and you look classy
• It also keeps leather shoes in tip-top shape, maybe even extending their lifespan.

There are many levels of shoe polishing methods, and each has its pros and cons. Check out my guide below to selecting a home shoe polishing system – It is broken into three categories - choose the one that matches your needs and make sure to keep it right by your shoe rack so that you’ll actually use it!

1. Shoe Polish and Sponge Method – This is by far the most affordable method, great for young adults and college students. It also takes up the least amount of space, but, it requires the most amount of elbow-grease, so, you have to really want polished shoes if you are going this route. Polishing shoes is surprisingly easy and very gratifying. You just buy shoe polish at any shoe store or even drug store, rub it on the shoes, wait a minute and shine it off and… voila! An instant facelift for your favorite shoes! Make sure to cover the floor with a towel or newspaper to avoid stains.

2. Shoe Valets and Boxes – This is one step up from method 1. You still have to use your very own muscles to polish, but the nice thing here is that the shoe sits up on the box (less mess) and more comfortable. Also, there is usually storage in a box underneath the shoe for polishes and rags. This cedar shoe valet comes with everything you need to get started.

3. Electric Shoe Polisher – I have to admit I don’t have one of these and I’m not sure I’d necessarily spend the money on it this year, but I have tried an electric polisher at a friend’s house and it is really nice. They fit right into the closet and do all the buffing for you, you don’t even have to use cleaners or chemicals – great if you have kids and pets.

Now, Get Polishing!!!

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 -

shoes

If you’ve stumbled upon my shoe rack blog, then you probably fall into one of the following categories:

And, the very best benefit of reading any organizing blog: Community! New ideas from other organizing enthusiasts. Whatever your shoe story is, please share it with us!