Shoe Racks Blog

A Shoe Rack with Drawers – A Fresh Idea for Shoe Storage

I’ve heard of Shoe Racks.  I’ve heard of Shoe Cubbies.  And I’ve even heard of Shoe Closets.  But I’ve never heard of Shoe Drawers.  The concept actually makes sense – A drawer is just as easy to use as a cubby, and, depending on the style, it can be a lot more affordable. The other nice thing about storing shoes in a drawer is that your shoes will be protected from dust, insects and light.  This is a great idea for storing out of season shoes, or just older shoes that you don’t want to get rid of.

If you have a great collection of shoes and they cost you a pretty penny, it’s really hard to part with them, and this can be a great way to organize them.  If you have an empty dresser or a drawer or two that you don’t use already in your bedroom, by all means, use these for your shoes!  If not, you may want to invest in either a multiple drawer unit, or single, stackable drawers.

Here are some ideas and tips about what and how to make your selection:

• Wicker Drawers – This is definitely the most attractive option.  A nice wicker drawer unit looks great in the corner of the bedroom or hallway, so you don’t have to worry about tucking it in the back of the closet.  Use this stylish storage rack for shoes, purses and accessories that you use frequently.
• Plastic Drawers – It’s very easy to find plastic drawer systems, and they are pretty cheap.  These, however, should be used in the garage or in the closet, so you (and your guests) don’t have to look at them.  A cheap set of printer mailing labels can help you sort by season, designer, purpose or color!  TIP:  Since plastic drawers are not breathable, you will want to use a natural freshener, such as cedar in each drawer to keep odors to a minimum.
  

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

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!