We love the colors of Fall - the leaves changing colors, gorgeous sunsets and the new crop of colorful shoes and boots that hit the sales floor. Unfortunately, our own very small closet-for-two is packed and shoe storage is limited. Apartment Therapy has posted some very functional + stylish shoe storage ideas in the past so we checked out a few. Check out these 5 places to place your shoes after the jump.
5 Places To Place Your Shoes
1) Stacked storage boxes
We definitely like this idea of very organized boxes in stacked rows - either with clear boxes to quickly see the shoe we want or taking polaroids and placing them on the outside of the box. We do have some space on the top shelf. The clear boot boxes may be the winner here. And investing in a neat step stool will make this shoe storage idea easy.
2) Modular shelf units
We certainly like this idea for storing our shoes - a shelf with multiple spaces to place shoes. Ranging in various shapes and sizes, we could create the space on the floor of our closet (although our bottom row of clothes may be in the way?) or try the top of the closet.
3) Storage bags
This Bamboo Storage set is another great way to store shoes, like flats and heels or shoes. We currently have one on the inside of our closet door and strongly prefer the fabric style.
4) In your home
If you have an extra niche or two, you can consider placing your shoes within your space. Check out Gregory & Emily's entry stairway. They've created a functional storage solution here for their shoes.
5) Bookcase (the affordable + non-committal built-in)
We could make some more room in our hallway closet - the 2nd of 2 closets - and add a narrow tall bookcase. This would give ample space to store and stack shoes and boots plus give it a cool, built-in feel without the standard renter's dilemma of changing physical attributes to the apartment. Ikea's Billy bookcase is affordable and comes in various sizes. Of course if you own, building a functioning and space maximizing closet could be some of the best money you spend.
[Title photo by O!Rachew! from Apartment Therapy LA's Flickr pool]
Check out more organizing ideas from Apartment Therapy here:
Comments (13)
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shoe storage was something i tackled this week as well. we rent and don't have an entry way. when you come in the door you are in our living room. The coat closet is through the room and down the hall, so we don't like to keep our shoes in there, it's a hassle.
until now we have had one of those crappy wire metal white shoe racks, and yeah it looked horrible but i already has it.
so this week, took it out, and replaced with 2 target (their home brand) shoe rack things. In the dark brown, stacked them and put them with next to the couch along the arm in the "entryway" It looks really good and added my own back board to it to make it look a little better. Also works as a side table for the couch. It's not amazing, but for $20 overall cost, and it holds 12 pairs of shoes and all of the dog stuff (bags, leashes, coat, towel) can't be beat.
view jmorey's profile
ugh, wish i could edit posts on here. would help my poor spelling and/or grammar. Should be "already had it" above...
view jmorey's profile
I think a whole book case for shoes is overkill. The hanging canvas thing on the inside of a closet door works for me, unless the shoes are really, really stinky. I don't want to see shoes--not on the stairs, not in an entryway, not anywhere visible. Do you display your undies?
view Palmetto's profile
I hope Gregory and Emily have good insurance because that whole "shoes on the stairway" thing looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen....
view Kathryn's profile
doesn't anyone keep their shoeboxes? I find it funny that the first suggestion for shoe storage is always to buy some plastic (of course) boxes and put some cute polaroids of the shoes on the outside. you know, shoes come with boxes that are made specifically for them, and to easily identify from the outside what they are.
view amt230's profile
Palmetto, a whole bookcase for showcasing pretty shoes seems quite dreamy to me =oP
view mdunlop's profile
I see amt230's point - to an extent. I can appreciate the use of plastic (I know, it'll leave forever in a landfill, but not if you don't throw them away...) in cases where you may want to have some uniformity and stackability. All cardboard boxes are not created equal. Also, what if there's a flood and your velvet shoes get ruined? You'd be thankful for those plastic shoe boxes(speaking from experience). For someone with many pairs of shoes - an embarrasing amount, trust me - the shelf idea is perfect! If you don't want it to look too "bookshelfy" you can even place one of those asian-themed screens in front, or get one of those mini rods and cover with a curtain... love it! If I end up doing this I'll post befores and afters. Thanks for the suggestion!
view Yuliz's profile
Oops! live, not leave!!!
view Yuliz's profile
palmetto, that is where shoes go usually, an entryway. no i do not display my undies, but i also don't plan on taking them off and putting them on at the front door. Plus undies is a bad analogy, maybe shirts or pants, or even socks, but the linkage to something that is under your clothes isn't a good match.
and if you have stinky feet, some odor eater powder works wonders.
if you have guests over and they choose to take their shoes off, where do they put them, probably not inside a coat closet on a door rack.
view jmorey's profile
Shoes go in a closet, not an entry way, in my world. I really don't know anyone who keeps their entire shoe wardrobe right by the door. Maybe running shoes or a pair of clogs or Crocs, but all your shoes? Weird.
I don't have guests that instantly disrobe the minute they walk in. It usually takes a couple of drinks.
Yes, a dedicated bookcase for shoes in my walk -n closet would be nice, and the minute I get the walk-in closet, I'll get the shoe shelf.
view Palmetto's profile
Shoe storage is always an interesting topic for me - as a professional organizer, I see shoe storage as a challenge for many of my clients.
I've blogged extensively on shoe storage ideas - including ones I've seen in Apartment Therapy! You can read about entryway shoe storage or other shoe storage ideas.
view Jeri Dansky's profile
i once saw a thing online on how to disassemble your shoe boxes so they all have that same cardboard look when you open your closet. it was on a how to website. Seemed nice if you want it to look less chaotic and you could always snap some pics with a digital camera and make them small and tape them to the outside of the box!
view witchbaby's profile
The issue with using the cardboard boxes that come with the shoes is that the sizes (both height & width) vary wildly (especially for women's shoes) so stacking them in a closet can become a jumbled mess quickly.
Uniformly sized boxes allow you to stack them (and some of the plastic boxes are like little drawers so you don't have to unstack to get to a pair on the bottom). However, I'm not a fan of putting shoes in plastic b/c I think they need to breathe.
I'm loving this solution from Ikea http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20107972 but it won't fit into my closet (the space is just a hair too narrow). I'm going imitate the idea and put in sliding shelves instead. That way, I can fully utilize the depth of the closet, but still access the shoes in the back.
view Hannala's profile