just don't feel it. Not a shoes out-in-the-open person. I'd rather cut back on shoes and keep eyes off my clutter.

I'd hardly call shoes dirty laundry, but I prefer my shoes put away too. Some people like to display their shoes!

I love Apartment Therapy, but I'm starting to think that no one told commenters to say nothing if it isn't nice. Why are you all so judgemental?

During the summer, I keep boots in boxes under the bed. Instead of leaving my shoes out in the open like that, I'd rather keep them in clear plastic boxes and put them under the bed.

carlee134 - I took the same stance a few years ago and cut back to 5 pairs. Now I miss my shoes and live somewhere else :)

Wow! Haters!

I LOVE this but what to do with flats?

Wow indeed!

Some MDF and a few of the silicone Strap bands would do for flats and sandals, although the Straps are about $30 each, which makes this no longer some kind of budget project. But it would still look slick, actually probably even a little bit more modern. I do not hate this idea at all, although I don't have the kind of wall space required.

I feel compelled to point out, though, that the board pictured above won't hold anything close to "100 pairs" -- it would appear to hold about 25.

Whatever happened to "if you can't say something nice, say nothing".

Sheesh... Tough crowd.

I like it... I have two little boys, and a husband. We have a pile up at the front door all of the time. I may try this on a smaller scale! Thanks for sharing!

I think it could work in an attached garage. My husband and I have a pile at the door before we enter the house. Somehow the stacked floor show organizers are as much in the way as the pile of shoes. It's more creative than shoving them under the bed. Everyone is ready for the weekend maybe?

It seems there's a link between people with stinky feet, people with a shoes-out-in-the-open phobia and BORINGNESS.

I think a few rice paper/globe shades would really spruce this room right up!

ಠ_ಠ

I live in NYC and my closet is the smallest closet I've ever had in my life. So is the room! I moved from Atlanta where my walk in closet was probably at least half the size of my bedroom.

Anyway! I was wondering about the idea of displaying my shoes as art on the wall to help with storage and make an artistic statement. Cool idea! I have exposed brick in my room, so I wanted to arrange it against that for a contrast. I was going to only put my most attractive (read: least worn in ones) on display and keep the undesirables in my closet somewhere. This is a great idea! Bravo. Still trying to decide if I will do the same, but it's definitely creative storage and making the most of what you have.

This is perfect for chicks who love their shoes. So much money sits in the floor of my closet until I put them on, this would be great for showing them off.

Also, perfect for sending up a red flag about those guys with a foot fetish. Bonus!

This is a really, really good idea.

I built a huge (24" deep by 12' long) closet out of four $3 closet brackets, two $10 six foot 2"x24" pieces of dimensional lumber, and three $4 closet rods. Then I put up some curtain rods and wrapped the entire thing in homemade curtains and accented with antique saris that I picked up for a song. I was renting at the time and it was a perfect solution.

Now, I think I'm going to it again, except I'm going to do two shelf/rods high for double the hanging space, and I'm going to include a shoe rack like this one along the back wall. For the boot storage problem, I'm going to include this only slightly more complicated rack:

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Woodworking/Woodworking-Projects/build-a-shoe-organizer

I am so motivated now! After the holidays, that's going to be my big project: ultimate DIY curtain closet.

Thanks for pointing out the shoe count, Pythia; I was thinking the same thing :) No matter your storage system, 100 pairs of shoes take up a lot of space.

I don't have a pretty enough shoe collection to do this. But I do have a clothes rack in my room, and I love it. Clothing racks in bedrooms/living rooms/entryways are becoming more aesthetically pleasing to me!

I like it, especially the creative paint treatment!

Wow! Even if this isn't your cup o tea do you really have to be nasty? Would you speak so rudely to someone's face? Hope not.

People with stinky feet and people with a shoes-out-in-the-open phobia have boringness? I want statistics.

Well I like it! Between my shoes and my husbands dress shoes we have too many to keep in a small rack and we have extremely limited closet space. I like how the spaces is outlined! Very nice!

Well, apparently most people with commenter accounts will hate this (hi! I'm from Chicago, City of Hella Haters, I can take it, kids), but I did a likewise out-in-the-open shoe storage project this year: http://www.nadarine.com/2010/02/get-on-good-foot.html

I own somewhere near 100 pairs of shoes, and I have one small closet in my apartment. ONE. SMALL. CLOSET.
Sneakers and flip-flips go in under-the-bed lidded plastic totes; heels, boots, and flats go on the floating wall shelves.
I will say that it makes picking out shoes each morning a far more enjoyable process, and it also a good reminder to only buy shoes that are "wall-worthy". If I don't love them enough to display them, after all, do I really need them?

When our daughters were in college, my wood-working husband built them all beautiful platform beds that were high enough to put large Closet Maid shoe cubbies underneath on all sides.

So their "dust ruffles" were cool looking displays of cute shoes.

I would be concerned about the shoes collecting dust. I keep my shoes in a closet and still have to dust some of them before I wear them. If you have a lot of shoes, it seems that you would either be dusting frequently or looking at dusty shoes.

I disagree with the "if you can't say something nice say nothing" comments. It is interesting to hear feedback from others, including whether they like what's presented, other solutions for the same problem, or other factors to consider. I have learned a lot from so-called hater comments that include the basis for the opinion.

i love this!

For someone who doesn't have the storage space, this could be a viable option, but I think I would try it with shelves instead. It would look a little tidier and probably keep the shoes from becoming misshapen.

A few bedrooms ago, I didn't have the space for my shoes, either. I did have a double door to the living room that wasn't used, so I put two shoe racks on them. I hated it - seeing my shoes like that looked so cluttered. If I had the wall space, I would do something like this, but like I said, with shelves. It would look boutique-y!

This is a neat idea but I have some other suggestions for people who either don't like this way of shoe storage or who are looking for other options. If you have an extra drawer in a wardrobe or armoir type thing you could use that to line your shoes up in (provided your heels weren't too high). For people with stinky feet I suppose you could put in some lavender sachets or little baking soda sachets (baking soda absorbs smells) to freshen them up. If you don't have a wardrobe and need some way to hang them there are shoe hanging things that are basically a long fabric piece with pockets in it (open on top) that you can slide your shoes into. You don't have to install anything (like poles) and your shoes are covered by the pocket. You could probably hang this behind a door because they usually come with hooks for over the door (I had one in my dorm). Like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-Hanging-Canvas-20-Pocket-Shoe-Organizer/8195155 (but with less hideous colors) or even like this: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/hanging?productId=10005137&N=65218 in a corner of the room or behind something in the room.

I think this is great! I would put something like this in my closet or in my mud room. It wouldn't hold my husband's stinky combat boots, but that's okay. He can stink up his man room with those nasty things.
Too many Debbie Downer comments here people!

This is a great idea! It can be tough when you have a love of shoes and not enough storage for them. This is my ongoing issue. Great job Kelly!

I'm with @anniekins - shelves would be great! I love looking at my heels...I don't have a job where I get to wear them in my 9-to-5, so Sundays to church is about all the wear they get, and it always makes me sad to put them back in their boxes in my [wonderful and spacious] closet. Who doesn't like to look at the beautiful things they have?

oh i wish i could post a photo, I saw once someone had hung crown molding scraps lower and just hung the heels by the heel on it. It was really pretty. if I didnt trash my shoes wearing them in the city where they get all black I would definitly display them.

i think it looks amazing! i only have one, yes ONE, closet in my whole house. i think this would work great for me! thank you for showing us!

Ha! I took one look at Jenna Lyons shoes on display on glass shelves and knew it was for me. I successfully recreated it with a stand alone glass and iron shelf unit from Ikea and COULD NOT be happier. There is nothing, NOTHING as gratifying as dedicated shoe space for a woman who really enjoys her shoe purchases. If you think shoes are just to cover your feet, run your heels to the ground without a thought, or only own 5 pair, I guess this kind of indulgence isn't for you. Otherwise, do consider this, at least for your pumps and boots (my flats and flip flops are tossed in bins on the floor of my closet).

As for the stinky feet and dirty shoes commenters... I guess this is now my opportunity to not say anything that isn't nice, so I'll take it!

I've only seen maybe two posts that were actually mean, some posts that don't like this solution and the majority of posters telling anyone who isn't in love with this idea that they shouldn't be commenting.

To those who are attempting to moderate: I appreciate your efforts, but, the actually mean posts notwithstanding, you are entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine.

I happen to think that this is an intriguing idea, not executed to my taste in the post picture.

I have a large pocket style shoe tree nailed up on the vestibule wall outside my apt. door. To eliminate any odors (since guests have to pass by it to enter the apt) and keep any bugs from getting in the shoes I made sachets out of cedar wood and odd socks. Bugs avoid cedar, but only as long as it's fresh enough to have a strong fragrance.

Each sachet is large enough to fill the shoe, it gives lonely odd socks a new purpose and pet bedding made from cedar is cheap and easy to find.

I love her various quilts on her bed.

Sorry likers, me no like - looks like a college dorm room.

While I'm terrible about keeping my shoes in one place, I do like this idea. I especially like the frame that's been painted on!

The one thing that bugs me about it is that it would never work for me (I know, selfish, right). I live in Minnesota and - in case you didn't hear - we get snow. Therefore, I have several pairs of boots, ranging from sleek and stylish to utilitarian and waterproof to leather Renaissance style. I wish that there were an easy way to store my boots along with all of my other shoes without it looking ridiculous.

I would NEVER do this to any of my 140+ shoes. Light, dust and air will destroy your shoes. This is a no no for any serious shoe enthusiast. I have a dressing room and my shoes are all in their original paper boxes safely protected from those elements. They all look brand new still. :-)