I Replaced My Shoe Rack with a Smaller, Sleeker One That Doubles as an Entryway Table

One of the biggest mistakes I make time and time again in my tiny apartment is getting the largest possible organizer I can fit. I overcompensate for the lack of storage by taking up tons of square footage with added organization — and all it does is create visual clutter and actually encourage me to have more items. So recently, when I realized my entryway was looking a bit disastrous, I decided it was time to downsize.

I had a well-loved Yamazaki Home Rolling Five-Tier Shoe Rack that served me well for years, but when the brand’s new sister homeware brand, Apto, dropped the sleek Obround Tall Shoe Rack, I knew it would instantly make my apartment look less cluttered. 

The Apto Obround Tall Shoe Rack is a five-tier shoe storage rack that doubles as an entryway table. It’s made of powder-coated steel and can hold 45 pounds total (or 9 pounds per shelf). At 30 inches wide, 33 inches tall, and 7 inches deep, it’s the perfect mix of form and function for small spaces. I have it in black, but it just launched in a gorgeous creamy ivory, too.

I’m a women’s size 9.5, so my feet are on the larger side, but I’m able to fit a whopping 18 pairs of shoes on the Obround shoe rack, plus a few hardware bins and jars of entryway essentials on top. I love that it doesn’t add any extra bulk to my living room with its sleek rounded black curves and continuous lines. It doesn’t have wheels, which makes it feel stable and modern, and instead it sits almost flush to the ground with small adjustable feet, so it’s harder for dust and cat hair to get underneath. 

First off, it took less than 10 minutes to build from start to finish with just a small screwdriver (I’m pretty handy, but this was beginner-level easy). The Apto Obround Shoe Rack is sturdy and adjustable, so you can decide if you want the smallest section to be at the top or the bottom depending on what shoes you want to store where; I chose to put it on top where I can store sandals, Crocs, and mules, while I keep boots at the bottom. (It’s no wonder it’s a 2026 Apartment Therapy Organizing Award winner!)

I never thought I’d find a shoe rack that’s actually … beautiful. It’s functional decor in the best way, because it stores my most prized possessions in an easily accessible way, but it adds so much style to my entryway effortlessly. It’s still a spacious shoe rack with tons of storage space, but it’s smaller than my previous one. Here’s how the two compare.

The style, build, and profile of the two shoe racks are totally different. I’d say the Apto Obround Shoe Rack is the sleeker, more contemporary sister of the parent brand, Yamazaki Home’s, Rolling Five-Tier Shoe Rack made of minimalist steel and wood. Price-wise, the Obround is $225 compared to Yamazaki’s $188; the Yamazaki Home rack can hold about eight additional pairs, but for me, because it was bigger in every dimension, it became a catch-all that invited additional clutter. 

Because it’s smaller, the sleek Apto Obround Shoe Rack forces me to be more intentional with what I store on top, as well as which shoes deserve a prime spot. As I transferred my shoes, I realized there were at least six pairs that I hadn’t worn in about a year, so those were relegated to my closet shoe storage or my donation bag. Who knew a storage gem could also help me declutter?

Buy: Apto Obround Shoe Rack, $225