I Put Dollar Tree Wire Cabinet Shelves in My Closet for Smart Shoe Storage

I do my best to maximize the storage in my tiny apartment, and I’m always learning new tricks to make extra space. Although I store bulky winter clothes in vacuum-sealed bags underneath my bed, I like to keep transitional-weather pieces within reach in my closet. I’ve historically stored these items — mostly lightweight sweaters and long-sleeve tops — in packing cubes in the top shelf of my bedroom closet, but it wasn’t until I learned about an ingenious trick on Apartment Therapy that I realized I wasn’t maximizing this shelf area as well as I could have been.

For less than $5, I created extra closet space without compromising access to my clothes in just a few minutes. It just took three items from Dollar Tree.

The Apartment Therapy article highlighted a video from creator Emma Villaneda, in which she zip ties together a few Dollar Tree wire cabinet shelves using nylon cable ties to create vertical shoe storage in her closet. Because there was plenty of height above my packing cubes in my closet, I knew this hack would work perfectly for my top shelf. I picked up three $1.50 wire cabinet shelves from my local Dollar Tree, and I already had a few zip ties, so this quick project only cost me about $4.50.

I placed my packing cubes on the top shelf and realized the spacious bottom area would be perfect for my bulkiest Crocs sandals. There was still room left beneath the wire cabinet shelves, so I could store a couple of my most used transitional-weather shoes like ballet flats and loafers. 

This easy hack is functional for clothing and shoes in almost any closet, but can also be useful for storing detergent pods and dryer sheets in laundry rooms, haircare products and bars of soap under a bathroom sink, and, spices and dishware in your kitchen cabinets. By adding vertical storage space that otherwise goes unused, it’s so smart for small spaces.

Best of all, this is a truly inexpensive way to instantly create storage without adding unnecessary bulk. It just took a few minutes and a little ingenuity.