I Swapped My Shoe Rack for This Boho Storage Staple, and It Transformed My Entryway

When decorating my apartment, one of the things I struggle with most is finding the balance between a functional, yet lived-in feel and a curated, Instagram grid-worthy vibe. But recently, I’ve come to accept that I can’t subject my space to a perfectly staged-looking aesthetic because, no matter how badly I want everything to have a place and purpose, I live here, and some clutter is a sign of life. 

There’s one cluttered corner that had to go, though: my entryway shoe rack. I’m fortunate enough to live in a spacious 1960s-era apartment with a decent-size spot next to the front door — it’s the perfect entryway nook. However, this area hasn’t seen a ton of love since I moved in a few years ago. Instead, it’s just a catch-all for some of my most-worn shoes and piles of odds and ends like mail, a tote bag full of clothes that need tailoring, and a basket of fabric face masks. 

While on a cleaning and organizing spree a couple of months ago, I took one look at my messy entryway area and was determined to find a way to improve it. I immediately cracked open my laptop and headed to Wayfair in search of stylish shoe storage cabinets. 

Ultimately, I decided to go with the Bay Isle Home 16-pair shoe storage cabinet for its budget-friendly price tag and trendy boho rattan finish. It was also one of the only shoe storage cabinets I could find with a wide enough surface to double as an entryway table. 

To complete the look, I went to Target and picked up a new entryway wall hook, then ordered a smaller adhesive key hook from Amazon to keep my laundry room, pool, mail, and other keys organized. Additionally, I boxed up the face masks and repurposed the basket into a planter to add some greenery to the nook. 

I knew putting my shoes inside a cabinet would help make the space feel less messy and give me some peace of mind, but I didn’t expect it to totally transform my apartment in the way that it has. Now, my entryway corner still functions the same (it might be even better function-wise), but it also looks so much more stylish and intentional, too.

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