10 Genius Shoe Storage Hacks
If your heels, flats, runners and boots are piling up in your entry or bedroom, restore order with these savvy storage ideas
I swoon over gorgeous shoes in every possible shape and heel height, and never fail to get a buzz from splurging on a new pair (or two, or three or four – whoops!). But whether you are drawn to bejewelled vintage heels or light-as-air neon runners, the challenge is clearly where to stash your purchases – as well as those belonging to the rest of the family. Check out these 10 top storage hacks and make your home a shoe-happy haven.
2. Display cute footwear
This is possibly my favourite hack for keeping little ones’ sandals and runners off the bedroom floor – and it ingeniously repurposes a piece of furniture. Seek out a vintage partitioned wall cupboard or set of cubbyholes and squeeze a teeny-weeny pair of shoes into each box. It’s wall art and wonderful storage in one.
This is possibly my favourite hack for keeping little ones’ sandals and runners off the bedroom floor – and it ingeniously repurposes a piece of furniture. Seek out a vintage partitioned wall cupboard or set of cubbyholes and squeeze a teeny-weeny pair of shoes into each box. It’s wall art and wonderful storage in one.
3. Tidy up the hallway
Hallways tend to get clogged up with a mountain of kicked-off school shoes, runners and thongs, making a serious mess of our entrance spaces. This straightforward solution requires investing in a slim shoe storage unit (which you can pick up at lots of big retailers these days). Then tailor the unit to your space by having a cabinet built around it, with doors you can shut to hide the entire stash.
Hallways tend to get clogged up with a mountain of kicked-off school shoes, runners and thongs, making a serious mess of our entrance spaces. This straightforward solution requires investing in a slim shoe storage unit (which you can pick up at lots of big retailers these days). Then tailor the unit to your space by having a cabinet built around it, with doors you can shut to hide the entire stash.
4. Layer with shelves
Let’s face it, if you’re the proud owner of a prized collection of Jimmy Choos, Christian Louboutins and Manolo Blahniks, you’ll want an efficient and organised storage hub to neatly stock your investments. This owner has more than 200 pairs of designer-label lovelies to her name (eat your heart out, Sarah Jessica Parker), so she had a custom shoe wall made to accommodate the exact dimensions of her footwear.
For an easier and less expensive DIY solution, fit out an alcove or cupboard with rows of white shelving and get those shoes off the floor.
12 clever ways to rein your wardrobe in
Let’s face it, if you’re the proud owner of a prized collection of Jimmy Choos, Christian Louboutins and Manolo Blahniks, you’ll want an efficient and organised storage hub to neatly stock your investments. This owner has more than 200 pairs of designer-label lovelies to her name (eat your heart out, Sarah Jessica Parker), so she had a custom shoe wall made to accommodate the exact dimensions of her footwear.
For an easier and less expensive DIY solution, fit out an alcove or cupboard with rows of white shelving and get those shoes off the floor.
12 clever ways to rein your wardrobe in
5. Transform a cupboard
I love this idea for being straightforward and doing the job so reliably well. A large linen cupboard or wardrobe has been overhauled into a huge shoe storage cabinet, thanks to rows of slanted shelves, allowing enough space underneath for taller boots. Sometimes it’s the simple ideas that work so incredibly well.
9 genius clothes storage hacks
I love this idea for being straightforward and doing the job so reliably well. A large linen cupboard or wardrobe has been overhauled into a huge shoe storage cabinet, thanks to rows of slanted shelves, allowing enough space underneath for taller boots. Sometimes it’s the simple ideas that work so incredibly well.
9 genius clothes storage hacks
6. File them away
This is a tried and tested shoe hack, and one guaranteed to bring peace and harmony to a pile of unruly footwear. Either use the box the shoes came in or splurge on matching, uniform boxes for an enhanced sense of file-it-away efficiency in a system where no dust or dirt can ruin your precious purchases. Don’t forget to take a photo of the shoes inside so you don’t end up rummaging around, tearing open box after box (and being left with more mess than you started with!).
This is a tried and tested shoe hack, and one guaranteed to bring peace and harmony to a pile of unruly footwear. Either use the box the shoes came in or splurge on matching, uniform boxes for an enhanced sense of file-it-away efficiency in a system where no dust or dirt can ruin your precious purchases. Don’t forget to take a photo of the shoes inside so you don’t end up rummaging around, tearing open box after box (and being left with more mess than you started with!).
7. Clear it up
If labelling white cardboard boxes is too time-consuming, try stashing your sandals, boots and power heels in clear acrylic boxes. That way you’ll be able to see what’s in each box at a glance, and your shoes will still be protected from everyday dust and grime. See-through plastic tubs are also easy to get a hold of and come in a range of sizes to suit your needs.
If labelling white cardboard boxes is too time-consuming, try stashing your sandals, boots and power heels in clear acrylic boxes. That way you’ll be able to see what’s in each box at a glance, and your shoes will still be protected from everyday dust and grime. See-through plastic tubs are also easy to get a hold of and come in a range of sizes to suit your needs.
8. Fill a narrow gap
Skinny, underused wall spaces can be maxed out with special shoe holders, which will allow you to display your collection with ease. If you don’t have a walk-in wardrobe, no worries – you can overhaul a hallway space, an unused cupboard or an under-stairs area just as well by taking the same tack.
Skinny, underused wall spaces can be maxed out with special shoe holders, which will allow you to display your collection with ease. If you don’t have a walk-in wardrobe, no worries – you can overhaul a hallway space, an unused cupboard or an under-stairs area just as well by taking the same tack.
9. Make use of a rail
Tall boots are notoriously difficult to store, as they can get bent and crumpled when shoehorned into a box or the bottom of a wardrobe. This clever idea uses a simple mid-height rail and a few sturdy metal hangers with clips for hanging up boots in perfect order. With your prized footwear hanging neatly in twos ready for the taking, there will be no more rummaging around for a matching pair.
Tall boots are notoriously difficult to store, as they can get bent and crumpled when shoehorned into a box or the bottom of a wardrobe. This clever idea uses a simple mid-height rail and a few sturdy metal hangers with clips for hanging up boots in perfect order. With your prized footwear hanging neatly in twos ready for the taking, there will be no more rummaging around for a matching pair.
10. Disguise storage in a step
OK, so this storage hack needs to be built and installed from the outset – but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for good. Pullout stairs are a fabulous storage addition to any home and can fit in an unbelievable amount of footwear for the whole family.
TELL US
Do you have a savvy shoe storage hack to share? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments.
MORE
21 Nifty Ways to Stash Your Shoes
Transition Zone: How to Create a ‘Mudroom’
12 Tips to Make the Most of a Small Walk-in Wardrobe
OK, so this storage hack needs to be built and installed from the outset – but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for good. Pullout stairs are a fabulous storage addition to any home and can fit in an unbelievable amount of footwear for the whole family.
TELL US
Do you have a savvy shoe storage hack to share? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments.
MORE
21 Nifty Ways to Stash Your Shoes
Transition Zone: How to Create a ‘Mudroom’
12 Tips to Make the Most of a Small Walk-in Wardrobe
Your pretty vintage stilettos and colour-blocked heels are just too gorgeous to hide from view, don’t you think? So display your fabulous footwear for all to see. This hack requires a few strips of moulding (painted in the same colour as your wall to be ‘invisible’) so you can hook on your heels for a dazzling display. And what better excuse for going out and buying some more shoes than to add to your growing ‘installation’?