Trying to store things in very limited spaces in a functional way can be as challenging as solving a complex jigsaw puzzle. Yet, essential things like shoes need to be easily accessible and maintainable, but also look good.
To help you achieve this, we’ve gathered several ideal shoe storage ideas for small spaces effective enough to even allow you some fresh footwear additions! Make sure to check them out and avoid a nerve-wracking clutter and mess!
Add a Small Shoe Shelf or Two Inside Your Closet
If you have some unused space inside your closet, then this solution will work for your shoes. Just add as many shelves as your closet space allows, and you’re good to go.
Moreover, by storing your footwear in the closet, you’ll preserve their shape and color since they’re not exposed to direct sunlight. What’s more, you can find the pair you want to wear instantly, and without a fuss.
Mounting additional shelves suitable for footwear is not a difficult task, and you can do it by yourself if you keep in mind the dimensions of the closet. Here’s an extra tip: arranging your shoes by color will make your closet more appealing.
Use a Compact Family Shoe Storage Cabinet
Families with kids use shoes that range in sizes and styles, so their storage can be messy. In this case, the best way to hide the unappealing pile of shoes is to invest in closed shoe storage, like a compact shoe cubby.
Cabinets are an excellent way to use your space effectively and store shoes discreetly. Still, tiny apartments rarely feature entryways or foyers big enough for this piece of furniture. If this is your case, you can pick a shoe cabinet that doubles as an entryway bench.
If this isn’t a possibility either, you can place your shoe cubby under the staircase or at the entrance of the room that is closest to the entryway.
Get a Compact Shoe Organizer with Drawers
Shoe organizers with drawers can be made to fit any room and style, from rich eclectic to minimalistic to japandi style.
Wicker baskets are a great way to store footwear since they allow air circulation and a neat, tidy appearance. Alternatively, you can use metal wire baskets, shoe boxes, or whatever fits your shoe size and interior design best.
Extra tip: put multiple pairs of shoes per drawer to save additional space. However, don’t overdo it because you’ll want to be able to get to the footwear on the bottom of the drawers easily.
There’s another advantage of this idea, depending on where you place the organizer. You can simply place your shoes directly into these baskets/drawers upon arrival instead of having to carefully arrange them in an open-display shelving system.
Place a Small Shoe Rack or a Drawer in the Wardrobe
Trying to create dedicated shoe-storage space on a budget? You can place any cheap shoe-storing item in a closet, from plastic shoe drawers and racks to closet door hangers. If you don’t stack them too tightly, your shoes will be stored neatly and with no mess.
The drawer option will give you sufficient storage space, but you need to be careful not to place too many pairs of shoes in a single drawer. Otherwise, you risk damaging them and even getting them stuck inside.
Extra tip: If you don’t like the aesthetic of a simple classic plastic shoe rack, you can always buy adhesive decoration to personalize the look.
Vertical Shoe Storage Compartments on a Clothes Rack
The openness of these racks makes them an ideal option for adding shoe racks and keeping your footwear readily available whenever you need to use it. Besides being highly space-efficient, this option is also very affordable.
You can add two or even four units one next to one another, each compartment for a single shoe. That’s why an odd number of these storage units isn’t such a good idea. Bear in mind that this storage idea isn’t suitable for big shoes and boots. These usually require a big, sturdy organizer.
Storing Shoes Under an Entryway Bench or Console
You’ve undoubtedly thought of this one—stacking your shoes under the entryway bench, but the true question here is how to do it without ruining a perfectly well-decorated entryway.
If you have an eclectic-style apartment, this will be a much easier way for you to organize shoes in a small space. This style features the best of every design, period, and style. So, you can use anything from wicker baskets and drawers to fabric storage.
The wicker boxes in the photo fit in perfectly with the rest of the room decor, and you should try to do the same—match your shoe storage with the style of your furniture. Still, we recommend you try this idea only for a couple of pairs of shoes that you wear regularly, not all of them. This will prevent messiness.
Mudroom Shelving
Shoe storage ideas for a small entryway can resemble one another in terms of functionality, so you might think that putting your shoes in an existing mudroom cabinet is as practical as keeping them under a bench. However, mudroom cabinets and shelves offer a lot more space.
For example, you can use the bottom shelves for your boots and place your child’s tiny ones on the upper shelves. Depending on the dimensions of the storage unit, you may even be able to keep boots there or other bulkier items.
Drawers Under the Bed
If there is unused space underneath your bed, wouldn’t it be nice to use it to the fullest? You can certainly achieve this with custom-made drawers that will fit your bed frame.
You’d be surprised how many pairs of shoes you can store in these units. Plus, you’ll likely have room left for other things as well. In some cases, fitting rolling storage boxes will do the job, too.
Corner Shelves
Vertical use of space is one of the basic principles of fitting more things in a tiny room and getting them off the floor, but the DIY shoe storage idea we’re proposing goes even further by repurposing corners.
Employing multiple bamboo rods is a stylish, visually unimposing way to create a storage unit on the wall. The rods in the picture give a natural vibe to the entryway, and fit perfectly with the Japanese decor on the wall. They’d also go beautifully with rustic, farmhouse, coastal, or Moroccan style.
Extra tip: if you’re renting the place, you can use tension rods to avoid any permanent changes to the room. Vary the spacing between the rods or shelves so you’ll be able to store bulkier, including boots.
Shoe Organizer That Doubles as a Bench
What better way to save space than to have a multifunctional piece of furniture like a practical entryway bench with shoe storage shelving?
So, instead of investing either in a new entryway bench or a space saving shoe rack, look for an item that will serve both those purposes.
Extra tip: benches such as the one you can see in the picture look fantastic when paired up with wall mounted shelves or even ceiling cabinetry of the same design. You can use them to store the footwear you don’t need for the season.
Conclusion
Storage boxes on the floor, racks under the staircase, drawers under the bed, hangers in the closet, or open shelving in the entryway… These are just a few from the myriad of ways you can store shoes in small rooms.
There’s only one thing you’ll need—a creative solution that will help you replace clutter with harmony. Looking at some professionally planned ideas for shoe storage in small apartments can help you do this and attain the interior style you were going for.
FAQ
How do you store shoes in a small area?
Of course, the right way to deal with your precious footwear will depend on the free space available. Here are some suggestions that work really well in most cases:
- Store your footwear in your closet by adding shelves, rods, skirt hangers, shoe racks, storage boxes or drawers.
- Invest in a small cabinet, a shoe rack, or a shelving unit in your entryway.
- Install mini-racks or drawers within the area underneath your bed.
- Mount a wall unit that you can use for shoes (hanging shoe racks, shelves, coat hangers that fit the purpose, etc).
- Stack your shoes under your entryway bench or a console.
How can I organize my shoes without a shoe rack?
If shoe racks aren’t an option for you, use a shoe cabinet, storage boxes, drawers, hangers, rods, shelves or shelving units.
You can place them on the wall, on your door, or in your closet, wardrobe, the space underneath your entryway bench, under your bed, etc.
Another way to avoid racks is to make your own shelving unit out of wooden crates, recycled drawers, metal wire, or any other material you have available.
How do you store boots in a small apartment?
Because of their size and shape, boots are trickier to store. So, you might need to purchase storage units specifically for boots, or adjust the ones you already have to store them. Here are some ideas:
- Use boot storage containers or taller storage boxes for your boots. Keep the containers in a closet or a similar unit close to your entryway.
- Use skirt hangers for your nice-weather boots. Add a rod to your closet to hang them.
- Mount a boot rack or shelves on the wall.
- Invest in a multi-tiered shoe rack or a height-adjustable one.
Generally, the best shoe storage ideas for small spaces will rely on vertical solutions. They’re necessary to keep your things off the floor and create a more open area.
