31 Incredibly Clever Shoe Storage Ideas (To Help You Get Organised)

• Closet shoe storage ideas
• Hallway furniture & ideas
• Creative shoe storage ideas
• DIY shoe storage
• Space-saving shoe storage

Too many shoes and nowhere to keep them? Let's deal with that messy mound of footwear head-on with 32 super shoe storage ideas.

From under bed shoe storage ideas to shoe storage boxes and racks, we've got a solution for every home however big or small.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in April 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in June 2019. 

Closet shoe storage ideas

1. Make tiny hangers for your shoes

This is perhaps the cutest shoe storage idea we've ever seen!

You can make tiny hangers for your shoes using regular wire coat hangers with. You can hang just about any type of shoe or sandal. We used a saw to remove the bottom section of the hanger and then took a pair of plyers and curled the ends over.

Looking for more closet storage ideas? If you attach a curtain pole to the bottom of your wardrobe, you'll be able to utilise that floor space in the best possible way! 

2. Attach towel rails to walls

One of the cheapest ways to make your own version of an IKEA shoe rack is by installing some cheap towel rails to the back of your wardrobe or spare wall space.

There'll be just enough room to slot in flat shoes such as pumps, slippers and sandals. For bigger shoes, you can attach a larger version with a bigger gap.

3. Hang boots up with clip hangers

A hanging shoe organizer is a perfect addition to any space, but how is it done? Lift those boots off the floor and into your wardrobe's lower hanging space by using clip hangers. You can still fit in your other shoes underneath! If you don't have a low rail, add one - it's easy enough.

4. Keep a flip flop basket

Store your flip flops in a basket to save them from going AWOL. Pick a cute one and you'll be able to keep it by the door during Summertime.

Hallway furniture & ideas

5. Display them on the stairs

Entryways are always tricky to style, but not with these great hallway ideas.

If you've got stairs, why not display your shoes on each step? It can look pretty cute and there's no excuse for everyone in the house to leave them lying around with this easy system in place.

6. Keep your shoes in buckets

Keep your shoes in labelled buckets - one for trainers, one for boots and so on. Tuck them away into a cupboard or shelving unit for a no-fuss way to store your shoes. This is an ideal solution for anyone isn't super tidy as you can literally plonk them all in.

7. Hang welly boots on a coat rack

Got lots of welly boots by your front or back door? Attach a coat hook rail to the wall and place wellies feet up to keep boots and mud off the floor.

8. Hide a shoe rack with a curtain

Don't like the idea of having a shoe rack on display but nowhere else to store them? Pretty up a shoe rack or hanging wall pouch with a curtain. You can pick an unused corner or crevice of a room and make a feature out of it. If you think it looks ugly, simply pull the curtain across.

9. Make a shoe holder with coat racks

Keep those shoes off the floor and make your room look bigger with a coat rack - come - shoe rack! Fix rows of coat holders horizontally to a wall space and hang all those shoes from it. You could even hang coats at the bottom and shoes on the top to maximise on space.

10. Over-the-door shoe organiser

We love a good over-the-door shoe organiser here at Expert Home Tips. Along with Barbies, Makeup and hair products, you can also keep your shoes in them. They're pretty cheap and will keep even your ugliest of shoes out of site.

11. How to store shoes next to the stairs

If space allows for it, try incorporating shelving next to the stairs. You could hang shelves along the wall or even build some open cabinets.

12. Hide them under the stairs

If you have empty space underneath your stairs, get creative and store your shoes there.

If you're looking for IKEA shoe storage solutions, their Kallax unit can keep a huge amount of shoes and you can even buy shoe storage boxes if you don't want your shoes to be seen.

13. Hide them under a bench

If you've got a bench in the entryway, double it up as shoe storage. All you need to do is cover the bench and visitors will be none the wiser that shoes are hiding there.

14. Install drawers into your stairs

Of all the shoe storage ideas out there, this has got the be the most impressive.

If you have the budget, installing roller drawers into your staircase will revolutionise your home! You can keep hundreds of pairs of shoes in them as well as all those other bits and pieces. Consult with a professional builder to see whether this is possible in your home.

Creative shoe storage ideas

15. File shoes away in folders

This is a really nifty shoe organizer using a product most of us have - filing folders. If you have lots of narrow flip-flops or plimsoles, you can store them neatly on a dedicated shoe shelf side by side. That said, they easily blend in with books and plants!

Why not make your own file organisers by cutting the ends off of cereal boxes? We love a good upcycling project! 

16. Hang your heels on a ladder

Shoes too pretty to hide? Make a lovely display - and keep them off the floor - by hanging your heeled shoes on a ladder.

17.  Hang booties from a curtain pole

Let's face it - anything to do with babies is pretty darn cute, so why not display their tiny shoes instead of hiding them away? Not only does it make a surprisingly sweet decoration, but it also frees up precious cupboard space. Hang a curtain rod up and use metal bulldog clips or pegs to hang booties up.

18. Store them in an old school locker

Find a cheap school locker on eBay or Amazon and pop shoe storage boxes one on top of the other inside. This is perfect for a way to make the most of a narrow space, and you can even spray paint it to suit the taste. Neutral white or navy would look lovely but we also love this statement orange - great for the kid's room.

19. Quirky shoe storage ideas

If your home is pretty quirky, you might be able to get away with some more unique store storage in your home.

Raid your local B&Q or Wickes for some cardboard tubing and stick them together with superglue. Leave natural or give them a lick of paint to really jazz them up.

20. Show them off in a cabinet

Who says cabinets are just for fine china! Buy a second-hand cabinet, and paint it to suit the decor. It may take up some space in your home but you'll be amazed at how many shoes you can fit inside.

If it has a display area, pick the prettiest ones to go in the glass, and the slightly more practical soles to go in drawers and cupboards. Some people prefer to keep their shoes out of sight so, if that's you, why not try this IKEA shoe cabinet?

We think a shoe cabinet is a perfect addition to any fashionista's home!

DIY shoe storage 

21. Wooden palette shoe rack

Want to make your own DIY shoe rack? This idea is easy peasy and can look great in a rustic home too.

Instead of building or putting up individual shoe racks, use an old wood palette as a shoe holder by sliding your shoes into the slots. Source one with large slits and you can keep both kids and adult shoes tidy.

22. Pile them in old paint tins

Doing up your home? Don't throw those old paint tins away - upcycle them into some nifty wall storage for your shoes instead. All you need to do is screw the base into the wall. You could even paint them for extra effect.

23. Store shoes in old wine crates

Need an excuse to stock up on your favourite wine? What if we told you that wine crates could be used for storing your shoes?

Upcycle old wine crates with a lick of paint and attach them to your wall using L Shape brackets. You can store shoes in them, on them and even under them!

Space-saving shoe storage 

24. Under bed shoe storage

Beds take up loads of space, but they can also save you space elsewhere too. Under-bed shoe storage is super easy - and cheap too. You can pick up shallow shoe storage boxes from most home stores. Check out these IKEA storage boxes or have a look in Argos and Homebase. If you're in the US, give places like Target and Walmart a try. 

25. Stack shoes in a spare corner

Make the most of a spare corner by fixing in some corner shelving or a corner unit. You’ll have easy access to them and you'll use redundant wall space. This is a great shoe organiser for small entryways.

26. Ottoman shoe storage

Got an old Ottoman lying around? Line the inside with shoe storage pouches and you’ll still have space in the middle for magazines, remote controls or maybe even spare blankets if it's big enough.

Ottomans also make great hallway furniture, because they double up as seating while you pop your shoes on. Opt for a longer ottoman for a shoe bench look. 

27. Invest in a shoe wheel

If you've got loads of shoes and want to be able to see and access them quickly when getting ready each morning, it might be worth investing in a shoe wheel. You'll be able to store up to thirty 30 pairs in one place and they don't take up much space either.

28. Slide a tray under the furniture

Another easy peasy way to store all those shoes is under the furniture. If you're struggling for a storage box that's shallow enough, consider picking up a cheap wall frame - they make great shoe trays for under low beds, chest and units.

29. Save space by alternating shoes

Just like in a shoe box, alternating your shoes will help save a lot of space. Do this wherever possible to maximise the area! 

30. Get a carousel shoe rack

Similarly to a shoe wheel, a carousel shoe rack will store up to 24 pairs of shoes. You can keep it absolutely anywhere and it ticks all the boxes - convenient, space-saving and tidy!

31. Hang shoes up high

Running out of space? Hang up some coving on the walls in your bedroom or wardrobe and make the most of the high wall space. It's an instant space saver.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any clever ideas on how to store shoes?

 

Let us know in the comments section below!

 

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