35 Clever Shoe Storage Ideas to Organize Your Closet and Entryway
So you can fit as many pairs as you want.
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There are lots of storage ideas in the world, but they don’t all make your life easier. We’re focused on finding solutions that will streamline your morning and evening routines fast. From stackable cubbies and classic tiered racks to angled shelves and clever baskets, there are a lot of options to consider for difference spaces, from your closet to the mudroom or next to the front door. We even included a wall-mounted mirror that opens to reveal shoe shelves. There’s no reason to edit down your shoe collection in the name of organization.
For expert insight, we reached out to Suze Dowling, cofounder and chief business officer of the homegoods company Pattern Brands. For starters, she recommends placing them in heel-to-toe formation (aka the shoes in each pair face opposite directions) to maximize space to fit as many pairs as possible. Also, "Make sure that your shoes are clean before storing them,” Dowling advises. “Wipe with a soft cloth, and insert a shoe deodorizer remover baggie to keep things fresh.”
Ready to get your closet organized? Start with the biggest job: your shoes. Trust us, once you put one of our 35 best shoe storage ideas to work, you’ll never go back.
More small-space storage hacks:
Make Every Inch Count
You don’t need a sprawling walk-in closet to have ample shoe storage. Sometimes it just takes some creative thinking. In this closet, designer Tanner Sammons extended the shoe shelves into the top of the angled wall to make use of every inch he could. Even just one more pair can make all the difference.
Co-Opt a Linen Closet
If there’s no room left in your bedroom closet but plenty of space in the linen closet down the hall, simply take over some of that square footage. This ensuite linen closet by Joshua Greene doubles as a shoe cubby, keeping pairs neat, tidy, and off the closet floor.
Get Creative With Placement
There’s no rule saying your shoes have to go in a closet. If you live in a small space, let your bedside furniture work double duty by utilizing it as a small armoire for your favorite pieces, as designer Juan Carretero did in his own Manhattan apartment.
Tuck Shoes Under a Bench
In an entryway, a bench works great as a drop zone and perch to sit and put on shoes. Plus, you can keep your most frequently worn pairs tucked under the bench. Designer Emily Janak opted for a furniture piece with well-placed arches to do just that in her home.
Leave Room to Grow
Storage is only beneficial as long as it remains functional. If space allows, build out your shoe storage with a little bit of breathing room. In House Beautiful’s 2022 Whole Home, this closet by designers Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos gives the homeowners more storage with room to add to their collection.
Keep Things Off the Floor
The quickest way for a room to look cleaner and more organized is to clear the floors. This closet, from House Beautiful’s 2020 Whole Home designed by Elizabeth Georgantas does just that with its clever raised storage and ceiling-height shelving—perfect for your shoeboxes and favorite pairs.
Choose a Bright Hue
Creating storage and organization isn’t always a fun endeavors, so make it more so with a bright pop color in your closet. This bubblegum pink reflects light and showcases this shoe collection.
Related: The Best Pink Paint Colors
Hide Off-Season Shoes
Designer Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs knows a thing or two about stylish storage. Just look at her dressing room in House Beautiful’s 2023 Whole Home. And while we swap out or clothing for the seasons, we should be doing the same with our shoes. Keep out-of-season footwear out of sight on a shelf at the top of your closet, or in a sneaky storage compartment like a window seat.
Angle the Shelves
What’s the point of shoe storage if you can’t see what you have? Take pride in your collection and show it off. By using angled shelves instead of flat ones, as designer Elizabeth Georgantas did in this primary closet, you can better see your footwear leading to an easier getting-ready process in the mornings.
Opt for Drawers
Take a note from Caren Rideau and house everyone’s shoes in mudroom drawers rather than in their individual closets. This way, you can still have a shoe-free household without the pile of footwear at the door.
Keep Their Shoes at Kid Level
Teaching your little ones independence is crucial. So help them get dressed on their own by keeping their favorite shoes where they can reach them easily. A deep shelf allows double the storage space for their bite-sized sneakers.
Related Story: Kids' Room Design Ideas
Hide Them Behind Sliding Doors
There's nothing more annoying than a closet door that keeps popping open because its contents are packed to the brim. Shoes can easily get caught in the hustle of getting ready. To streamline your mornings and save space, opt for sliding doors that not only look cleaner but also close better and more smoothly.
Utilize a Basket
For seasonal or occasional shoes, toss them into a storage basket where they’re contained but still easily accessible. This basket has handles so it’s easy to grab and go.
Related Story: The Best Storage Baskets
Keep Essentials Close By
We all go through phases when it comes to our clothes, so why let things you aren’t wearing right now to take up valuable storage space? Streamline your closet with an essentials rack to keep the things you’re loving most right now close by, including your current favorite shoes. It’ll make getting dressed so much simpler.
Related Story: Small Closet Organization Ideas
Pros
- Closed back
- Odor eliminating
- Includes six shelves
- Can fit 18 pairs of shoes
Cons
- Requires assembly
If the idea of a shoe cabinet is new to you, allow this Bay Isle Home find to serve as a stylish introduction. It fits 18 pairs—everything but boots—so feel free to clear up the floor space in your closet and hide all of your footwear in here. The pull-down parts are made of natural breathable rattan, so there's no need to worry about being smacked in the face by a rancid aroma every time you go for a pair of shoes.
Pros
- Available in seven colors
- Made of durable metal
- No assembly required
Cons
- Expensive
Chic shoe storage ideas are far and few between, so when we see a 10 out of 10 (in terms of fashion and function), we will snatch it right up. This durable metal rack by Pattern Brands also comes in six additional colors.
Pros
- Open cubbies for breathability
- Available in two finishes and multiple sizes
- Modular design
Cons
- Tower can collapse under a lot of weight
This may seem like a lot, but you can configure this Amazon tiered shoe rack however you see fit. Before buying it, consider the shape of the area where you'll be putting it. No matter how you assemble it, though, it can fit 28 pairs of shoes.
Pros
- Doubles as a console table
- Six shelves, including floor space
- Available in two finishes
Cons
- Expensive
And now for a more traditional shoe rack: This Yamazaki Home find comes in two finishes and doubles as an entryway console table—which is especially great if you live in a small space and don’t have tons of room to spare. Simply assemble this five-tiered (six if you count the floor space) shoe rack beside the front door and use the shelves for shoes and the wooden surface for keys and anything else you may need as you dash out the door.
Pros
- Modular design
- Stackable cubbies
- No assembly required
Cons
- Expensive
If this Rebrilliant piece looks a bit too big for a typical closet, rest assured that one unit is actually only a column, not all four. So if you have lots of shoes that need storing, you can snag as many columns, which fit nine pairs, as you like. And if you're worried the column may be a little tall, it's actually comprised of stackable cubbies, so you can lay it flat on the floor, create a square unit, or anything in between.
Pros
- Available in two finishes
- Space for 30 pairs
- Affordable
Cons
- Assembly required
Here's another more common shoe-storage solution that works in plenty of spaces. Full disclosure: We love the idea of using the top shelf of this streamlined Zipcode Design rack for leaning prints and books and the bottom shelves for shoes.
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