If you're struggling to see your hall floor under the mountain of footwear, or your shoe collection could give Carrie Bradshaw a run for her money, you'll know that some good shoe storage ideas are essential.
'Give a woman the right shoes and she can conquer the world…' said someone famous, at some point. But while we focus so much on the shoes we buy, the art of storing them can often be neglected.
A swamp of footwear in your hallway ideas might be a convenient option for your wellies or grubby walking boots, but it's no place for your best pair of heels or dress shoes.
‘Try to make use of every space – for instance, the top shelves in our cupboards are often underutilised and can offer invaluable storage if organised properly with storage boxes. The bottom of your wardrobe can also accommodate baskets which you can fill with shoes,’ says Rachal Hutcheson, national retail manager, Sharps.
Shoe storage ideas
Shoe storage isn't just about avoiding potential trip hazards, but also keeping your shoes in tip top condition. You wouldn't leave your clothes crumpled on the floor, so why leave your best shoes smooshed together where the dog/cat/sticky fingered child can get to them?
Whether you are looking to get your family's shoes in order with some hallway shoe storage ideas, or create an eye-catching display of your very best heels, we have shoe storage ideas for you. It doesn't matter whether you are negotiating a tiny hallway or looking for small bedroom shoe storage ideas, we'll 'shoe' you clever tips and tricks to stow away your collection of boots, trainers and ballet pumps.
1. Go simple and tuck them under a bench
If your hallway is wide enough then pop in a bench, it makes putting shoes on easier especially for little ones and you can store shoes underneath it. It’s not an option if you want to hide shoes, but if you don’t mind them being on show then push them under so no one trips over them during the morning rush.
‘A console table in an entrance hall, especially one with a lower shelf, can be a very handy place for shoes. You can place them neatly on the shelf or place them inside storage baskets. Another alternative is a storage chest or bench with a top cushion pad is another great solution in a hallway, affording lots of storage for shoes,’ says Simon Temprell, interior design manager, Neptune.
2. Go up and over
Good shoe storage ideas are those that maximise every inch of available space and if you like to see your shoes – let’s face it, there are some swoon worthy designs about – then display them up the side of your bedroom door and above it.
An experienced joiner will be able to install the shelving for you, paint it in the same colour as the rest of the woodwork so it flows with the rest of the scheme.
3. Consider modular shoe storage
With us all having various-sized hallways and limited hallway storage introducing a modular system could be the answer to your shoe clutter prayers.
‘When it comes to shoe storage – especially in the hallway – modular is a great option. Not only can it be moved around with ease, but it can be designed to suit the exact space requirements with the addition of cupboards or shelving and reconfigured as required,' says Jonathan Clark, creative director, Shelved.
'Benefitting from a slimline profile, modular storage won’t overwhelm the space but instead provides an attractive feature, perfect for your most-loved shoes.'
4. Pop your most-loved pairs on the bottom shelf
We love open shelving, the only requirement when using this bedroom storage idea is that it’s kept marginally tidy as everything is out on display – and this is where it can be used for shoe storage too – if you have favourite pairs that you use often and love, then keep them on the bottom shelf for ease.
5. Build a DIY solution
Create a bespoke solution for less by utilising a modular storage system like this Mesh Cubes Organiser from SONGMICS. It comes flatpacked so you can create whatever layout best suits your room, and you can alter the size of the cubes to accommodate taller footwear like boots and wellies. Build a pyramid shape or opt for a rectangular setup to make the most of the space your home has on offer.
It's also a useful option for creating storage inside an under stair cupboard as you can alter the layout to suit your particular under stair configuration and utilise every last inch of storage space. Plus, the mesh design means there's plenty of airflow to dry muddy shoes, fast.
6. Make a feature of your shoe display
Shoes can be beautiful, so why not put them on show and make a feature of them in your bedroom or walk-in wardrobe?
‘Create a show stopping moment for your shoe collection by displaying them within glass fronted cabinets with intelligent LED lighting recessed into shelving giving a soft ambient glow. Not only will this create a moment of drama and display, it is also very practical for clearly presenting your wardrobe options,’ says Felix Milns, HUX London.
7. The reliable basket option
Make it fun for the kids by giving them a basket each with their initials on. That way it might prevent lost trainers (and tears) and the odd plimsoll appearing in someone else's bedroom by mistake.
You could have one dedicated to wellies alone too as they’re bulkier and take up more space, pop a brolly in with them so all wet weather gear is kept in one place.
8. Add a hanging rack to your door
Organise your shoes with a hanging rack on the back of your bedroom or wardrobe door, available on Amazon. Super useful, they keep your floor space free and you can see all your shoes instantly.
Space-saving and versatile due to their narrow profile, most designs cost around £30 and hold up to 30 pairs of flat and heeled shoes – you can’t go wrong!
9. Invest in a contemporary wall-hung design
With hallways being the obvious place to store shoes, the best ideas have the storage off the floor.
‘A hallway is a part of your home with a lot of traffic, meaning floor space is in scarce supply. But it’s also the first impression of your home, so you really shouldn’t skimp on style or interior design. Obviously, it’s great to have a way to store shoes, hand bags and jackets. And with the String System, you have the opportunity to give everyone in the family access to their things at their ideal height. Display what makes your home welcoming and simply put away what makes it untidy,’ says Bo Hellberg, CMO, String Furniture.
10. Introduce a pull-out system
Built-in storage systems are for those who love order, and they certainly have their place – nothing beats the clever storage solutions they provide.
One great option is to have your shoes on a sliding system with a double layer. They’re ideal for tight spaces and you can place your favourites at the front.
‘Shoes are one of the most common items to cause overflow issues, as homes often lack a range of effective storage options. Fitted furniture is the perfect way to make use of every inch of available space. A made to measure wardrobe offers up to twice as much more space than the freestanding equivalent and can be personalised to meet your specific storage needs depending on the type of footwear you wish to store.
Dedicated shoe racks can be tiered with the ability to cascade or for awkwardly shaped footwear, boot rails are particularly effective,’ says Rachal Hutcheson, national retail manager, Sharps.
11. Choose a system that accommodates different sizes
We all like order don’t we, it can be a faff having a storage unit for shoes, and another one for boots and wellies.
There are solutions that deal with this common issue and some even come with name tags so there are no disputes when someone ‘accidentally’ uses your spot! Keep it by the door for easy use and if there’s one free slot use it for gloves, keys and the dog lead.
12. Invest in a slimline shoe storage cabinet
These slim shoe cabinets are perfect for keeping shoes tidied away in a small hallway. Each one flips open to provide space for you to slip a couple of pairs of shoes in.
The added bonus of this clever cabinet is that it also doubles as a hall table where you're family can balance a cup of tea as they pull their shoes on for work, or fling down their keys at the end of the day.
Buy now: TRONES Shoe cabinet/storage, black, £29 for two, IKEA
Another great thing about a modular system like this one, is that you can arrange as many cabinets as you need in the best configuration for you. This grid of nine is ideal for a bigger family.
13. Store wellies in wooden crates
Wellingtons and other boots can be quite tricky to store due to their height and tendency to topple over. In this room, the wellies wouldn't fit under the shoe storage space under the hall bench. However, to keep all the shoes in one place, they have been stored in rustic old crates under the hall table.
Not only will this stop them falling over, it will also stop cakes of mud covering the hallway. Most people's natural instinct would be to hide the wellies in such a lovely hallway, but combined with the crates, we think they make a lovely feature in the room.
14. Build in a bench shoe station
For a smart take on shoe storage, get a local carpenter to build you a bespoke bench that sits next to the front door. The lid can lift off to reveal oodles of space for trainers, wellies and boots, then pop back on so you have somewhere to sit and pop them on or off.
15. Add photos to shoe boxes
Stack shoes that you don't wear that often out of the way in boxes at the top of the wardrobe. Make life easier by printing out a photo of your shoes and sticking it to the front of the shoebox so that you can clearly see which pair is in which box.
16. Stack a growing shoe collection on shelves
We know at the moment we're all supposed to my embracing the Marie Kondo method and clearing out our clothes and shoes, but it's an inevitable fact that most women's and men's shoe collections grow as they get older.
This style of shelving unit is perfect for storing a growing shoe collections. If your shoes soon overwhelm all five shelves, simply roll it along and add another shelving unit.
If you aren't keen on the height of these shelves, you can also stick to adding in small shoe racks that you can build on.
17. Display kids shoes as part of an outfit
In this cute kid's room, outfits become a feature, not something hidden behind cupboard doors. New shoes are displayed neatly in pairs, alongside jumpers t-shirts and trousers. Granted, keeping them this neat is no small feat!
18. Build shoe shelves under a stair case
The space under the stairs is often a tricky area to negotiate and decide what to do with. In this home it has been turned into a storage nook with designated space for coats, umbrellas and shoes.
Attach floating shelves to the wall for shoe storage. Here they run up the full length of the wall, but you could swap them to the other wall where the coat hooks are if you wanted to add more shelves into the fiddly small space under the stairs.
19. Store shoes in a mix of open shelving and pull-out baskets
Getting kids to put away their shoes can be a nightmare. This unit doubles as a hall table and extra storage, with the added bonus that you can assign each of your children a box to store their shoes.
You can either leave the cubby holes open to allow for them to grab their shoes at lightning speed or add some coloured boxes from IKEA to keep the shoe clutter that accumulates with young kids out of the eye line of visitors.
For grown ups, fancy 'out out' heals and designer sandals can be left displayed on the open shelves, while those grubby gardening trainers you can't bare to part with can be hidden away out of sight.
20. Utilise space under the bed with drawers
Under the bed is a space often overlooked, stuffed with old suitcases or sheets. This space is actually far better suited to shoe storage, as you will be able to get a birds eye view of all your pretties as soon as you pull them out from under your bed.
You can either buy a bed already fitted with under bed drawers or purchase storage separately. You can buy under bed drawers on wheels or storage bags with specially divided sections or each pair of shoes.
Just be sure that whatever option you choose comes complete with a cover. Then your shoes won't get coated in dust.
21. Show the off on the stairs
Yes, shoes slung on the stairs can look messy and disorganised. But neatly stacking one beautiful pair per stair can actually look really neat and stylish, especially if you have gorgeous shoes and a pretty patterned staircase.
22. Build custom shoe drawers for small spaces
Custom built drawers are a great way to add extra shoe storage in a small space. Here the awkwardly small space under the stairs has been transformed into a secret shoe cupboard that doesn't cut down the floor space.
It is always worth looking at oddly shaped spaces and thinking if there is anyway you could squeeze a little extra storage out of them.
23. Hang high heels vertically
If you already have a dado rail running around your room it is the perfect space to store high heels. Simply hook the heel over the lip to keep them neat and tidied away. If you don't already have one, you can attach a look a like moulded rail to one of your walls, or why not add a couple to allow you to hang all your high heels in a block together.
This storage idea might be a bit overwhelming in a bedroom, unless you eat, sleep and breathe shoes, however it will work a treat for jazzing up your dressing room –ahem, sorry the guest room.
24. Add built-in shoe racks to a wardrobe
These shoe baskets are a stylish addition to this bedroom. Stacked up, they store plenty of shoes and are easy to look through and grab at a moment's notice. However, they also look neat and tidy within the room.
Open storage like this can run the risk of looking messy, to avoid this simply opted for purpose built shoe storage with a door that can be hidden inside the wardrobe, or hang fabric over the storage to add more colour and drama to the room.
You can use any type of storage basket to store your shoes, so long as it squeezes in the space you have available.
Related: Storage solutions for small spaces – 16 brilliant ideas to store more
25. Hang your shoes horizontally in a shoe caddy
This is the ideal solution if you prefer to keep your shoes hidden away and are short of space, but want to be able to pull out your favourite pair at a moments notice. You've probably seen hanging shelves before for T-shirts, these hanging shoe shelves are just as affective at adapting a wardrobe with only a single rail in it. You can pick these up from most homeware shops,.
However, to keep your shoes in the best condition, stuff shoes with tissue paper so that they keep there shape when you put them in the caddy.
26. Rack everything up in a freestanding solution
Get everything sorted with one simple industrial rack that can house your coats, hats and keys and bags, as well as shoes. This tried and tested approach won't date, and you can add cushions to make it a comfortable place to pull of those boots, or keep it clear for more footwear.
27. Build a multi-purpose hallway store
The owners of this home took an individualist approach to shoe storage and made their own. Favourite pairs are ready to grab and go, while other shoes and kick-knacks are hidden in drawers. They crafted the unit out of MDF, making the cubbies just the right size to fit drawers taken from old pieces of furniture destined for the tip, and a couple of crates.
How do you store shoes when you have no space?
There are several options you can consider – keeping them under your bed, in baskets or at the bottom of your wardrobe, these will take up little space.
‘If you are very short on space and have a very narrow hallway you could install some pegboard and hang your shoes in muslin drawstring bags,’ says Simon Temprell, interior design manager, Neptune.
‘Many of us find that our homes are short on storage but if you don’t have the space for fitted furniture, there’s still things you can do to keep your shoes organised. Multipurpose furniture, such as our fitted storage benches, are ideal for keeping shoes tucked away and are versatile enough to fit into hallways, bays or even the end of your bed,’ says Rachal Hutcheson, national retail manager, Sharps.
How does Marie Kondo organise shoes?
The wonderful Maire Kondo who has inspired us to look at all of our storage solutions believes that shoes should be kept in order, and they need to be seen so you can do that – get them all out and discard those you haven’t worn recently.
‘Marie Kondo advocates storing 'like with like'. We like that idea too and choosing transparent shoe boxes and shoe drawers which offer good visibility on a shelf in a wardrobe or cupboard is great for dress shoes or out of season shoes,' says Simon Glanville, managing director, A Place for Everything.
'Finally don't forget that precious space under the bed for storing out of season shoes.’
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