Shoe racks can easily go from being orderly to total disarray in a matter of minutes, especially when they're located in communal areas such as entryways and mudrooms. So how can you maximize the storage space to streamline its function?
This high-traffic area can get easily overlooked but with a few tweaks from our professional organizers, along with some great shoe storage solutions, your shoe rack can quickly go stressful to streamlined.
It's never a waste of time to learn how to maximize storage in every room, and that includes key areas such as shoe storage spots.
The best ways to get the most storage out of your shoe racks
1. Go heel to toe
Have you heard of this method? It's a game-changer for organizing your shoes, according to Cara Palmer, professional organizer and founder of OrganizeEveryRoom.com. She says, 'By turning one shoe to face forward and its partner to face backward, you can typically save 20-30% more space on your rack. This works especially well for sneakers and flats, which occupy the most horizontal space.'
You can use this in hanging shoe racks such as Target's 10 shelf hanging shoe storage organizer too, which is particularly handy when the storage width is limited.
Let this nifty little storage items make the most of your rack's vertical shoe storage space.
2. Pull-out drawers
If you can have a custom closet built then do consider investing in pull-out shelving. 'In deep closets, pull-out shoe racks are life-changing, they allow easy access to shoes stored at the back, making sure no space goes unused,' says Melissa Park, professional organizer and founder of With Arla.
However, if that's not possible and you want to organize shoes in a small closet Jenny Dietsch, chief executive organizer at Getting It Done Organizing has a great tip. She says, 'If your closet shelving isn’t changeable and there’s too much space between the shelves, try using clear acrylic dish risers. This is a fantastic hack for doubling your storage space!'
Amazon have a great range of suitable risers such as the Nxconsu 2-pack cabinet shelves which are stackable, nonslip and made from heavy duty metal.
3. Make sure you rotate your shoes
Rotating shoes is something that will most definitely free up space on your shoe rack. There are two rotations that can you do – seasonal and normal rotation.
Transitioning your seasonal clothing and shoes will immediately free up space, so get busy switching winter footwear with summer and vice versa.
Cara advises, 'For seasonal rotation, I recommend using clear, stackable shoe boxes with drop-front openings for off-season storage. These protect shoes from dust while keeping them visible and accessible.'
Juliana Meidl, founder and owner of Serenity at Home Detroit agrees, 'Shoe racks are great for shoes that are worn on a regular basis but given the limited space available on a shoe rack, we love shoe boxes as an option for the rest of the shoes. Other options include storing off season shoes in an underbed storage ideas or in a bin in a basement if there simply is not enough room in the closet.'
Below we've picked three options based on expert recommendations from Cara and Juliana but Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden also has a suggestion. She says, 'I use the Joseph Joseph stackable shoe boxes and they're easy to put together, stable and roomy, fitting my husbands size US 14 shoes with ease. I keep two pairs of women's high-top Converse trainers top and tailed in each one. We store this away from our entryway, meaning the smaller shoe storage area there stays streamlined and doesn't get too crowded day to day.'
Stylish and practical, these boxes are recommended by Cara for being her go-to shoe box. The drop-front opening means you don't need to unstack boxes to remove your shoes, simply open the clear plastic window instead. They come in small, large and X-large and 5 color choices.
Holding a total of 24 pairs of shoes, these are handily foldable when not in use, and easy to expand. The see-through PVC window ensures you can see your shoes and also protects from dust and debris until you need them again.
For seasonal shoe storage in a basements or garages, these clear bins with cutout handles are great for carrying, but also allow ventilation which is perfect for footwear. This size will give you enough space for 2 pairs if you store them one on top of the other. The flat lid ensures easy stacking too. If your storage space is not climate controlled, opt for an air tight storage bin instead to avoid mold or pest issues.
4. Over-the-door
Over-the-door shoe storage solutions are a great option when space is tight in your closet, (though there are things never to store in an over-the-door organizer) or if you've run out of space in your existing shoe rack.
'Use vertical space with an over-the-door organizer for frequently worn shoes. The Elfa utility shoe over-the-door rack solution from The Container Store includes adjustable shelves that can accommodate different shoe heights,' says Cara.
This allows you to store your most used shoes with easy every day access.
5. Adjustable shelving
If possible, opt for adjustable shelving in your shoe rack as it enables you to store different types of footwear without losing space as well as the overall effect being more organized and streamlined.
'If you have a lot of shoes, adjustable shelving is a great way to maximize storage. Try tightening up the spacing between shelves to open more space, and add more shelving below, if needed,' advises Jenny.
Modular shelving can help with this solution because you can essentially create your own design to suit your needs – we love the Shelving System No 7 in white from String, it's a classic design that will never date and gives you plenty of configuration options.
6. Shoe stackers
Shoe stackers are a genius idea and will work miracles on your shoe rack and are a great practical closet organizers solution if its within one. 'Do consider shoe stackers,' says Cara. 'They are small plastic platforms that let you safely stack one shoe on top of its mate. These work especially well for heels and can double your horizontal space.'
Alternatively you can try Jenny's method which works in a similar way to save space, 'Placing shoes one in front of the other instead of side by side allows you to maximize shelf width and fit more pairs without cluttering the space.'
Each non-slip shoe stacker from this brand, which is known for its product quality, will hold one pair of shoes and half the width of storage needed for each pair.
7. A dedicated shoe closet
If space allows, there's nothing more wonderful than having a dedicated shoe closet that's got all of the whistles and bells – LED lighting, custom made details and sections for every type of footwear.
'A dedicated shoe closet is the ultimate solution,' says Melissa. 'You can use built-in shelving and adjustable racks to cater to your entire collection, keeping them organized and in pristine condition.'
To create something similar so you can organize shoes in small closet style, consider using stackable sections on top of each other or opt for a portable solution that can fit into an alcove.
This smart design can be used as a single shoe rack or you can join two together to create one large design that has a custom built look. You can also choose between flat or angled shelves for easy access to your shoes.
A great alternative to a custom built shoe rack, this cabinet can hold between 27-35 pairs of shoes. The black fabric and roll down front ensures the shoes stay dust-proof, waterproof and dirt-proof and the metal frame offers stability.
Meet our experts
Cara Palmer is a home organization expert and founder of Organize Every Room, where she combines form, function, and fun to help people turn cluttered chaos into spaces they love.
Melissa is the founder of With Arla and is a professional organizer based in NYC, she help busy professionals – especially moms – create beautiful, functional spaces that make everyday life easier.
Jenny is the founder and CEO of Getting It Done Organizing, a full-service professional organizing and moving management company.
Serenity At Home is a Rochester-based home organizing company that was co-founded by Juliana Meidl and Laura Regalado in 2018. Our team works alongside our clients to create realistic and customized organizing systems that are sustainable for you and your family.
There are some really clever ideas to max out your shoe racks, from simply thinning out pairs you've not worn recently to using innovative solutions like shoe stackers.
If you're short on space, learning how to organize a capsule wardrobe will start to free up shelving.
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