With the average person said to own around 7-8 pairs of shoes, we’ve put together this guide on some creative and clever shoe storage ideas to help you avoid having your shoes cluttering the hallway.
A few things to note when storing shoes
Storing your shoes in the right way can make them last longer.
Firstly, when you get a new pair of shoes, it’s important to remove them from the cardboard box they came in as soon as possible. Keeping your shoes in the box can potentially lead to mould growth.
Your shoes also need to be kept in a dry, well-ventilated space in order to remain in good condition. We recommend using silica gel packets – which most shoe shops will provide in the box – to help absorb the moisture in the air.
When it comes to shoes, how you choose to store should really depend on what materials they’re made from.
You may find that more casual shoes, designed for daily wear, are designed to respond to the elements more favourably whereas certain types of boots, made from materials like suede or leather, aren’t quite as durable.
Below are different ways to store both kinds of shoes, regardless of if they’re your everyday trainers or your statement boots.
Storage ideas for regular shoes
1) Shoe racks
For most, storing your shoes in the hallway is the default, and we can understand why. The hallway is right by the front door, so you can easily slip on your shoes as you’re about to head out. And, of course, it also means you can take off your shoes as soon as you get home, preventing any dirt from the outside being dragged across all your floors.
However, shoes can also take up a lot of space and what you don’t want is for your shoes to completely block up the hallway.
So rather than just spreading your shoes across the hallway, consider buying a small shoe rack with 2-3 tiers. This will ensure that your shoes take up a lot less space in the hallway and will make your hallway look neater and more organised in general.
2) Floating shoe shelves
If you have shoes that you’re particularly proud of and fancy showcasing them, why not treat yourself to some floating shoe shelves?
It might require a little more DIY than your standard standalone shoe rack, but it certainly is a more creative way to store your shoes. Simply mount some shelves on the lower part of one of your hallway walls to create a shoe hall of fame aesthetic in your home. To complete the floating look and really create an immersive visual experience for you and your guests, you could even get fully transparent shelves that make it look like your shoes are floating all on their own.
3) A shoe cupboard
A shoe cupboard might take up a fair bit of space, at least compared to a shoe rack, but this storage solution is more about the appearance of your home rather than the saving of your space.
Having a cupboard to hide away your shoes will give your home a less cluttered feel and also make it easier to organise your shoes especially if you have a lot of them.
Perhaps better suited to a household with a significant number of shoes, due to the space a cupboard might take up, a shoe cupboard can nevertheless be used for other purposes too, such as a space in which to store letters, tools, car keys, and other knick-knacks.
4) Shoe storage benches
A shoe storage bench resembles an Ottoman box but is designed specifically for heavier duty items like shoes and the like. They’re sturdy enough to be sat on so can double up as a hallway bench, offering you a place to sit while you put on your shoes too.
Storage ideas for boots
Unlike regular shoes, boots are often made from leather or suede and need to be stored in a particular way which differs from the way you would store normal shoes. It’s important to store them upright and secure them in place, especially if they’re tall, to help prevent any damage from occurring.
5) Wall mounted boot stands
Wall-mounted boot stands are great for storing boots. The boots are hung upside down on the stand allowing them to keep their shape. What’s more, this stand is often secured higher up on the wall so even if you have a different solution for storing your shoes in your hallway like a shoe rack on the floor, this type of stand wouldn’t get in the way.
6) A boot rack
A boot rack differs from a standard shoe rack by having upward facing rows of metal that stick up, holding the boot in place and helping it to maintain its shape.
However, don’t worry, you won’t need to buy one rack for shoes and a separate one for boots. It’s become more commonplace to find hybrid boot & shoe racks that have both a regular section for shoes, as well as a section with metal poles for your boots.
If you just love your shoes and, even after implementing some of these ideas, still have too many pairs for your house to contain, it might be worth considering hiring a self storage unit.
We offer 24 hour, 7 days a week access to your storage unit and are fitted with CCTV cameras.
Swap out and change up your shoe collection whenever you like knowing that your shoes and all your other items are safe and secure at an Attic Self Storage facility.
We have facilities all across London so please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to find out more about storing your items with Attic Self Storage.
Posted on 28th June 2022 by Sophie Bagnall | Last updated on 16th April 2025
