Remember the episode of “Sex and the City” where Carrie Bradshaw goes to look at apartments, and the only one she can afford has a tiny closet, and she’s like, but where do the shoes go? And her agent is like, you get one of those racks that hang on the door, and Carrie is like, ew, no? Well, if you’ve ever been a renter, and you have more than two pairs of shoes, you’ve probably been there. The good news is, shoe storage doesn’t have to be ugly. We’ve searched the internet for the prettiest and most practical solutions for all your shoe storing needs.
Low
This hanging shoe bag gets the OK from us because it’s wide enough for you to place your shoes side by side, instead of jamming them into a narrow cubby. This is a good solution for a really, really small closet.
Just a basic shoe storage rack that gets the job done and isn’t too ugly to look at. Perfect for adding more shoe storage in your closet, underneath your clothes.
If you must embrace the necessary evil that is the over-the-door shoe rack (sorry Ms. Bradshaw!), this is the least offensive option. It doesn’t look terrible (no vinyl pockets here), and you can squeeze a lot of shoes onto this sucker in a little bit of space.
IKEA’s TRONES shoe storage cabinets (in white or black) can be used anywhere in the house—including grouped together in the entry.
These compact adjustable racks can be squeezed and stacked to optimize any sort of space for shoe storage.
Medium
A super basic, inoffensive style—and you can stack more shoes (or handbags, or what have you) on top to keep everything neat and tidy.
A rolling rack for the person with a serious shoe collection (and a little spare floor space).
An elegant and tall solution to store a handful of pairs in the footprint of one. The incorporated handle means you can tote it from the front door to the bedroom easily if you’re tidying for guests.
Here’s something that isn’t intended to be shoe storage at all, but will still get the job done beautifully: IKEA’s BILLY bookcases. (You can see them in action here and here.) BILLY comes in lots of different styles and colors to accommodate your needs, and the shelves can be adjusted for different kinds of shoes (like flats and boots).
High
This ceiling-mounted option is perfect for anywhere you want to squeeze in a little extra storage (and would likely make any room feel more like a boutique than a closet). Also available in a 36-inch width for $180.
Yes, it’s technically a media console, but we think this wood and metal TV unit could be repurposed as an entryway piece to keep shoes under control but still plainly in sight.
Pretty enough to leave out, and equally nice in an entry as in a bedroom.
It’s a bit of a splurge, but too pretty not to include—the powder coated steel and wood Sko Shoe Rack from Normann Copenhagen is a high-design shoe storage solution for anywhere in the home.