Nate Berkus' Showstopping Closet Will Give You Major Shoe Storage Inspiration

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you're a shoe lover or just someone who owns quite a few pairs of kicks, then you already know that maintaining a thoughtful, well-organized shoe storage space comes with its fair share of challenges. Everyone has their own idea of the best way to store your shoes, but all the shoe rack suggestions in the world won't help if you don't have an intentional system in place. Just ask Nate Berkus, whose closet is the epitome of shoe storage inspiration.

In a glimpse inside Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's Fifth Avenue home, the renowned designer treated his fans to a tour of his closet, revealing a pristine shoe organization system. Even with the massive amount of space — which can sometimes be more difficult to organize than smaller areas — there's nary a lingering shoe catastrophe in sight. Every pair is visible, evenly spaced, correctly matched, and easily accessible. Based on the group of stylish loafers on the foreground shelf, the shoes appear to be categorized by style. Another important note: There's absolutely no visual clutter, which makes all the shoes easily identifiable and simple to locate.

The shelves themselves are consistent in height and depth, a common feature in custom designs. Given Berkus' signature attention to detail and his obvious love for shoes, the shelves are likely tailored to accommodate the specific dimensions of his footwear. Additionally, integrated lighting plays an important role in the closet by further enhancing the ability to scan the collection with ease.

If you feel pressured to duplicate a dazzling Nate Berkus-style setup, don't worry: It's possible for you to achieve similar results. Firstly, take stock of your shoe collection size and use that to assess the amount of space you'll need to organize all of your shoes.

For a budget-friendly solution, experiment with a portable shoe rack with storage cubes such as one from Walmart to take advantage of vertical square footage. The rack can be positioned flat against a wall, keeping walkways clear and maximizing space. To replicate Berkus' perfectly spaced configuration, use shelf dividers like VILLFUL Adjustable Shelf Dividers to keep shoes from sliding out of place. If your closet is especially tight, shoe boxes such as BALEINE Stackable Shoe Storage Boxes allow for a uniform appearance without sacrificing accessibility. With clear plastic boxes, your shoes will remain visible plus lids help keep them clean and dust-free.

For those with a larger budget and more wiggle room, you may want to invest in a modular closet shelving system and then decide how you want to arrange your footwear: by color, style, season, or how often you wear them. Consider going the custom route and having the shelves built specifically to fit the height and width of your footwear, adding complementary materials and accents like built-in lighting for a more elevated aesthetic that combines function and your personal style. Finally, if you simply don't have it in you to tackle your tower of shoes, enlist the help of a professional closet organizer to wrangle your kickwear into a praise-worthy and well-arranged display.