14 Things You Can Store In A Shoe Cabinet For Better Home Organization

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you're upgrading your home's interior design, you might find yourself needing to part with old furniture. The outside might need a refresh, or maybe it just doesn't fit with the new pieces of decor. Instead of throwing it away, it might be helpful to look past an item's advertised use and think of other ways to utilize the material. For example, an old shoe cabinet might seem like a one-use piece, but there are actually numerous ways to organize your home with one of these practical storage solutions. Keeping your pet's food and treats organized, minimizing the appearance of tech cords, and eliminating closet clutter are just a few of the ways these cabinets can help with organization.

If you're looking to add a shoe cabinet to your space to boost organization but don't have one on hand, there are affordable ones available. The IKEA HEMNES Shoe Cabinet with tilt drawers is a space-saving option at $179, while the $99 Xixini Shoe Cabinet with 2 Flip Drawers from Amazon has a bonus storage shelf. These can be used all around the house for organization and storage.

If you're dealing with a cramped bookshelf or have some titles you'd rather keep out of sight, try tucking them into a cabinet for easy storage. The tilt-out shelving is an ideal way to keep books hidden and minimize the look of clutter in your space. This is also a great organization method if you're meshing kids' books with your own, as you can designate a drawer for different categories. Now, you won't have to dig through piles of books to find what you need.

Are you tired of dealing with clutter from mail and paperwork building up in your entryway? One helpful way to both organize and store your mail and important documents is by hanging a shoe cabinet in the space that can keep these items out of view. Depending on the size of the cabinet, you may have some leftover drawer space after organizing incoming and outgoing mail. You can use these areas for other common items like keys or umbrellas so they are easily accessible for grab and go.

You don't have to part with you or your kids' favorite stuffed animals to free up space in your home. Instead, use an old tilt-out shoe cabinet to organize them and help keep them safe while in storage. In fact, it's recommended that you keep stuffed animals stored in a temperature-controlled environment, like in the home, rather than putting them in a storage unit with changing humidity. It's also a great solution for kids who may not be ready to part with their stuffed friends but want to keep their rooms organized.

Is your linen closet overflowing with extra towels you only find yourself using a few times a year at the beach or pool? Free up space by taking out those lesser-used items and storing them away in a shoe cabinet. The best part? If you choose not to mount the cabinet on the wall, you'll be able to move it freely as needed. For example, store it in your bathroom or laundry room for easy access during the summer and then move it to the guest room during the off-season.

If you're looking for items you can use to organize your bathroom, don't forget to keep larger ticket items like cabinets in mind. It's easy to think of drawer organizers and shower caddies, but what about those items that aren't quite ready for use yet? Extra shampoo bottles and stock-ups from your latest wholesale shopping trip can find a home in an old shoe cabinet without taking up any space in your vanity or countertop. You could even store toilet paper rolls in the shoe organizer.

Take those knick-knacks that are overwhelming your junk drawer and get them organized by using a tilt-out cabinet for various items. The well-known junk drawer is typically a drawer in a central location that ends up storing all of the odds and ends that don't quite fit anywhere else. While it's easy to just toss items in here, having them organized and in dedicated spaces helps to make sure nothing is overlooked or gets lost in the back of the drawer.

An easy way to free up valuable closet space is by taking out all of your off-season clothes and organizing them for storage. This is especially helpful for those in cold climates with bulky items like coats and sweaters in their space. If you have an old shoe cabinet, you can use it to keep seasonal clothing handy if you happen to need it on a chilly day but still tucked out of the way for functionality.

Tired of looking at those tangled piles of cords around the house? From phone chargers to routers and TV setups, it seems like our spaces are destined to be filled with an overload of tech equipment. You can take charge of your space by tucking these items into a shoe cabinet as a way to conceal them and keep them organized. This method allows you to separate each item by function and prevents you from searching endlessly for a charger when you need it most.

If you're someone who enjoys having workout equipment like dumbbells, water bottles, shaker cups, and sweat towels on hand, you know how easy it is for these items to end up in a pile at the end of the day. You can keep your at-home gym space organized by installing an old shoe cabinet to hold these essential items. This is not only a great way to enhance the visual aspect of the space, but having an organized room can also make working out easier overall.

An easy way to keep your pet supplies organized is by storing their toys in a shoe cabinet. It's so easy to keep buying pets new toys — until you realize there are piles of them in every corner of the house. Instead of letting them accumulate, try picking up a few and storing them in cabinet drawers. Having your pet's toys on a rotation is also a great way to keep their brains engaged and help prevent them from getting bored with the same old playtime routine while also keeping your space clutter-free.

Keeping a focus on our furry friends, a shoe cabinet is also a great tool for organizing their food and treats. This hack is ideal for those with multiple pets and pet parents who want to keep meal times simplified. Use a different drawer for each pet or to keep medications separate from treats and out of reach from little hands. You can get creative and customize the exterior of the cabinet with quirky pet-related elements like bones or paws, or have it match your existing decor for a cohesive look.

Not a fan of keeping your kitchen towels on the oven door where they are at risk of being splashed during meal prep? Keep them tucked away and safe from splattering oil by placing a shoe cabinet in your kitchen. Whether mounted to the wall or tucked in the pantry, you can keep kitchen towels and aprons organized without having to dig them out from storage every time they're needed.

One major perk of using a shoe cabinet for organization is that it can also function as decor while helping keep things in their designated place. For example, you can use the drawer space to keep your throw blankets, extra remotes, or seasonal decor tucked away and out of sight but still within reach. In addition, you can style the exterior of the cabinet to match your living room decor and enhance the space rather than look like a plain storage cabinet.

One unsuspecting way to DIY your own wine storage rack is by using a shoe cabinet as the base for this upcycle. You can use the cabinet as-is, or change up the appearance by adding embellishments to the drawer fronts for a bit of customization. The slide-out storage method is perfect for laying wine bottles and optimizing counter space you'd have to use to store the bottles otherwise. Organize the wine by drawer to keep certain varieties separate, and keep one section dedicated to tools and cups for easy access.