12 Useful Ways To Use A Shoe Storage Bench Other Than In The Entryway

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There's good reason why multifunctional furniture is a powerful trend right now and worth investing in. Not only do these use-for-everything pieces provide more discreet ways to store items, but they also make for great accent pieces in a room. Shoe storage benches, for example, are often added to entryways or mudrooms as both shoe organizer and for general storage. However, they also double as a something to sit on when putting on your sneakers. Shoe storage benches can help you stay organized in other areas of the home, too. Since they come in designs and materials, they're highly versatile. Don't limit them to entryways. Instead, use one to furnish other areas of your home: store linens in the laundry room, toys in a playroom, toilet paper rolls in the bathroom, or extra blankets at the end of your bed.

Extra storage is a hot commodity for any homeowner. Tidy spaces can quickly become cluttered and unorganized the moment an item finds a home in a spot where it doesn't belong. Going overboard on a shopping trip can leave you with more items, be it clothing, décor, or cleaning products, than you have places to put them. Items strewn about with no rhyme or reason can ruin the aesthetic of a room, making it feel cramped and junk-filled. Home decor storage solutions that will give you more peace of mind are a tried and true way to keep rooms — and your wider home — looking put together and organized. One such often-overlooked item is the shoe storage bench.

Bedrooms should be a place of tranquility and relaxation. Clutter can quickly ruin the peaceful aesthetic of your sleeping space. Prevent disorganization and disarray by adding a shoe storage bench to your bedroom furnishings. A storage bench at the foot of your bed can become a receptacle for decorative pillows, throws, spare linens, and other bed accessories. Adding a shoe storage bench to your bedroom can also add a seating area to the space that can hold clothes and other knick-knacks that you may not have found a place for.

Laundry rooms are often small with limited storage space. A shoe storage bench in your laundry transforms into a useful storage receptacle for bed linens and towels that might not have a designated storage area. A storage bench can also be used to hold laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and other cleaning essentials. Covered shoe storage benches can be a laundry folding table in a pinch (they're usually not table-height, making them a little impractical for this purpose). They can also serve as a place to rest a heavy laundry basket.

You can add a shoe storage bench to a home library or reading corner for a simple bookshelf. A three-tiered storage bench, like this Romguar Craft 3 Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack, can house plenty of reading material. If you opt for a storage bench with flip-out drawers, like the Hong.Coo Shoe Storage Bench with Flip Drawer Shoe Storage, you can keep your literary collection a secret from family members and visitors alike. Store books flat with spines facing outwards for easy selection. Both styles provide extra seating, too.

A favorite alternative use for a shoe storage bench is to repurpose it into toy storage wherever toys are commonly strewn about. Reduce the clutter and disarray of family living rooms, play rooms, and kids bedrooms by putting misplaced toys onto the shelves themselves or in baskets on the shelves. The shoe organizer can be used to house stuffed animals, board games, action figures, book bags, and so many other items. Choose one with a cushioned bench — a rest area between play sessions for tired kiddos.

Use a shoe storage bench in your living room as a catch-all storage space for clutter — from remotes and charging cables to magazines. Hide knickknacks inside a bench with drawers or baskets labeled with the items they hold. If the top of the bench is hard and flat, it makes for the perfect coffee table replacement. A covered shoe storage bench can also be repurposed into a decorative ottoman with storage. Don't have enough places to seat guests? No worries! A shoe storage bench doubles as extra seating.

If it's made with durable, weatherproof materials, you can use a shoe storage bench for outdoor storage — though ideally, it will sit under some kind of shelter. Use it to hide away swimming pool toys, towels, or gear. It can also be a great place to stow away cushions and throws for your patio furniture. Look for one with a comfortable seat and, like in your living room, it can double as extra seating. If you're worried about weather-related damage, cover it with plastic.

Home gyms get cluttered quickly. Everything from water bottles and yoga mats to gym towels and sports shoes can end up strewn across the floor as you workout. By adding a shoe storage bench to your home gym, you can organize and store all your exercise equipment. A tiered shoe storage bench would work great as a weight rack (check the weight limit of the bench when buying it) or a place for your yoga blocks and bands. If it has a cushion-less seat, it's a sweat-proof place to sit, too.

A shoe storage bench in a workspace — be it an office, workshop, artist studio, or music room — adds extra seating. Now, you can invite friends in to brainstorm ideas. It makes the space more inclusive, and you can also stow away everything from tools and reference books to files and craft supplies in the shelves below. Alternatively, use the surface to display coffee table books, inspirational décor, and other knick-knacks, making the space as cozy as your other living areas. Push two together to expand your storage options.

Opt to store hygiene and other bathroom products in a shoe storage bench instead of footwear. Placing a shoe storage bench in your bathroom, if you have enough space for one, adds extra storage for ablution essentials. Toilet paper rolls fit perfectly within the lower profile shelves of a shoe storage bench, as do towels and washcloths. Set beauty products and jewelry on the top in baskets or organziers. Benches with enclosed storage keep less aesthetic items like cleaning supplies hidden but accessible for a quick clean.

A tall shoe bench is perfect for storing and proudly displaying your beloved collection of physical media, whether that's vinyl, CDs, or DVDs. It's all trending again, after all. Repurpose the bench into an entertainment center for your living room, bedroom, or anywhere you have the space. The top or the shelves are the perfect spot for a record or CD player. Now that you have everything you need for the listening party of your dreams at your fingertips, you have no excuse not to send out those invites.

Most shoe storage benches are placed in entryways. But there's no reason you couldn't put one inside your closet instead — provided your closet is large enough or a walk-in. Creating a dedicated spot for your sneakers or stilettos in a closet makes planning an outfit easier than ever before. You can see what you own at a glance. Use any spare space to store bulky accessories, like hats and scarves, on top of the bench. Remember to measure your closet space before you shop to make sure whatever you buy fits.

Put a shoe storage bench near a low window. It makes the perfect perch to enjoy a hot drink and gaze out at the great outdoors or get deep into a good book. Adorn the bench with pillows and a soft throw to create a cozy window nook. Get a bench with shelves. It can serve as storage for reading materials, board games, or other odds-and-ends that don't have another spot. It's a great spot for your kid's toy box overflow, too.