Build A Multifunctional Shoe Rack With This Creative DIY Idea

It only makes sense to put multifunctional furniture in a multifunctional space. When your living room has an exterior door, it's likely serving dual roles: both a gathering area and a dumping ground for the shoes and accessories everyone sheds as they walk in. Here's the perfect setting for extra-efficient multipurpose items that do more with less space, like the stylish shoe rack idea from Instagram creator @salisbury_designs that doubles as an end table (and triples as a sitting bench). Fix your entryway organization while keeping the function and style you need for a clean, comfortable living room, all with a single streamlined build.

A combo shoe rack and end table is a simple project that uses straight cuts of untreated lumber. Its unobtrusive frame features a slim profile and a length of around 31 to 40 inches to fit neatly alongside a sofa or chair. An end table takes up about one-third of the rack's total length, and a lower bench seat covers the other two-thirds. Underneath, you'll have a base for organizing shoes, with additional shelving to store more footwear and items.

You can find decent lumber deals at Home Depot or Lowe's to make this an inexpensive DIY. All you'll need are 2-by-2 boards for the upright supports, 1-by-2s for the stretchers between the supports, and wide boards for the base, shelves, and tops. Four short legs lift the rack and complete the build, and your preferred stain and paint combination will provide the finishing touch, making your newest piece mesh with the room's color scheme.

Sketch a rough diagram to get your shoe rack dimensions and determine how much material to buy. Make sure the depth will allow your door to open freely and give you at least 36 inches of clearance side to side and in front of the door for easy movement in the entryway. Standard depths for these kinds of builds range from about 14 to 18 inches, so anything from 1-inch plywood to a 1-by-16 pine board could potentially work for the base, shelves, and tops.

After determining the depth, plan the length and height of the shoe rack. The length should measure roughly from the back of the sofa to the front, and the end-table portion of it can be as high as or just below the sofa arm. Meanwhile, a typical bench seat will rise about 18 inches from the floor.

Planning the shoe rack's height will determine the measurements for the 2-by-2 end table and bench supports. But you'll have to factor in the legs and shelving first. Add the thickness of your base, the thickness of your top boards, and the length of the legs. Subtract that total from the planned height of your end table and bench to determine the lengths for your 2-by-2 supports. You'll need four end table supports and two shorter supports to hold up one end of the bench. A stretcher attached to the end table supports will hold the other end of the bench.

Start your build by cutting the base and top to the rack's overall depth and length. Then, you can simply cut the top piece in half at the desired point to create the separate tabletop and bench seat. Install the four end table supports on one end of the base, standing them in a square so they can support the tabletop at its four corners. Secure them to the base with wood glue and screws. Attach the two bench supports at the other end of the base. To support the bench next to the end table, install a stretcher (e.g., a 1-by-2) between the two middle supports, making it level with the top of the short bench supports.

Add stretchers between the supports where you can tack on extra boards for shelving, if desired (additional stretchers will also improve the build's strength and stability). Carefully consider and play with the shelving configuration to see what makes the most sense for how you'll use it for shoes, bags, and decor. After installing your shelf (or shelves), cut and attach your end table and bench tops, securing them atop their supports with wood glue and screws.

Staining the tops and painting the frame is a great way to add character, but you could add charm and comfort to your combo rack with an easy DIY no-sew bench cushion. Install a power strip in the end table for added convenience when you're sitting on the couch, or replace the legs with casters to make it easy to wheel around the house. Consider how you use the space, and customize your multifunctional shoe rack to fit it like a glove.