Affordable Under-The-Bed Shoe Storage Solutions For Small Spaces

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Due to their varying shapes and sizes, shoes can be notoriously difficult to store in the home, particularly if you and your family enjoy wearing different kinds of footwear for various occasions. And if you don't have a dedicated space for your shoes, they can often end up cluttering your entryway or mudroom, piling up on your closet or bedroom floor, or even getting lost in the depths of your hall closet. If this sounds familiar to you, don't worry. There is actually one area of the home that is perfectly suited to storing footwear, so it is out of the way yet readily accessible.

The space under your bed is ripe for storage, particularly for shoes, for several reasons. First, it's away from common walkways, meaning that anything stored under there won't cause you to trip. Second, it is hidden. This means you can store unsightly objects, such as worn-out sneakers, old heels, and even sports shoes, in a location where they won't detract from your home's overall aesthetic. And you don't have to buy new storage bins or accessories to help you make the most of this space, either. 

From sliding wooden drawers to cardboard organizers, there are a variety of DIY projects you can undertake to help wrangle your shoes into the space under your bed. These projects use affordable or repurposed materials, too, meaning there is bound to be something that's the right fit for your budget. 

One great project for storing shoes under the bed is crafting a sliding drawer that pulls out whenever you need your next pair. Use wood to build a simple box to the desired dimensions. Or, to make it more affordable, repurpose an old dresser drawer and add wheels to the bottom. This means that even the shoes at the very back will be easily accessible whenever you need them. To keep your footwear in good condition, you can also add a hinged board over the top to prevent dust from settling on your shoes.

If a dresser drawer or box is too tall for the space under your bed, create your own low-profile sliding tray instead. Using scrap wood or a piece salvaged from an old piece of furniture, such as a crib or dresser, simply attach wheels to the bottom. These PlusRoc caster wheels, for example, come with their own adhesive and have a low profile, making them perfect for narrow spaces. You can also add trim to the edges to keep the shoes securely on the board.

Another affordable way to keep your footwear neat and tidy under the bed is to use shoe boxes. First, remove the lid. Then cut a triangle on each side of the box and fold the ends toward each other. Cut the lid in half and use it to close the two sides, creating separate compartments. Finally, glue all the pieces together. The boxes can then be stood upright and slid under the bed for easy access, with the most-used pairs at the front.

If you own so many shoes that you're worried you won't have enough space under the bed, you can again repurpose old shoe boxes. Simply remove the top of the shoe box and cut off one of the shorter ends, leaving the box with only three sides. Then, flip it upside down so that it forms a shelf with a space underneath. You can then line these shoebox shelves under your bed, creating a double-layered storage solution that holds even more footwear than before.

Don't have shoe boxes lying around? You can create under-bed shoe storage using boxes from product packaging or repurposing cardboard boxes after a move. Simply take two large boxes, cut them in half horizontally, and glue them together so that you end up with a tray shape — one large flat surface with four sides. Then roll up additional cardboard rectangles and glue the ends together to create a range of tubes large enough to hold shoes. Glue the tubes to the cardboard tray so you have handy, upright storage that fits under a taller bed.

If you don't like the look of drawers under the bed, try disguising them by creating a space for stylish baskets at the front. Simply craft drawers on wheels out of wood or a used dresser drawer, as described previously. Then, attach an extra alcove on the front for baskets to sit in. This not only offers more places to put your shoes, but it also makes the shoe storage look more intentional and sleek. To keep this trick affordable, buy used baskets from thrift stores and look for cheaper wood, like plywood painted to look more high-end.

This trick can help you say goodbye to messy shoe storage in your closet, and it also works great under the bed. Measure the space under your bed between the wall and a piece of furniture next to the bed, such as a nightstand. Then source a few affordable tension rods, such as those used for hanging clothes. Finally, place the tension rods between the wall and furniture so that they are suspended a few inches above the floor. You can then place shoes both on the rods and under them for increased storage.