The Vintage Furniture Piece That Becomes A Useful Shoe Storage Cabinet

The next time you go vintage furniture shopping, keep your eyes peeled for an old-school wardrobe. You may not need more storage for your clothes, but the pile of shoes sitting by your front door needs a new home. There are tons of ways to repurpose thrift store finds for stylish shoe storage, and wardrobes are more versatile than you might think. Instead of using it to house your winter coats and formal wear, you can easily transform a vintage wardrobe into a snazzy, new-to-you shoe cabinet. Some designs include built-in shelving, while others may require adding shelves to hold your shoes. Ditch your basic cabinet or cube storage organizer and opt for an antique wardrobe to keep your shoe collection tidy. 

Vintage wardrobes, which you can find in person at a secondhand store or on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook, or Mercari, can range in price from $50 to over $1,000. Depending on your budget, you can choose an affordable piece to refinish or invest in a more polished vintage option. Classic wardrobe designs, like the Empire style, will typically come with ornate carvings or crown molding on the top and bottom trim, as well as paneled doors and detailed legs. It's not exactly a look you can replicate with a basic IKEA shelf. This will give your foyer, entryway, or mudroom a totally unique and classic look.

Once you've sourced your vintage wardrobe from an online or in-person marketplace, it's time to assess and see what you can alter. If your wardrobe does not come with shelving, measure the heights of your shoes, mark the measurements on the back of your cabinet, and install new shelves. 

You can buy pre-made shelves or make your own from affordable MDF, which can be found at a home improvement store like Lowe's. If your wardrobe comes with drawers, you can either choose to store your shoes inside or take them out completely for more space and less hassle. Next, it's time to replace any hardware fixtures, fill in dings or scratches with wood filler, and add a fresh coat of paint with a DIY paint recipe. Some pieces may need light sanding to remove old paint and reveal the original wood grain. You can also upgrade the wardrobe by adding lighting, such as string lights or LED strips. 

Place the wardrobe-turned-shoe cabinet in a foyer, entryway, mudroom, or living room for easy access. Keep the doors closed to hide shoes, or remove them to display your collection as decor.