Turn Old Wine Corks Into A Clever Shoe Storage Solution

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If every time you walk into your home, you nearly trip on an unruly pile of loose shoes, it's time for a change. Whether you've put off getting a shoe rack because you can't find one that matches your space, they're too expensive, or you simply don't have the room for one, we get it, and we have the solution for you. Gather a few wine corks and attach them to a plank of wood for an affordable shoe storage solution you can DIY. 

The idea for this shoe storage hack comes from Instagram creator @sustainablyamber, who repurposes wine corks by attaching them to a plank of wood with screws. Once on the wall, 1 to 2 feet off the ground, you can use the corks as little pegs or hooks to hold your shoes. This is a great way to bring some order to your entryway and keep those dirty soles off the floor. It's practical, and it can be done with upcycled materials you already have. What's not to love?

To do this, you'll need as many corks as you have shoes to store. If you're not a big wine drinker, you can purchase wine corks for crafting instead, like these Widgetco premium recycled corks for $9.42. You'll also need a plank of wood long enough to hold all your shoes side by side. You will want some long screws: they should be long enough to go through the wooden plank and have an inch or so left on the other side. Depending on the thickness of your plank and the length of the corks, the right screw for your DIY project might be a size eight, 10, or 12.

To assemble, use a drill to pierce the screws through the wooden plank in a straight line. Each screw will hold one shoe, so you'll need a bit of space between them to accommodate the width of the shoe. This depends on your shoe size, of course, but you'll typically need 4 to 5 inches per shoe. 

Once the screws are through the plank and visible on the other side, twist the wine corks onto them. Be gentle and avoid causing your hand to slip and get hurt. A simple twisting motion with light pressure should be enough. Once all of the wine corks are secure and tightly screwed on, place the DIY shoe rack onto the wall. You can use heavyweight Command Strips or add two more screws, going in the opposite direction of the earlier ones, to secure the plank to the wall. And there you have it. Simply place your shoes onto the corks, soles facing you and away from the wall. 

This works particularly well with flat sneakers like Vans, but you can try it with other styles, too. For example, ballet flats, low-ankle hiking shoes, and heels with a back strap. The shoes that won't work with this are longer, more bottom-heavy models, like rain boots, high-tops, or booties. For these, you'll need to look through more genius shoe storage ideas instead. You can also use this hack in a closet to hang up purses, or in the garage to store smelly running shoes. You could even use the same method and attach the plank higher up in your entryway to hold umbrellas, keys, and lightweight raincoats.