8 Clever Ways To Store Shoes Without A Shoe Cabinet

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Storing shoes can feel like an overwhelming feat, especially if you have multiple people living in your home. If you find yourself needing a sustainable storage solution but a shoe cabinet isn't practical because of space or budget limitations, there are multiple other options that you can consider. Whether you have an entire closet that can be dedicated to footwear or only a small corner of your laundry room, it is possible to leverage the right solution to serve your needs. 

Among some good solutions for shoe storage that aren't a shoe cabinet are vertical hanging resources, like wall pockets or a behind-the-door shoe organizers. These don't steal precious square footage but do pack a punch when it comes to organizing multiple pairs of shoes. For individuals who want their shoes easy to grab, utilizing plastic buckets, stacking shoe bins, or a large, woven basket can be practical and personalized to your particular preferences. If you have closet that isn't being used to its fullest potential, consider adding permanent wooden shelving so that your family's shoes always have a home base. Lastly, you can check out wooden shelf units or even a simple utility cart, which can be loaded up with footwear but easily be moved when you need to clean or clear the space. Checking out these 17 creative DIYs to keep shoe clutter organized at home can get your creative juices flowing even more.

Vertical solutions can be an ideal way to manage shoes that need to be stored. One clever and space-saving option is to find behind-the-door shoe storage. These items typically can hold multiple pairs of shoes while keeping the floor clear. One product worth considering is the GORILLA GRIP Over the Door Shoe Organizer ($14.99), which holds 24 pairs of shoes and up to 40 pounds of weight.

If you like the idea of vertical shoe storage but don't want to weigh down one of your doors, the IKEA GREJIG is another options that's worth considering. Priced at $35.00, the product comes with five wall pockets that can be wall-mounted. This solution is good for small areas, like a laundry room that also serves as the entrance from the garage.

Not shelves, not cabinets — this quick and easy way to organize shoes involves heading to your nearest Dollar Tree and tracking down some plastic buckets. Use a label maker to designate a bucket for every individual in your home or choose a distinctly colored basket for each person. This clever solution is cheap to pull off and easy to maintain since you can wipe or rinse out the buckets when they get dirty. If one breaks, you can simply replace it with another bucket.

If you don't have a shoe cabinet but still would like the feel of one, a stacking shoe storage system is a great alternative. While there are many designs available, the SONGMICS Shoe Boxes ($45.99) come in a 12-pack, making them suitable for wrangling shoe inventory in family homes. The stacking nature of this solution makes it easy to build your own shoe storage unit wherever you need it, like a closet, under the stairs, or in a utility room. Clear sides and a front mean that it's easy to see what's inside each box, too.

Simple though it may be, a shoe rack is an ideal way to manage your extra pairs without requiring a shoe cabinet. Wooden shoe racks are often easy to find at thrift stores or online for low prices. A clever and obvious shoe storage solution we should have been using all along is to place a wooden shoe rack right on the top shelf of your closet. Take measurements in advance to ensure that your rack fits.

If people in your home struggle to keep shoes nicely organized on shelves or bins, a large shoe basket can serve as a practical catch-all for pairs that get in the way. Since it's easy to clear them off the floor, no one will have an excuse for leaving them out. Choose one that is woven or otherwise opaque, with a lid; this will keep the shoe clutter out of sight and could help keep your stress levels lower.

If you want permanent shoe storage, you can transform an existing coat closet with some cuts of wood and some building tools. To do this, you'll use carefully measured pieces of wood to create stable supports on either side of the closet, then lay horizontal slats across these supports to create shelving. While this solution will take some time and effort to pull off, it can last for years and grow with your needs.

If the idea of stationary shoe storage has you cringing, a utility cart can serve as a clever solution that easily wheels out of the way. A single tier can easily accommodate several pairs of toddler and kids' shoes or at least one or two pairs of adult shoes, making this a sustainable storage solution even for busy family homes. One potential downside is that mesh-bottomed tiers can allow dirt to fall through; sidestep this issue by placing a small rug underneath to collect the debris or line the base of each level with some butcher paper.