Not Baskets: Wayfair Has A Space-Saving Shoe Storage Solution For A Crowded Entryway

Not everyone has a spacious entryway with ample room for shoe storage benches, but even those with limited room deserve orderly storage for their shoes. If you find yourself craving a spot to stash several pairs of shoes but are woefully short on square footage, there's a product on Wayfair — the Yamazaki Home Steel Upright 5 Pair Shoe Rack with Handle – that can fulfill this difficult task.

Retailing for $88, this shoe rack has a unique design. The outline-only shelves keep the entire structure lightweight — weighing in at only four pounds — and the flat bottom translates to sturdy placement wherever you place it. The shoe rack's measurements are 30.5 inches high by 8.7 inches wide by 7.1 inches deep; the fronts and backs of shoes are meant to overhang, which is a clever design feature meant to accommodate a wide range of shoe sizes and styles. Since the footprint is so compact, you can easily stow the rack in the smallest of entryway corners or nearby closets for five levels of clutter-free storage. 

When you need to move the shoe rack (like when cleaning or clearing the space for company), the horizontal support on top serves as a handle, which is useful for carrying. It is available in white or black, so you can select whichever one best reflects your home's style. Customers had given this solution a 4.7-star average from more than 380 reviews at the time of writing; they state that the piece is sturdy and offers great functionality for their needs.

Small though it may be, this shoe storage solution appears to be a promising option, taking advantage of forgotten vertical space for ultimate storage. Customer reviews offer a treasure trove of information about actually putting this rack to use in your home. One five-star review on the Wayfair website states, "I just love it! It was seconds to put together and it looks sleek. Great for small apartments when you need to keep your most worn pairs of shoes handy."

Select reviews state that the rack's design could also be problematic for taller shoe styles, like boots; it's best to take inventory of what shoes you own and measure them for compatibility before purchasing this product. One customer review, albeit praiseworthy, does denote that the metal design of the rack can pose a risk to wooden floors, stating, "I really love the simplicity and functionality. The only issue is the shoe rack scratches my wooden floor very easily, [but] I'm buying a small square mat to place underneath so it should be fine." If you're concerned about the potential for damage, you can read our tips and tricks to protect hardwood floors from scuffs and scratches.

Since the rack has a small footprint, you can place one in your bedroom closet for an organized space or wherever you need an orderly shoe collection, once again making the most of the vertical design. Homes that are struggling with adult shoe storage could be aided greatly by this streamlined solution, while families with young children may need to look elsewhere — like this quick and easy way to organize shoes – as the design would result in small shoes falling through the hollow shelves.