Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Adding Shoe Storage By The Door

We couldn’t do all of this work in the laundry area and just ignore our sloppy shoe situation. Since the side door into our laundry room is our most-used entrance, it’s also the dumping ground for most of our footwear (since we try to keep shoes off in the house).  Up until now, our “storage solution” has been a shallow woven basket from Bed Bath & Beyond about five years ago (that and a pile next to it – not pictured, because I don’t want to ruin the illusion that we’re not complete animals).

Retur Basket Before

This system actually worked fine at the old house since the basket stayed in the sunroom, where it sort of fit the casual feel of the room. Plus, when it overflowed it didn’t create a tripping hazard on our way out the door or to the washer since that was a much larger space.

But since we’re now dealing with a 3’5″ wide room, we realized we needed something with a more “organized” vibe, like this cheap-o shoe shelf for all shoes for cross country running that once lived in Clara’s closet at our first house (originally snagged at Target a while back).

Return Ugly White Shelf

It wasn’t bad (especially if we had taken the time to notch out the back to fit around the baseboards). But it wasn’t great, either. Why? Well, we seem to have a mini Carrie Bradshaw on our hands thanks to Clara, so shoes often become playthings and end up looking more like this:

Retur Shoes Strewn About

That’s when we agreed that concealed storage was what we needed to be hunting for.

There are lots of good options out there for shoe cabinets, it seems. Ikea even has a few different versions to choose from. But everything was too wide (we only have 24″ to work with) or too tall (we’d didn’t want it going higher than the window sill so it would look nice and streamlined since the built-ins we added lined up with the sill as well).

Retur Ikea Search Results

After a few other stores were a bust too, we contemplated using a plan from ana-white.com to custom build something (she has amazing and completely free furniture tutorials for those not in the know). But before we went out and bought a ton of lumber and worried about building something that could stand up to everyday slamming, Roberta saved the day with this comment about affordable and ready-made Ikea recycling bins that might just do the trick:

Retur Robertas Comment

Yup, she kindly introduced us to Retur, who we met in person on a recent trip to Ikea. We liked him so much that we came home with him and his twin brother (at $19 a piece).

Retur Not Installed Yet

It hadn’t come up in our search results because, as Roberta noted, they’re technically “recycling bins” but are coincidentally designed just like a shoe cabinet. Plus, their 23.5″ width made them a PERFECT fit for our 24″ space. That was enough for us to overlook that they:

  1. weren’t bright white (they still read as white in the room, and we’re not really die-hard about all of our white tones matching perfectly anyway)
  2. were plastic (wood might have been nice, but Sherry pointed out that something wipe-able, less precious, and virtually ding/scratch proof might be good for shoes anyway)

Another little detail that we did our best to overlook: between the two of them they only came with one screw to hang them. Yup, somebody must have been daydreaming about swedish meatballs on the Ikea assembly line or something.

Retur One Screw

But after digging out some of my own screws, they were a cinch to install (four screws/anchors per piece through pre-made holes in the back). We were in business in practically no time (for those who actually want a time breakdown it was probably fifteen minutes total). And so far Clara hasn’t so much as touched them once (I think the lack of knobs to pull on has her stumped for now).

Retur Installed After

The most amazing part is that not only was the width perfect, but the height was almost too good to be true. When the two stacked units were placed right on top of our baseboard the top was perfectly flush with the window sill. We still can’t believe it. And there was about a centimeter of breathing room on either side (so it looks nice and intentionally centered between the door and the sill).

Retur Level With Window

So now that whole wall is almost like one seamless shelf thanks to the window sill that visually connects the ones I built to our new shoe cabinets (which are all on the same exact level). And I shouldn’t fail to mention that although they’re made for recyclables, they store shoes quite nicely too (including room for some frequently-used pairs to be stashed underneath).

Retur Shoes Inside

In short, we’re thrilled – and eternally grateful to Roberta The Perfectly Timed Commenter. The rooms feels sooooo much more organized without a mess of sandals and running shoes waiting to greet us. And the Returs are so danged narrow (they only stick out six inches beyond the door frame) that the room actually feels more open than it did with the more invasive basket or stacked shelf options that we had going on before.

Retur Side View

Eventually we’re thinking that we might do something to gussy them up a bit more – maybe paint them or cover the fronts/top with decorative paper (or even grasscloth wallpaper or colorful labels) but we want to wait for the rest of the room to come together before doing anything that could end up being “too busy” in the end. You know, since the whole space is only about as wide as a bathroom stall, as demonstrated by my monkey-toed self in this photo from a few weeks back (so not every item in the small space has to scream “look at me!”):

Spider John

Speaking of the rest of the room, here’s our almost-totally-crossed-off laundry room list:

  • Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy white
  • Redo all the dinged up trim (also in semi-gloss white)
  • Paint the walls
  • Replace our dryer hose with a safer all-metal one
  • Add adjustable built-in shelving in that nook next to the stacked washer & dryer
  • Prime & paint the upper cabinetry
  • Replace the hinges and knobs on those upper cabinets
  • Hang the ironing board to obscure the giant metal fuse box
  • Get a new light fixture <- we’ll be back to share our homemade clothespin chandelier tomorrow morning
  • Add a window treatment (maybe a homemade one?) <— might just frost it when we convert the carport to a garage
  • Add other functional storage near the door for shoes, Burger’s leash, etc
  • Hang some art to keep it cheerful

Now it your turn. What’s your go-to shoe storage solution? Did you repurpose something like a basket, bin, ottoman, or cabinet? Or do your kicks usually end up somewhere they’re not supposed to? Does your baby throw them in all directions while screaming shoooooooooo, shoooooooooo!? It can’t just be ours that does that…

Comments

  1. Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says

    Love it!

    I’m always drawn to the Hemnes shoe cabinet (I really like the Hemnes line though) so I sometimes forget that there are other options out there. My current shoe rack is too large for my shoes (I’m a size 6) and they all end up hanging by their heels or falling into a pile at the bottom. I may have to check these out for our new place!

    Reply

  5. Adriane Wacker says

    I love IKEA…if only we had one near us. Good find however, very fitting for your laundry room. I always wonder that myself…is there some way to get all the shoes organized instead of a big heaping pile….let me know if it works?

    Reply

  7. annabelvita says

    In my old house there was a perfect nook next to the door to put a big roomy basket that kept them looking coralled and neat, whilst still being super easy to just kick em off and pop them in there. Alas, my new (old ish now) place just doesn’t have a sensible place to put shoes. I keep trying out different things but they just end up strewn about the place.

    Love how things are coming together in there!

    Reply

  8. Rebecca @ the lil house that could says

    We also enter through our laundry room and it is insanely small! Plus we have 2 litter boxes in there, so there isn’t much room for shoe storage. So I transformed our Target woven basket, which normally holds our firewood in the winter, into a flip flop basket for the summer…
    http://thelilhousethatcould.com/2011/06/22/baskets-and-boxes/

    It sits right outside of the laundry room, to avoid the litter situation, and now has a seasonal purpose :) We’ll have to think of something else in the winter….

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That wall where the shelves used to be is where the door swings open and closed, so it would be blocked a lot and could bang into them since they stick out about 6″ – hope that makes sense!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah, that’s the challenge with that wall- we think whatever we put there has to be purely decorative and flush (like art) since anything that sticks out or has function will be hit/blocked by the door.

      xo,
      s

  10. Jessica says

    Great solution! Side note (and the reason for my comment): Yesterday, I was singing the song in your title. Literally. A shoe had just fallen off my foot as I was getting out of the car (flip flops… so tricky), so I started singing, “Shoo shoes, don’t bother me, Shoe shoes, stay on my feet…”

    What a wild coincidence.

    Reply

  12. Sarah says

    What a genius idea! We have the same problem by our back entrance, except we have a tiny landing (think 2 ft x 3 ft) before the stairs. I’ve nearly killed myself several times because I trip up over shoes and fall up or down the stairs. Ikea here I come!

    Reply

    • Kathy says

      We have the same problem! Unfortunately, it also feels too small for taking shoes off, particularly if you come in laden with bags, etc. But this might just be the ticket. Except for the boots. Rain boots, winter boots, all are the worst culprits for both tracking in stuff and being difficult to take off while standing up. Hm. Will have to think more.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah, that’s true. Maybe you can stick a boot tray under the overhand and stash those out under them like our two pairs of shoes shown on the floor?

      xo,
      s

    • Ashley says

      Great deal for you! Bummer for me! Do you mind sharing the brand? I wonder if I can Google up another steal.

    • Sandy says

      I was thinking the same! I was like, “Shoe rack what? I love those wedges!” It’s like the container store, they have cute shoes and clothes on display and I forget why I’m really there. :0)

      Btw, I have the Hemnes 4 drawer shoe rack, but my son man handles the drawers and the plastic part separated from the door…BUT, they look great and we put the doggie leash and poopie bags, plastic bags, misc items and have only one drawer for shoes for our 3 yo.

  14. Pam the Goatherd says

    Our actual shoes are in wire organizers in our clothes closets. What I have not been able to find a storage solution for is our barn boots, which sit next to the door on the floor to get slipped on and off the 27X a day that I run out to hay and water the goats, feed the chickens, check to make sure the rabbits aren’t cooking in the heat, water the goats again (the milkers need a LOT of fresh water through the day and we don’t have automatic waterers), haul compost stuff out to the compost pile, pick veggies in the garden, weed the gardens, water the goats again, milk the goats, hay and water the goats, etc., etc.

    The barn boots are always mucky – in summer from mud, in winter from snow and mud – so I can’t really put the into a cabinet. So they sit right out there for everyone to see. Any suggestions from other farmers who have found a solution for this problem would be appreciated.

    Reply

  15. elaine K says

    We have a small white storage bench from Ikea that we use for shoes in our den. It’s a bit of jumble inside, but it works great if you need to sit to put your shoes on.

    Reply

  16. Patti says

    Ha – a few sentences into this post I immetiately thought of those bins from Ikea, because I used to use them in a very narrow closet! It’s funny, because Ikea totally used to market them as shoe storage – I distinctly remember buying a three pack of them in the closet storage area of Ikea about 3 years ago. I guess they just repackaged them and renamed them, but they still work perfectly for shoes!

    Reply

  17. Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says

    Wow, those really are perfect! What a fantastic and cheap solution! I think a new top would be a perfect addition. Maybe something that would sit flush with the raised edges? Just to make it look more complete. I don’t know how rigid the containers are, but a tile top would look great and could give a nice shelf for keys, loose change and other items.

    We have a small entry closet, so we built shoe cubes which are perfect for adult shoes. A few months ago, I found hanging bins at Hobby Lobby which are perfect for kids shoes: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/quick-coat-closet-update/ Now, if we could get fresh paint…

    Reply

  19. Marissa says

    I love those and I’ve been looking for something like that! The Ikea website lists the measurements weirdly – are they 8″ deep?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, I don’t think they’re 8″ deep. They might be 7″ deep (but since there’s door trim they only stick out 6″ from the door trim). Maybe the extra depth is the packaging?

      xo,
      s

  20. Lynn van Slyke says

    I love IKEA!!! I did this in my front hall but used TRONES shoe cabinet in white and put a wood top on it to dress it up a bit. We have been using them since March and I love love love not having shoes all over the floor. =) Happy Monday!!!

    I think the link to my blog will show you how it looks.

    Reply

  21. shannon says

    Funny, I have bins that are almost identical to this behind my door. When I got them, IKEA sold them as shoe bins…and I used them for recycling. Heh.

    Reply

  22. Rachel Wester says

    Love this! Will have to add the Retur to my running IKEA list. I’m going to use it in the garage for our lawn mowing shoes!

    Reply

    • Allison says

      Rachel- thanks for your comment! I didn’t put it together that these would be perfect for the garage.

      I just suggested it to my husband, and this was his (IM) reply: “Add to the list of things we NEED from IKEA.
      I love the idea.”

      Hooray for a keep-the-spiders-out-of-his-shoes (hopefully) solution!

  23. Casie says

    I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! This is the exact problem my hubby and I argue about on a daily basis. I have searched near and far for a solution and when I saw your post on FB this morning I have been grinning ear to ear! Thank you thank you for posting. I can’t wait to get these bins. It’s the little things :)

    Reply

  24. NettyC says

    My son and I live in a very small townhouse, so everything is dual-puposed. In our very small entry I’ve parked his red wagon, which we use for storing: 1) we store my purse and our shoes in it when it’s parked; 2) we “unpark” the wagon to walk to our neighborhood grocery store. Not exactly chic but fun and functional.

    Reply

  25. Julia @ Chris loves Julia says

    There was a time when my husband, Chris, was literally begging me for a shoe rack. We had a similar piles upon piles of shoes by our door. So we got a rack for our shoes. Then, it turned into a rack by the front door with shoes surrounding it. Gah! We have learned/promised to put our shoes away every night now (similar to your goal of cleaning off the table) because clearly we weren’t able to keep a stash neat by the door.

    Reply

  26. Lori Robinson says

    We use those shelves from target. Actually have a stack of 5, plus two more sitting on our dressers for nicer shoes. We have a lot of shoes. Sad thing is, my husbands contribution is about 75%! LoL

    Reply

  31. Sarah says

    Funny as it sounds, this might be my favorite thing you’ve posted from your new house. It’s a great solution, and one I’d never have spotted or thought of thanks to the recycling bin label and a lack of an Ikea-ish stores anywhere remotely near us. I’ve been scratching my head about shoe storage ever since this project a year ago (right after we moved into our home): http://yellowpencilstub.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/two-hour-brain-damage-recipe/

    That picture was the only time in a year all the shoes sat neatly on the rack – it’s a rickety Walmart deal that sheds shoes more than it holds them. Thanks for sharing the idea!

    Reply

  32. Kristina says

    Is there a prize for the most well-timed bloggers? You totally would win! I have been looking for shoe storage because our entryway is littered with shoes. I have been looking for something that wasn’t too terrible or too expensive.

    Reply

  33. Allyn says

    When we moved into our new house, I looked at the weird closet in the office and told Josh that it should be my shoe closet. He laughed and said sure, thinking I’d fill maybe a shelf or two.
    HA.
    The whole sucker, top to boots lined up on the floor, is FULL of my shoes.
    He’s screwed.

    Reply

  34. Micha says

    Fantastic find! And of course, your IKEA post put me over the edge: MUST.GO.TO.IKEA.STAT! (It’s “just” a 3hr drive – Oh IKEA, the things we are willing to do for some Swedish lovin’)

    Reply

  35. Samantha says

    The shoe storage looks great! I’m going to check those out online asap. First though, I have to ask, how on earth do you manage to do alllll these DIY and home repair projects and keep your cool!? Do you ever argue or fight over how to do something and whatnot? I know my hubby and I covered a chair and primed the kitchen yesterday and it was just bad all the way around. Please tell me you sometimes disagree about sommmmmmething?? What are your secrets!? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah- we lose our cool all the time! We just try to regain it about half as quickly as we lose it and we’re all good! We just have to remember we’re both on the same team and we both want our house to look awesome, so if someone is a little frustrated, we’ve totally been there and can relate to it so we try to just laugh about something and get over it. Here’s a post about decorating disagreements and how we try to solve them: https://www.younghouselove.com/email-answer-have-husband-will-decorate/

      xo,
      s

  37. shanna says

    What a perfectly timed post! I have a similar storage solution as your “before” basket: a shallow basket for corralling shoes and it often runneth over. I was trying to think of a new fix, and I think something from IKEA will do it! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  40. Jenn Ahnquist says

    The top of the “shoe holders” looks like a perfect place for keys in a cute little basket. Also, I like the idea of hanging a mirror right next to the door you use the most… that way you can do a quick check before you leave to make sure you don’t have food in your teeth or crazy hair!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Agreed! I definitely need to work a mirror in there somewhere so I can tell if I have Clara-food in my hair or on my shirt. Somehow that happens more than you’d think…

      xo,
      s

  41. Renee says

    I’m a big fan of “hidden storage.” Unless you are freakishly organized open bins and what not end up looking like a nightmare… at least that’s what happens in our casa. We are in desperate need of some kind of solution for the entrance of our house (we rent)for shoes, mail, keys and all of the random junk that gets dropped the second you walked in the door. Right now it all gets stack on the steps, and it so does not say “welcome home.”

    Reply

  43. Marney says

    We have the Ikea Hemnes 4 cabinet for our shoes and I LOVE it. I have to say, it is probably my favorite piece of furniture. Ours is in our foyer and looks super cute with a vase, picture frame and a few knick-knacks on it.

    Reply

  44. SingleMama says

    My son takes shoes and hides them throughout the house, which causes me to run around the house every morning yelling, “HJ, WHERE ARE THE SHOES!” He responds by bringing me various shoes that never match, laughing the whole time. I need a better system…

    Reply

  45. Patti says

    Do I have any shoe storage solutions? No, not until now and it’s name is Returs! I’ve never liked open storage for shoes because most of them are ugly and I really don’t wanna see hubs grass stained lawn mowing sneakers. These are wonderful. Thanks again YHLovers for another fantastic solution!

    Reply

  46. Esme says

    We are using these same units in our bathroom! We have a really narrow space near the sink and nothing else for storage. When we spotted these in the recycling section of Ikea for much less than anything bathroom-y we were thrilled. They’re perfect for a bathroom: waterproof, roomy and easy to open to grab a new tube of toothpaste, or whatever. We also have the little drawers that ‘stack’ with them. And you can use the top for the more goodlooking products!

    We’re intending to cover them in pictures or something because they’re not the prettiest objects…

    Reply

  47. Crystal says

    That’s an awesome solution and I can’t believe it’s such a perfect fit.

    Our shoes usually end up on the hearth or under the ottoman in the den.

    Reply

  50. Petra says

    I’ve been looking for some useful recycling bins that are more concealed. Thank you! Now I can go to Ikea and get those bins for the little corner in the kitchen.

    Reply

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