Bedroom shoe storage ideas - calm footwear chaos with these solutions

Stilettos, sandals, pumps, loafers, sliders, wedges…having a pair of shoes to suit every occasion is great, but when it comes to finding storage for an ever-expanding shoe collection, it can often be a struggle. No-one wants an overcrowded bedroom with wardrobes packed to the brim, so finding clever bedroom shoe storage ideas is a must if you want to keep your sleep space tranquil, calm and clutter-free.

When it comes to bedroom shoe storage, making it multifunctional is key. Aside from shoes and footwear, bedroom wardrobes and chests are also home to clothes, bags, accessories, beauty kit, bedding and more, so squeezing everything into bedroom storage ideas and keeping them neat can be a challenge.

'Shoe storage if not done properly can take up lots of precious space and can make an otherwise tidy bedroom appear cluttered,' says Simon Glanville, MD at A Place for Everything. 'Being creative with your shoe storage solutions and making use of spaces you might not usually think of, such as over doors, can make more space for items you love in the rest of the room. Multifunctional storage, such as a bench or stylish cupboard, will also help to maximise space and add an extra element to the room.'

Bedroom shoe storage ideas

Shoe storage is something that often gets overlooked when planning bedroom storage or buying new wardrobes and the best wardrobe organisers, but factoring in a dedicated spot for stowing shoes is a must, especially if you own lots of pairs.

'Use wardrobe space more efficiently,' is the advice of storage guru Vicky Silverthorn at Youneedavicky. ‘Adjustable shelving is ideal and can be arranged at different heights so wardrobe space isn’t wasted. Alternatively, slot-in racks and open cubbies are another easy and affordable option that will utilise wasted space at the bottom of wardrobes.'

‘Ensure that long items of clothing are pulled to one side so shoes are more visible and easily accessible,’ adds Vicky. ‘And store special occasion or out-of-season shoes at the back of wardrobes, with those you wear day-to-day more prominently positioned at the front.’ 

1. Consider tailor-made shoe storage

Utilising wasted space at the bottom of wardrobe ideas (underneath shorter items of clothing) will give room for low-level racks or stacking storage boxes which should be perfectly sufficient for an average-sized shoe collection. Alternatively, consider a full-length wardrobe or slimline cupboard devoted entirely to shoes if you have a large collection, with easy-access cubbies that allow you to view your entire shoe collection at once.

‘Many of us have lots of shoes to store,’ says Racheal Hutcheson, national retail manager at Sharps. ‘If they are housed in their boxes or bags, and stored two or three deep, it’s so difficult to see what you have at a glance. Installing open storage is far more practical. Dedicated shoe racks can be tiered, with the ability to cascade, or consider incorporating boot rails for awkwardly shaped footwear.’

2. Opt for easy-access racks

Shoes and handbags stuffed at the backs of wardrobes make it difficult to find what you’re looking for when you’re getting ready and in a hurry, plus they’re more likely to get crushed, dusty and damaged if not stored in an orderly fashion.

Make the contents of built-in wardrobe ideas more easily accessible by considering slide-out racks for storing footwear, bags and accessories. Smooth-gliding drawers can be used to neatly store multiple numbers of shoes on each shelf, and pull fully out so everything is instantly visible and shoes at the back more easily reached. 

‘Specialist shoe storage solutions can be part of a doorless, open design as shoes are displayed neatly, or can also be hidden behind wardrobe or sliding doors as an internal feature,’ says Megan Baker, head of design at Myfittedbedroom.

‘As an alternative, the benefits of fitted furniture means that shelves can be designed to different measurements. Some people also use shoe boxes that are stored on shelves within a wardrobe, with a tailored design created around the height and width of the boxes.’

3. Stretch storage to suit your space

There are plenty of ways of adapting existing wardrobe space to accommodate an expanding shoe collection. Buying off-the-peg racks and slotting them into empty gaps will keep shoes tidy and prevent space at the bottom or tops of cupboards from going to waste.

These clever stretch-able shoe racks are a great way of gaining an extra layer of shelf storage in a cupboard or wardrobe. Unlike standard-sized racks, this extendable design will stretch out width-wise too, so that the entire width of the wardrobe gets utilised.

Buy now: In-cupboard extending shoe rack, £25, Store

4. Choose see-thru boxes for easy shoe selection

Hunting for stray shoes is a real time-waster in the mornings, so try boxing them up as a useful way of keeping pairs together. Storing shoes in boxes also makes them easier to stack vertically, which can be handy if you’ve got excess shelf space available higher up in your wardrobe.

Clear boxes will keep shoes dust-free and let you see what’s inside so you can grab your favourite pair more quickly. Store shoes heel to toe inside so that they don’t get squashed and damaged.

Buy now: Clear stackable shoe drawers, from £8.50, A Place for Everything

5. Double-up with space-saving stackers

Making what storage space we do have work more efficiently is always a winner. These ingenious shoe stackers do just that, allowing you to double-up on shelf space so you can pack more shoes in when cupboard space is limited.

Made of lightweight plastic, they’re great for bulky trainers and wedges, with one shoe sitting on top of the holder and the other one slotting in below. 

Buy now: Murvel shoe organiser, £1, Ikea

6. Try hanging shelves to squeeze more in

If you’ve got a vacant clothes rail going spare, then consider putting it to use with some hanging shoe storage. Whether inside a cupboard or on a freestanding clothes rail, hook-on pocket organisers are inexpensive and a great temporary solution when space is tight.

Made of sturdy canvas and collapsible so they can be stashed away when not in use, simly hook onto your rail to provide a tower of storage that will hold up to 10 pairs of shoes comfortably.

7. Snap your favourite Jimmy Choos

Storing shoes in their original boxes helps to protect them and keep them free of dust. To make shoes more easily identifiable when they’re stashed in a cupboard or wardrobe, why not take a quick snap so that you’ve got a photographic reminder of exactly what’s inside the box. 

A fun idea for a fashionista or a teenager’s bedroom, stick the snaps on the end of the box so you know which heels are where, or make your own tie-on tags using cardboard luggage labels.

8. Box-up out-of-season footwear

‘If you do have a large collection of shoes, then store out-of-season footwear away elsewhere so you only have half the amount of shoes to think about,’ advises Vicky Silverthorn. ‘My top tip is to go through your wardrobe regularly, so you know exactly what you have and aren’t tempted to repeat buy, ending up with the same or similar again.’

For spare room shoe storage, consider sturdy, stackable see-through boxes. Buy in an assortment of sizes, so they can accommodate summer sandals or winter boots and be stacked several high to make the best use of space.

Make sure that shoes are clean and dry before storing them away for any length of time. Damp, dirty shoes are likely to get mildew or smell if packed away. Boxes with ventilation are a good option or alternatively consider popping mini silica gel packets inside which will absorb any excess moisture.

Buy now: Orthex SmartStore boxes, from £26.50 each, John Lewis

9. Keep shoes feeling fresh

As an alternative to cardboard or plastic shoe boxes, consider mesh boxes for storing your favourite footwear. Mesh allows air to circulate inside so there’s no danger of shoes getting smelly or going mouldy, while mesh also allows you to see inside, so you know which shoes are where.

These boxes also have grab handles and lift-up end panels so you can grab the pair you want in a hurry. Lightweight and foldable, they’ll stash flat when not in use.

Buy now: Skubb shoe boxes, £8 for four, Ikea

10. Kit out your dressing room

If you’ve a spare bedroom or separate dressing room and have the luxury of a little more space, then why not store your shoe collection in style? A dedicated shoe station with cubbyhole storage will allow you to organise all your heels, flats and boots in orderly fashion and on show so you can see your entire collection at a glance.

This range starts with a smaller 20 compartment rack, or can be sized up to this full-sized 40 compartment unit, complete with an open section at the bottom for boots and larger items.

Buy now: Martha shoe storage, from £320, Wayfair

11. Try built-in storage in small spaces

Think outside the box if bedroom space is super-tight. Look at unused areas and awkward spaces that could be utilised with a built-in option. Storage cubbies for shoes can be squeezed into the narrowest of gaps, so look at bedroom alcoves, upstairs landing space or even the space around a doorway for extra shoe storage.

This neat built-in storage cleverly makes use of the space above and around a bedroom door, with overhead compartments for bags and bulky items at ceiling height, together with narrow column-style cubbies for shoes to the side.

12. Make use of under-bed space

If you’re squeezed for wardrobe space, then go through and divvy up your summer sandals and winter shoes and boots and stash the out-of-season footwear away to free-up extra wardrobe space. 

If there’s free space underneath the bed, then why not utilise this for storing shoes that are not currently in action. A roomy underbed drawer or two will hold plenty of excess footwear and can be easily swapped over season by season.

Measure underbed space before you buy storage drawers or boxes. Lower beds will need a shallower drawer so that it slides under without obstruction. And always choose underbed storage with a lid or cover so that the contents doesn’t get dusty.

Buy now: Willow underbed lined storage drawer, £60, John Lewis

How should I store my shoes in the bedroom?

The key to storing shoes in a bedroom is firstly narrowing down your collection. Storing like with like and colour with colour, is a good way of organising shoes so that you know exactly what you have. 

Organise shoes seasonally to start with, so that all your winter shoes, boots and footwear is together - likewise all your summer sandals, heels, flip flops etc. Grouping shoes together will help you keep track of exactly what you have, it’s easy to forget how many pairs of black shoes or tan sandals you own when they’re stored away randomly. 

Once shoes are sorted into seasonal collections, store away those seasonal shoes that are not currently being used, which will free up some extra storage space in your wardrobe. Then it’s just a matter of organising racks, cubbies or boxes so that you can keep everything in better order.

Is it better to keep shoes in boxes or out?

Shoes stored in boxes give a better level of protection from dust and dirt or damage from being crushed or crumpled and is a good idea for shoes not currently being worn. Shoes should be clean and dry before you store them away to prevent mildew growth. Wrapping them in acid-free tissue will protect them and help absorb any moisture. Use crumpled tissue or shoe trees inside shoes to help them keep their shape when not being worn.

For shoes that you’re wearing more regularly, a rack or open front cubby is a better way of storing shoes than inside boxes. These will allow air to circulate around shoes and you’ll be able to see which pair you require more easily .