The use of this website means that you accept the confidentiality regulations and the conditions of service. And the wood top makes an attractive shelf for belts, wallets, and other items. If all this sounds great to you, but you want a slightly different option, we also tested the 2-Tier Iron Stackable Shoe Storage Rack from Bed Bath & Beyond. Before becoming Wirecutters senior editor covering apparel, accessories, and pets, Jennifer Hunter was the editor of Wirecutters home-goods coverage. Cabinets are the only style we tested that store shoes out of sight, and this one costs a fraction of the price of similar models. And even though the shelves install very securely, they are also easy to adjust or remove. But in a category that generally isn't the greatest shoe storage option, the Whitmor model is the best hanging rack we tested. The lower shelf can also be raised in order to create more space under the rack. This model is a great-looking freestanding rack with a sleek metallic mesh design. It was also far, far easier for us to assemble. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. This racks two shelves wont hold as many pairs as our main pick, but it also costs a little less. Only one shoe fits per slot, which is a terrible waste of space. Most over-the-door hanging racks are made from a length of fabric with pockets to hold your shoes. Its a combination that we didnt find in any other rack we tested: Racks with thin frames were wobbly, while racks that were solid and heavy took up more space. *At the time of publishing, the price was $44. If youre planning to store the bulk of your shoes in your closet but want to keep everyday pairs near the front door, you will probably require a rack for each space. Other hanging racks in our test group have loose hooks that cause sag, but the Whitmors hooks are constructed of flat, wide, J-shaped molded metal strips. It stacks easily but is less customizable overall than our main pick. Meck mentioned this organizer as an option for those who want cubbies, which can provide order and division between pairs or single shoes. This rack will stay steady even on warped floors or lumpy carpet. The slats of the Seville Classics models shelves were also thick enough to allow our high heels to sit flat, while some competitors let narrow heels fall right through the surface. Our experts warned us to avoid expandable racks consisting of bars that slide horizontally to create longer shelves. In testing, the rectangular-shaped base gives the rack a sturdy footing, and the U-shape frame doubles as a handle, should you need to move the rack around. They work best to maximize floor space inside a small closetmost fit under hanging clothesor by the front door to keep shoes organized. After spending more than 30 hours researching shoe racks, interviewing professional organizers, and assembling 18 racks by hand, we think the Seville Classics 3-Tier Resin Slat Utility Shoe Rack is the best choice for most people who need extra shoe storage in a closet or entryway. Several Wirecutter staffers use the Seville Classics in their own homes. It has earned an average 4.8-star rating over more than 250 reviews at Bed Bath & Beyond. Ease of assembly: It was important to us that a shoe rack be easy to put together, so we aimed to find models that came with clear directions, needed few or no extra tools to assemble, and included good-quality, well-labeled parts. Youll still see your shoes, however, so cubbies let you show off pretty pairs. She also owns a lot of shoes, which shes had to wrangle into some very small apartments in both Los Angeles and New York City. The frequency at which you wear your favorite pairs is especially important when searching for shoe storage, according to Solomon. If you want to move your shoe storage frequently, you may be better off choosing this model. But just in case, professional organizer Barbara Reich can confirm, and you probably have shoes you don't wear. Sliding them back together is easy enough, but it can be annoying. Weve been testing this for more than two years, and it never feels rickety or unstable, despite the steels slenderness. Every household is different, but when youre beginning your search, consider the following general guidelines regarding rack styles: Freestanding racks are portable and somewhat customizable; most of the models we tested could stack or change in some way. And we have found the rack to be sturdy (holding two 10-pound weights on its second shelf without issue) and useful as entryway storage, due to its generous shelf size. In our tests, however, as we added more levels, we found the stack to be too wobbly to win our recommendation. The top bar feels more decorative than functional and restricts where you can put the rack. The shelves are 12 inches deeproomy enough to accommodate a mens size 12. Thats why we were especially interested in racks that allowed for some customization. Finally, it was time for the jiggle test, during which we bumped, shook, and generally put each rack through its paces to see how stable and useful it was. Its a great idea, but in our tests the width of the cubbies (which was not adjustable) turned out to be far too narrow to fit a pair of adult shoes side by side. This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan. The steel Open Spaces Entryway Rack comes in seven colors. We found the women's-size box way too small to store any pair except sandals or flats. The plastic clips that were meant to keep the shelves secure didnt install correctly for us, and the rack wasnt marked with any guidelines, so we were left to guess at where to install them in order to keep the shelves level. As anyone who has owned a crappy shoe rack can attest, certain factors will quickly turn any rack into more trouble than its worth, so we carefully considered the following criteria: Stability: We wanted to find storage options that could handle the commotion of a regular household and hold up when jostled or bumped. If you can make the investment, the Yamazaki Home Tower Shoe Rack, in steel and wood veneer, is versatile and sturdy enough that it should last years. The combination of those two layers of steel gives this rack much more stability than in any other rack we tried. In our tests, we have used it for more than shoes, draping jeans and bulky sweaters for easy access. For the second time, our favorite board is the Brabantia Ironing Board B. Its the best weve tried for the pricejust the right size, with a sturdy build. We always appreciate a warranty, not just because it would replace or refund a damaged rack, but also because we think a company that offers a warranty has real incentive to make something that wont break in the first place. Easy to assemble (although not as effortless as our main pick), this model is lighter and easier to move around than our top pick. IE 11 is not supported. The wood construction makes this rack lighter than the steel-frame Seville Classics, but its still very stable. Theyre usually taller and bigger than other racks and designed with deep drawers that pivot open and closed. They could be stackable (allowing you to add another unit to increase capacity), modular, or designed with shelves that are adjustable by height. This rack would be ideal if you have only a few pairs of shoes to store (each tier easily holds four). Other shoe racks may save you a few bucks, but theSeville Classics is worth the extra cost. The steel frame is nearly identical to that of our main pick, and we found it just as solid and easy to assemble. She spent a decade writing and editing for lifestyle brands such as Architectural Digest and Apartment Therapy, which has come in handy for her latest project: restoring her untouched mid-century Los Angeles home. We dont doubt that the company would follow through and take care of any problems. While it may seem unconventional, Caroline Solomon, founder of New York City-based home organizing business NEATLY, said IKEAs Billy Bookcase is one of her favorite shoe storage solutions for a no-nonsense way to store your heels and show them off. The bookcase comes with adjustable shelves so you can move them around according to the height of your shoes. This rack was a surprise because, until it arrived in a Seville Classics box, we didnt realize it was made by that company. If you dont have the floor space to use freestanding or cabinet-style shoe storage, the Whitmor 36 Pair Over the Door Shoe Rack stores lots of shoes in a small, unused spot. The thin, powder-coated steel frame ensures that the rack wont take up more space than it needs to in tight corners, such as in a bedroom closet, and it comes to just 2 feet tall. One person calls it perfectinexpensive, sturdy feeling, and very lightweight.. We tested how long it took to assemble each shoe rackranging from three minutes to nearly two hoursand noted how clear the instructions were, how well the parts were labeled, and what additional tools (or knowledge) we needed. Hanging shoe pockets can be ideal for kids shoes, flip flops, flats and other clunky shoes, according to Meck. The entire frame was a wobbly mess and almost immediately dumped all our shoes on the floor. Its also not the most elegant design we encountered. The Seville Classics rack isnt the most stylish or the sleekest shoe rack in our test group, but neither is it noticeably ugly. We agree with IKEAs recommendation to attach it to the wall to ensure sure it wont tip over (especially if you have kids). She holds a bachelors degree in environmental studies, as well as a masters in architecture, and has covered the overlaps between sustainability and other topics for publications including The Atlantic, Newsweek, and Catapult. If youve found that most over-the-door racks dont fit your thicker-than-average door, consider the Misslo Hanging Over the Door Shoe Organizer. It has earned an average 4-star rating over more than 120 reviews at Bed Bath & Beyond. Count how many pairs (and how many of each type) you have after decluttering and purchase storage based on those numbers.. Jennifer Hunter, the original author of this guide, used to own two Seville racks and said they looked brand new, even after a move. This elegant little rack takes up the footprint of just one pair of shoes, but holds five. Organizer Abbey Claire Keusch told us, Count before you buy something! This model was the most customizable rack we found, and it can hold a wide variety of shoe sizes and styles. Generally, you should make sure youre storing shoes somewhere that isnt directly hit by sunlight but is well-ventilated and cleaned regularly, according to Meck. You must attach the two shelves to the end pieces using the included screws and hex key (we appreciated that one comes in the package). Short toddler shoes reached both bars but felt less stable than larger sizes, and very long soles (mens size 12) stuck too far off the back of the shelf. The brand doesnt recommend stacking more than 7 or 8 of the boxes on top of each other for stability. The Container Stores 12-Pair Shoe Organizer has the same outer dimensions (and proclivity for dust) as the 8-Pair Shoe Organizer but divides the interior area into more, smaller cubbies. (She also recommended the shorter and lower-priced version of the bookcase as an option for those with shoe collections that arent as large.). These racks also tend to be very inexpensive, so if you need a temporary, disposable storage option, a door rack could work just fine. If the Seville Classics 3-Tier Shoe Rack isnt available or you prefer a solid-bamboo option, the Oceanstar 2-Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack is a great alternative. However, due to this racks design, you wont be able to use this in a childs closet, since tiny shoes will tumble through. This bamboo rack strikes a great balance between stability and portability, but it's less customizable and isnt as simple to assemble as others we tested. The divided version is handy for creating more space, but these crates dont stack securely, and theyre a bit bulky for the amount of storage they give you. While you can get on a waitlist for three colors that are currently sold out, the rack is available in Light Blue and Navy at the moment. We especially love the bargain price of the Bissa, which was the only shoe cabinet we found in the same price range as freestanding shoe racks. For shoes that you want to pack away, Meck also explained that wrapping them in tissue paper and even old clothes can keep them from scraping or scuffing together. We learned from reviews that people were often frustrated that a rack they bought online didnt hold as many shoes as it promised, or that it didnt hold the specific kind of shoes they needed to store. The shelf surface is slightly different, with a teak-colored finish (the teak looks nice from a distance but feels more like plastic), and the frame is missing the top handle row that we thought was so versatile on the three-tier version. The right shoe rack will help you store more shoes in less space. We tested the Seville Classics warranty by calling customer service to inquire about returning a defective rack, and the representative was receptive and helpful. Its simply a plain, nondescript rack that will blend into the background, which, for a shoe rack, may in fact be a perk. Ability to customize: Because everyone owns a different combination of shoe types and not all types fit perfectly on every rack, youre unlikely to find the perfect, maximize-your-space rack without a little tweaking. It feels like Im really maximizing space.. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Before buying any kind of shoe storage, you should first make sure you actually want to keep certain pairs of shoes around, said McGreevy. Sitting side by side with the other, more expensive cabinet-style model we tested in person, the Bissa did look cheaperthe cabinet was smaller and the walls were thinnerbut in this case we think thats a pro rather than a con. It has a wooden shelf on top and can house up to 24 shoes. The Bissa comes with either two or three drawers, and each one holds about four pairs of shoesfewer than larger cabinets we considered because, at 20 inches wide, the Bissa is one of the narrowest models we found. We looked at a variety of rack styles and read hundreds of reviews on the sites of Amazon, The Container Store, Home Depot, Overstock, and many others. She spent nine years writing about decor, home organization, and furniture for media companies such as NBC and Apartment Therapy. Among other things, shes been an editor at Metropolis, where she focused on the intersection of environment and design; a manager at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection; a designer; and a freelance writer. A cabinet is perfect for an entryway or if youd like to store shoes out of sight in the bedroom (but dont have space in the closet). Other shoe racks we tried had slippery bars that let our shoes fall through the center, but the bars on this rack were textured and gripped our shoes soles well. You may have fewer shoes to store than you originally thought. Kelly McGreevy, founder of Boston-based home organization company Styled Neatly, favors this set of shoe boxes that make organization a breeze. Part of the appeal of a box like this one is practicality since they allow you to be able to see all your shoes easily and [you] always have a spot to return them to, she added. That said, we found the bar was useful for keeping yoga mats and foam rollers on the top shelf from tipping forward. This investment-worthy rack is slim enough to fit in a closet and sleek enough for an entryway. As professional organizer Naeemah Ford Goldson stresses, visibility is keyso that you know what shoes you own and can better access them. The racks design works only for adult-size shoes. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Maytag M400 Speed Heat Iron and Vertical Steamer, Seville Classics 3-Tier Resin Slat Utility Shoe Rack, An attractive, high-quality rack for shoesor anything else, tall version of the Yamazaki Home Tower Shoe Rack, Our pick: Seville Classics 3-Tier Resin Slat Utility Shoe Rack, Runner-up: Oceanstar 2-Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack, Upgrade Pick: Yamazaki Home Tower Shoe Rack, Also great: Yamazaki Home Tower Shoe RackTall, Also great: Whitmor 36 Pair Over the Door Shoe Rack, National Association of Black Professional Organizers, The Container Stores Silver Mesh Stackable Shoe Shelf, The Container Stores 12-Pair Shoe Organizer, The Container Store's Clear Stackable Shoe Drawers, Honey-Can-Do 24-Pocket Over-The-Door Closet Organizer, Misslo Hanging Over the Door Shoe Organizer, owner, Abbey Claire Professional Organizing, A Shoe Organizer That Takes Up Practically Zero Space, Closet Storage Systems: Elfa vs. Rubbermaid vs. Closetmaid. The shelves are also strong enough on their own to serve as a bridge, connecting the frames of two units if you want to attach several together side by side. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). She mentioned this over-the-door shoe organizer for those who want to be able to see their shoes easily. It also creates a handy space for tall boots, which are notoriously tricky to store. And since the rack has no stabilizing feet, we imagine it could get rickety on rough terrain. Like the Seville Classics model, this rack stacks vertically to increase storage, but the shelves dont adjust or configure in any other ways. Most cabinets cost many times more. We suspect that the very top level is meant to function as a carrying handle, but if you want a little extra room for storing high heels or ankle boots, installing a shelf on that top tier will give you the space for it. If youre looking for a modern style, the Oceanstar 2-Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack is a great choice. From bookcase shelves for shoes to an over-the-door rack, here are the best shoe storage solutions recommended by professional organizers. Many shoe racks require you to attach the shelves to the frame with screwswhich of course means that any adjustments you want to make later force you to undo that work. And despite the lighter frame, this rack was stronger than most of the other freestanding racks we tested, as it resisted wobbling when we bumped it; our shoes, even the heels, stayed put. We tried many different sizes and styles of shoes on this rack, and it performed well with each one. Though this is advertised as entryway shelvingit has a trendy, minimalist appearanceit easily holds 12 adult pairs of shoes, with over 8.5 inches of shelf clearance and plenty of space for tall styles up top. *At the time of publishing, the price was $65. If you need a place to store five pairs of shoes in the footprint of one, the tall version of the Yamazaki Home Tower Shoe Rack fits the bill. The frame is weighty and substantial, yet its steel bars are slimabout half an inch wide. We also considered adding a section on installed shelving systems, such as the Elfa line at The Container Store or Closetmaid Impressions, but we opted to focus on more portable, flexible shoe-storage options in this guide. We thought The Container Store's Clear Stackable Shoe Drawers might be a good way to both protect and display beautiful and delicate shoes, and they are. Its slimmer and fits a narrow entryway better than any other we tried. Capacity: We were looking for a rack that would easily hold a variety of shoe types and provide enough storage space to make it worth the purchase. During testing we especially appreciated extra touches like predrilled guide holes to help us easily find the right place for a screw, and racks that came with the tools we needed for assembly. 2022 SELECT | All rights reserved. Its unusual design allows you to configure its shelves to fit different-size shoes, and its nonadjustable rubber-lined hooks are more secure than competitors hardware. This rack succeeds where most fail: Its wobble-free and assembles in minutes. The Whitmor rack is surprisingly stable, thanks to its rigid curved frame and its hooks, which attach securely to the top of a door. The set has earned an average 4.3-star rating over more than 200 reviews at The Container Store. And the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, whether the rack is used in a bedroom closet or as a designated bike shoe rack for the garage. Its a popular pick on Amazon, boasting an average 4.4-star rating over more than 7,700 reviews. This organizer is designed for low-profile shoes like flip-flops and flats and it could be something to consider for a childs bedroom. The Langria 5-Tier Metal Shoe Rack Organizer sounds good on paper, as its almost endlessly adjustable (you can position the shelves at any height you choose), but in reality the quality just isnt there. It holds more shoes, and a wider variety, than many freestanding racks we tested, and it feels like it will last a long time. The open design is space-efficientyour shoes straddle two lateral steel bars for each shelf; this means the rack can also double as a hanger. This cabinet will help your shoe storage area look neater than our other picks, but it still takes up more space and stores fewer shoes than most freestanding styles. A shoe rack in the entry or mudroom will keep things organized and eliminate the shoe parking lot, as Reich put it. But if you need to keep your shoes off the floor, the Whitmor rack is the best way weve found to do that. Solomon described this shoe rack as a real cut above the rest due to its minimalist and sleek design that can make even the most well-worn shoes look good. And, she added, it allows you to comfortably fit ten to twelve pairs of shoes, which is more than enough for one person in a week. This rack is made from a powder-coated steel thats supposed to be easy to clean. It doesnt require screws, extra parts, or tools, in contrast to many of the racks we assembled. The hooks are strong and lined with rubber so they grip the top of the door well, and they sit flat enough that they should allow you to open and close the door normally. The hooks are wider (1 inches) than on most other styles. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Mecks personal preference is for shoe shelves she feels they are a no-fuss fix for lining up shoes easily, efficiently and neatly. The more expensive men's-size box fit some of our heels (on their sides only, which isnt ideal for display) but not our ankle boots. In our tests, assembly was quick (about 10 minutes) and intuitive, but we did need to use some extra muscle when inserting the barsthey were a bit wobbly in the frame until we pounded them together (we used the heel of a boot on the fly, but you can use a mallet). But its five racks, plus space on the floor beneath, will comfortably hold as many as 24 shoes. And it will keep them visible, easily accessible, and protected from dust, dirt, and interested kids or pets. The bamboo panel looks nice and helps a bit to keep the panel flat against the door, the hooks fit a standard door securely, and the canvas is good quality. The pockets are large but still fit only one adult shoe per slot. As of this writing, this rack has close to 7,000 reviews on Amazon, and nearly all of them are raves. Style: While style wasnt our top concern, each racks styling and finishes did factor into our decision. This is a great rack and it definitely does its job well, but in the end it just isnt quite as impressive as the Seville Classics. She recommended putting similar shoes side by side (like sneakers with sneakers) and sorting through each group, letting go of any pairs you dont need anymore. The two shelves can each hold up to 25 pounds worth of shoes, or about six pairs of shoes in total (excluding the under-the-rack storage space). This shoe storage option can hold up to 26 pairs of shoes and includes hooks for installation. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. It may not make sense to tuck away shoes in individual storage bins if you like to get more mileage out of all your shoes instead, opt for open storage like a shoe cubby or shoe rack that allow for easy access, Solomon suggested. Going through this step is important so that you dont end up organizing extra pairs of shoes or buying more storage than you need, she said. Most freestanding racks consist of metal or wood shelving attached to separate vertical leg piecesthe shelves are the only source of horizontal strength. First, the frames three separate sections clip together so you can alter the length of the rack based on the number of shoes you have to store. We think most people use a shoe rack inside a closet, where style isnt of the utmost importance, but some people also want storage that will look nice out in the open. Shes been studying, working in, and writing about the complexities of sustainability since 2005. She pointed to this stackable bamboo shoe shelf as an option, featuring two tiers that can hold up to eight pairs of womens shoes and six pairs of mens, according to the brand. Other racks we tested grew exponentially precarious as their height increased, whereas the Seville Classics rack was still very solid when it was two units and six shelves high. If you need even more distance (say, if you want to store tall boots), you also have the option to leave out a shelf altogether. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. Its far from being a budget solution, but if youre able to make the investment, this is a shoe rack that wont end up as a curbside donation. After testing more than a dozen hangers, we found the Proman Kascade Hanger the most versatile and affordable for most closets. The handle on top makes the design portable and easy to move around as needed. This could also mean that you need to buy more than one shoe rack. However, if you have a standard door (1 inches), you should skip this model, as loose hooks only increase the sag factor. Because the Bissas drawers pivot open, your shoes will move around more than if you simply set them on a freestanding rack like our main pick. In addition to being a nightmare to put together, the more expensive Baxton Studio cabinet was just too big and bulky, wasting space. Beyond the total tally of shoes you own, the type of shoe organizer you finally go for could also depend on what the size of your space is and how often you wear your shoes, McGreevy told us. It can adjust in two key ways. Finally, we love the ability to customize a shoe rack, and this model was the only hanging rack we tested that let us modify it. Before beginning your shoe-rack search, its a good idea to take a page out of the general closet organizing book and spend some time sorting through your shoe collection and weeding out the excess.