Your Guide to Buying Shoe Racks for a Small Space

Living in a small space is a challenge. Volumes have been written about how to arrange a tiny residence for ease of movement, visual appeal, and maximum storage organization. Storage, in fact, is the most difficult puzzle to solve when decorating a diminutive dwelling. This dilemma is most puzzling for anyone with a decent shoe collection. How can one store all those shoes so that they are well cared for, yet laid out for easy access? How can one grab just the right pair for any outfit on any day without the luxury of a big walk-in closet?

Solutions may be found in the plethora of shoe storage systems available. Look for shoe storage solutions in big-box stores, shoe shops, or online, including at Internet marketplaces like Macys. With the right information, any garret dweller can find and purchase the right shoe rack for the right price.

 Simplify That Shoe Wardrobe
The first step in figuring out how to store an extensive shoe collection in a small space is to determine if all those shoes are really needed. Stop thinking of shoes as members of the family and start thinking of them as non-essential clutter. When was the last time those rhinestone-studded stilettos were worn? Is each of those seven pairs of athletic shoes really uniquely designed for a specific sport or exercise? Does anyone actually need four pairs of black ballet flats or five identical pairs of brown loafers?

Living in minimal space requires a minimalist attitude toward footwear. Before choosing to devote the home's only closet to all your shoe babies, choose only the absolute essentials to support your wardrobe, style, and feet.

 Count and Measure
Now that the shoe collection has been pared down, take an accurate count of the number of pairs to be stored. List them according to size and type: boots, dress shoes, athletic shoes, etc. This step helps to determine just how much storage is needed. Next, measure several different spaces where the shoes might be kept to get an idea of the "footprint" available. Think outside the closet. Consider the bedroom, utility room, and even living spaces. Any possible nook into which a shoe rack can be tucked is a space to consider. This helps to determine the size and shape of the shoe rack or another storage system that can help solve the puzzle of shoe storage in a small space.

 Types of Shoe Storage
There are several different basic types of storage units for shoes. Some of these work better in larger spaces, and others are more suited to small rooms and closets.

 Think Vertical
The main problem with small living areas is a lack of floor space. The most efficient shoe rack for a small space is one with a tiny footprint and a tall tower. Stackable shoe storage systems allow the consumer to add layer upon layer of shelves, creating a custom cache of footwear from floor to ceiling. Look for units that are adjustable in width with shelves that are also adjustable.

The consumer may save a great deal of space if each shelf accommodates the same size of shoe, so that all the flats can be stored on a shallow shelf without wasting space in keeping tall boots on the same level. To increase the efficiency of tall shelving, place out-of-season footwear on the highest and lowest shelves, leaving shelves at eye level for the shoes that are most currently worn.

 Hanging and Wall Mounting
A hanging shoe rack can be a helpful solution for the shoe-endowed and space-challenged. This kind of rack can be suspended from a clothes bar or slung over the door to the closet, bedroom, or bathroom. A wall-mounted rack is another possibility, turning otherwise unused wall space into efficient shoe storage.

 Trees and Spinners
A shoe tree can carry many pairs of shoes while taking up an insignificant area of floor space, especially if it revolves.. This kind of rack can help the wearer to have easy access to all of her shoes with a quick spin.

 Under-bed Shoe Storage
A convenient way to keep shoes easily to hand without taking up valuable closet space is with under-bed shoe storage. Look for units that have a clear plastic top, either zippered or removable. This keeps dust off the shoes and allows the wearer to see the whole box at once, making it simpler to find the desired pair. Handles also make it easy to retrieve the storage unit from the under-bed space. Even cleverer storage solutions fit between the mattress and box spring of a bed and dangle shoe storage under the bed skirt or ruffle.

 Consider Storing Shoes in Plain Sight
Many shoes are so beautiful that they can function as decorations in their own right. Consider placing attractive shelves in living spaces and using shoes as a display. Heeled shoes can be suspended from the top sills of windows and doors, hung from curtain rods, or dangled from carefully placed decorative molding. A quaint old ladder or a set of wooden pegs can easily be converted into a combination of storage and display for shoes.