Following my hall closet shelves, I’m tackling another area of my home: effective shoe storage to stop the clutter. Today, I am sharing a DIY cabinet for my extensive shoe collection. I love shoes, and over the years, I’ve collected quite a few pairs, which can lead to clutter. Heels, ballet flats, trainers, sandals, boots, booties. You name it, I have it.

And yes, I wear my shoes. All of them. I also try not to exceed the current number of shoes. When I buy a new pair, I (try to) get rid of another, to keep the shoe area contained. I also tend to be very careful with my shoes, so they can last quite a long time.

I’ve tried many different ways of organising and storing my shoes. Years ago, I discovered the most streamlined shoe storage to stop the clutter. Small cubbies for each pair of shoes. The shoes sit facing on top of each other, opposing heel to toe.

I bought several shoe cubbies at Target years ago. Made of particle board, they moved with us many times, from Boston, to Switzerland, to London. And they more than served their purpose. But lately, they’ve started to show their age. I searched everywhere for replacements, but I could not find the same boxes, and nothing else was quite right.

So, I decided to put my newfound woodworking skills to work with new shoe storage solutions that can stop the clutter.

The Build

I can copy the sizing of the current shoe boxes, while also adapting for the number of shoes. After a bit of counting and measuring, here is what I came up with:

• 2 boxes, each containing 30 cubbies. Some cubbies can hold more than 1 pair of shoes, such as ballet flats, thin sandals, etc.
• Sizing of each box:
  • Length = 61 cm
  • Width = 30 cm
  • Height = 95 cm

In terms of the build, it was really quite simple. I assembled the outer shoe storage boxes, using my corner clamps and 3-inch deck screws. I used 18mm MDF boards, cut to length by the team at B&Q.

For the dividers inside the boxes, I used 4mm MDF, also cut to length by B&Q. I traced the cut-outs from my Target boxes, adjusting the length and width to match the overall box sizing.

Then, I cut on either side of each dividing line, going to just over half the width of the board. I used a chisel to cut the small piece out from between the two cuts, leaving a 5mm gap. I did this 4 times, evenly spaced, on each of the vertical divider pieces, creating five cubbies across.

I did the same on the horizontal pieces with, 5 cuts down the length of each board, for six cubbies down.

Once all the cuts were made, I checked to make sure the cuts all ended at the same place. It was difficult to be exact on the miter saw, so I made small adjustments with the chisel.

Assembly

Next, I assembled the dividers, Matching up the cuts and sliding them together, I then slotted them into the frames. The outer frames help keep them in place and even.

Each shoe storage cubbie measures 11 cm x 15.5 cm, an ideal size for the majority of my shoes.

I did not consider putting a backing on the boxes, although you could. My boxes sit against the wall, so it is not really needed.

I also have not painted them yet. I do plan to, but I kind of like the unfinished look here.

It lets the shoes be the stars of the show. As they should be!

What do you think? Would you consider storing your shoes like this? I have never found a better approach that takes up minimal room while keeping them in good condition. Tell me, what is your approach to shoe storage to stop the clutter? And do you think I have too many shoes? Share in the comments.