Shoe storage?

[Nemtynakht]

How do you all store your shoes?
I was reading some dailycandy archives today, and I came across this odd product:
http://www.rakkudesigns.com/Home.html

Personally, I have two low wooden racks in our front hallway and a taller metal rack in the bedroom closet. Then I have two hanging shoe holders in the front closet. Despite my efforts, I seem to always have shoes around the house!

I guess my ideal storage would be something that keeps all the shoes visible, doesn't crush them, and takes up next to no space. I forget about shoes if I can't see them, but I also get really sick of people coming into our apartment and gaping at my shoes (I don't mind admiring, I just mind the borderline snarky comments).

How do you store your shoes, and what would your ideal storage be like?

[shoesense]

What a great question! First, I think Shomore wrote about this "Rakku" product in one of the forums (possibly the "general" forum). Second, I think this is a complicated question that has to do with the economy and architecture of your household.

There are numerous shoe-storing systems--Shoelover, which is linked through our blogroll, sells clear shoeboxes for storage, which some people love; and our own Jitterbugbaby likes to keep them in the original box.

When I was pressed for space in my old apartment, I had 3 (or was it 4?) of these babies: Canvas 10 Pocket Shoe Organizer - canvas shoe organizers, hanging in the closet in lieu of clothes. This way they're kind of protected, and you can always see them (sort of). The catch is, of course, that you always, always have to wipe your shoes before you put them away. Well, that's something I do anyway. It doesn't really work for boots, of course; those were stored on the floor of the closet, underneath.

Now that we own our own house, I have a walk-in closet with a build-in shoe storage systems--yoo-hoo! The previous owners used it for his and hers shoes (and clothes), but now it's mine only I still have to take pictures of it (I will, I promise, and post them)--but it basically came with loads of compartments for my shoes. Boy, did I fill those up quickly--and I still had to store all my boots on the floor!

I'm curious to read what others use for shoe storage. I'll be back to this thread w/ pics.

[jitterbugbaby]

I'd love to have built-in shoe storage space. But I'm also a big fan (as Shoesense said) of keeping them in boxes. That way you keep the dust from gathering on those shoes that get trotted out only occasionally. The Container Store also makes a line of clear shoe boxes if you want to go in that direction.

[venetiakim]

Originally Posted by jitterbugbaby

I'd love to have built-in shoe storage space. But I'm also a big fan (as Shoesense said) of keeping them in boxes. That way you keep the dust from gathering on those shoes that get trotted out only occasionally. The Container Store also makes a line of clear shoe boxes if you want to go in that direction.

that's waht I think too.

[Shomore]

Nemtynakht, here's another interesting storage concept...under the stairs drawers. I also like how it doesn't take up any space.

Even better, if the side panels could somehow become translucent with a push of the button (ala James Bond), I could view my entire shoe collection without having to open all the stair drawers and would get a ton of exercise walking up and down the stairs.

I'm not sure how safe or dust-free this design would be though.

Via Shoeflyer

[Nemtynakht]

Whoa.
That's pretty amazing.
I think, though, that I too prefer to be able to see my shoes. I would definitely forget about shoes if I couldn't see them!

[madaloon]

I've got the canvas things that hang in my closet for the shoes I wear most often, boots on the floor, and the fancy shoes in boxes on a shelf.

[jitterbugbaby]

Robert, I like it.

Sure, it'll only work if you've got the closet space (which I certainly don't), but I think it's an elegant solution that looks much nicer than the other hanging plastic shoe storage options I've seen.

[suitepeas]

The wheel and stair ideas are awesome.