A shoe storage bench can be the perfect thing to get organized and make more space in your closet to get organized – if you know how to do it right. We share our top picks on the different benches available as well as some tips on how to get the results you want on a budget.
It’s not uncommon for many people to have problems finding space for all of their shoes. Afterall, unless you are a complete minimalist who lives in a place that has the same sunny weather day in and day out, it’s pretty natural to have at least three or four pairs of shoes. And if you’re a fashionista, then you may have even more trouble managing your pairs of shoes because you’ve likely collected more pairs that you can even wear in one week.
We love shoe storage benches for a few reasons. For starters, they are much more attractive then most different solutions you see such as racks that go on doors or the bottom of your closet floor. A bench for storing shoes can easily be placed in a hallway near the door, which is way more practical for anyone who wears shoes and needs them to be accessible when you’re on your way out of your home. Not only does a storage shoe bench reduce the chaos in trying to get ready to leave your house and find the right pair of footwear to wear, you can also free up a ton of space in your closet which can be used for other things or help you organize it better.
First, here are some important things to consider before you even start shopping to buy a shoe bench:
1. Where are you going to put it? You definitely want to have a place planned out for where you are going to keep it. It’s very much like buying any other piece of furniture in your home, so planning is essential. You’ll want to make sure you take into account how it might affect doorways, hallway room, or corners – especially if you’ve got children who may accidentally run into it.
2. How Many Shoes Does it Need to Hold? If you are living alone, chances are you can get by with it holding a smaller amount than if you’ve got a family of five with each member of the family having their own footwear to stash away. Some units are surprisingly small, holding only a couple of pairs while others can hold several pairs. While the amount of space you have available is one thing, knowing how much storage you will actually get out of the allotted space you have is just as equally important. You want to get the most storage in the least amount of space as possible in most cases.
3. What is Your Budget? It would be wonderful if we all had the luxury of being able to buy anything we want whenever we want without worrying about the cost. But, most of us probably need to work within some sort of budget, so it’s important to think about that as well. Some cloth shoe storage cabinets are only $30 – but a sturdy solid wood piece may cost you several hundred dollars in contrast. So, you’ll definitely want to think about what it will cost so you can find the best deal.
4. Is there a particular style that you like? There’s all kinds of great styles available out there. Whether you’re looking for a pine bench or want a solid mahogany one, you’re going to be able to find it. In most cases it is good to think about how the color will match and blend in with its surroundings – you wouldn’t want a contemporary stainless steel bench if the rest of your home is in traditional decor. Since it’s likely the bench you want is something you’ll be using for a long time, try to make sure the design and style is something that will match the rest of your house.
5. Open or Closed Shelves? There are advantages to open storage benches for shoes and there are also advantages to shoe storage benches with doors. If it has no doors but open shelving, then the shoes will all be very easily accessible and probably three times as likely to be actually placed there when you are done wearing them. (If you have kids, start them as early as possible to get them into the habit of putting their shoes away in the right place!) The biggest perk of having doors is obviously no one will ever know that you are storing all the shoes in there! It will just seem like an ordinary piece of furniture instead of a mini closet of sorts to hold all of your things.
Now that you have some great tips for picking out the right one, here are some examples of the different ones you might be interested in checking out:
Quality Shoe Bench by JPI
Out of all the shoe benches we reviewed, this is probably our favorite one. It is super affordable (think $10-$15 more than a tank of gas) and it is also pretty sturdy because it’s made out of solid wood instead of laminate. Another good bonus is it will not take you twelve hours to assemble it. It’s on the smaller side, holding only about 10-12 pairs of shoes, but it’s quite perfect for sitting on as well. But, hey don’t just take our word for it – go check it out and click here to read the reviews at Amazon.com
Rubbermaid Storage Bench
Rubbermaid always makes some pretty nice products, and this is a nice little shoe storage bench for holding about 6 pairs of shoes or so. While it wouldn’t be practical if you had several family members in one household, it would do well for just one or two people who need a place to keep the shoes they wear the most often. Another bonus? It can be yours for under $50. Click Here to Learn More
Craftsman 42 Shoe Bench
While this is the most expensive of the bunch, it does have a definite amount of style. Many people love the look of the storage cubbies for their shoes, which is especially great if you have kids. Yo may want to think about whether or not your shoes will fit into it though – adults with larger feet may struggle to fit some sizes or styles into the cubbies. The double bonus is the three drawers which would be perfect to store things like hats, gloves, and scarves! !–cloak–>Click Here for More on the Craftsman 42
Well there you have it, all the tips you need and three great suggestions for a shoe storage bench or cabinet!
