So many shoes, so little space!

October 12, 2009 7:25 PM

Organizing fans: Help me figure out what to do with my shoes in my miniature entryway/kitchen this winter!

My apartment opens right into my kitchen; the stove is right next to the door. This means that I don't have a nice hall closet or anyplace to put my shoes. In the summer it wasn't a problem since i would wear sandals every day, but come winter I have more shoe options (two kinds of boots, tennis shoes, etc) and therefore more shoes cluttering a small place.

I had a shoe rack but that takes up floor space I'd rather avoid using. It just made the area cluttered. I've only got about two square feet of floor space that wouldn't result in tripping or being unable to open the door. Something that went on the door or wall would be ideal, but I'm not sure a traditional over-the-door shoe rack would fit over my outside door, or if it would result in a compression of weather stripping and therefore more drafts. To give you an idea of the space I'm working in, this is what my entryway looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11691760@N00/4007252406/

Does anybody have any great tricks/suggestions?

posted by gilsonal to home & garden (11 comments total)

something like this?
posted by HuronBob at 7:32 PM on October 12

I wonder if something like this from Ikea might work, mounted to the wall -- it's only 7-1/2 inches deep, so it might not impede the opening of your door too much.
posted by Kat Allison at 7:36 PM on October 12

Or, alternatively, this one -- 8-5/8 deep. (I'd been pondering both of these for my own cramped entryway, but unfortunately I don't have enough wall space.)
posted by Kat Allison at 7:38 PM on October 12

It's hard to see how much space is available between the top of the door frame and the ceiling, but can you mount a shelf over the door that would allow you enough space for a few pairs of boots/shoes? You could fill some of the space with a standard shoe cubby system and leave the rest for boots sitting upright. Alternatively, can you devote one of your kitchen cabinets to shoes?
posted by carmicha at 7:40 PM on October 12

the back-of-the-door models really dont take up a lot of space between the door and the frame...its usually just a flat piece of metal...i doubt drafts will be an issue...also they are cheap.
posted by sexyrobot at 7:48 PM on October 12

HuronBob-I had something like that, I resented the space it took up, I kept tripping over it.

Carmicha- An interesting idea. I may not have room above the door, but a few small shelves behind the door might work, or a long one on the wall a foot from the ceiling or so. I wish I had extra kitchen room too! I love to cook so cupboards are past capacity as well!
posted by gilsonal at 7:48 PM on October 12

Floating shoe rack? Either on the wall behind the door, or just past it, if you need the door to swing open fully. Complete diy instructions there, but you can also buy them places.
posted by donnagirl at 7:55 PM on October 12

This wall-mounted unit certainly is fancy and low-profile. Pricy though.

A more basic design.

Or, with minimal work, rip off an Ikea design that is even smaller in profile.

There are also much cheaper cloth-and-paper-backed ones that hang on the wall, with a separate flap compartment for each shoe; I couldn't remember the exact name or find a picture though.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:06 PM on October 12

I've blogged about entryway shoe ideas - and also 15 ways to store shoes. Somewhere in those two posts should be something that could work for you.
posted by jeri at 8:31 PM on October 12

Can you put down a carpet runner so you can walk further into the apt before taking off the shoes instead of right at the door
posted by hungrysquirrels at 9:56 PM on October 12

jeri's 2nd link has the cheaper alternative I was trying to name - they are called 'Over-the-door shoe bags (or pocket organizers),' and are number 5 on that page. The ones shown seem to be over-the-door only, but I've bought one in the past that had grommets on each corner to do wall mounting.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 6:56 AM on October 13