DIY shoe storage {tutorial}
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Today I am sharing our DIY shoe storage box. Last weekend and this weekend have been all about cleaning, organizing and getting ready for winter. The lawn and patio furniture needed to be put away for the winter but that required cleaning out the storage sheds and making room. Not a very pretty or fun job but it’s done now, and I’m so glad!
I’ve mentioned in the past that our closet space is limited so any little nook or box that I can fill is key to staying organized. This solution for converting a toy box to a shoe storage box may seem obvious and a bit silly to write about but for me, it only took 8 months of having shoes piled on top of each other to finally realize that adding a shelf inside would allow for better organization. Sometimes it takes me a while to have the light bulb go off, this was one of those moments.
We have a few toy boxes, some old and some new. I decided to paint one of them white and build a shelf inside to hold kid sized shoes.
This is such a quick and easy solution to keeping the shoes organized and not piled on top of each other.
I used 1×2 pieces of pine cut to 5 inches in length and nailed them to inside of the box to create a ledge for the shelf to fit on. I measured the highest pair of boots that may be in the box and that is how I determined the height of my shelf. I cut a piece of 1×8 pine to the correct length and now I have a shelf for son’s shoes.
After a quick coat of white paint, we have an extra shelf for kid sized shoes.
You can use any width for your shelf, I just happened to use 1 x 8 because I still wanted my high boots to fit but 1 x 10 probably would give you a bit more room for larger shoes on the shelf.
You could even make the shelf lower and add some hooks inside the cover for hats but I choose to have a higher shelf and more storage room underneath. I’m laughing at myself because this seems so obvious and a little silly to write about but I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has toy boxes with stuff piled on top of each other? I’m not sure why it took me so long to think of this but oh well!
This old toy box is now an organized diy shoe storage area that I think is pretty cute. I plan on keeping this in the multi purpose mudroom that is just about finished. I’m struggling with the odd shaped window in the room and hopefully I figure out a window treatment soon so I can share the room with you :).
UPDATE: The window treatment is finished!
About The Author
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
Hide those shoes!! Love the fabrics you chose too – I’m sure your window treatment will be fabulous and can’t wait to see the whole room.
Kelly
Thanks Kelly. The darn window is getting the best of me!
This is awesome! I love the colors you chose for the fabric and what a way to recycle!
Thanks Taryn!
I love it! It’s so easy to do and you’d never know it didn’t come that way. I love the cushion, pillows, and accessories all around it too.
xo,
-Nathy
Thank you!
Such a great idea adding the shelf! I totally never would have thought of that!
Thank you. It only took me 8 months to think of it! ha.
Oh wonderful idea, thanks for sharing!
I’ve been wondering what to do with our old lovely blanket box and adding a shelf makes it 10 times more useful than just one big container!
You are right Simone, they are one big container 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
This is awesome! Love finding ways to hide storage : )
Thanks Ashley!
This is perfect! LOVE the fabric!!! Great way to hide them!! 😉
Thank you 🙂
Awesome idea, absolutely awesome. I need to do this. You should see my garage filled with boys stinky shoes. Or maybe you don’t want to see it. Pinned!
haha thanks Debbie!
That’s a great idea! Last week I got tired of all the shoes lined up in the laundry room and just threw them in the garage! We have a couple toy boxes I will now utilize, thanks to your idea, and will do that same! thanks so much (I also need to pick your brain sometime on how you manage with 4 generations, I think I mentioned to you my in laws were moving in… they did… so we now have 3 generations (my husband and I, our two little boys and my in laws)… I’m struggling to find the “balance” of living your own life still but also including them!!!!! Its been a tougher transition than I thought it would be. (can you write a post on that!!) LOL!
Hi Shannon! Thanks for your kind words. Good luck with the living arrangements. We actually all do our own thing and don’t ever tell each other what each other is doing ! ha. That is what works for us. I mean, of course we all eat together sometimes and cross paths but for the most part, we (each family) does their own thing. Privacy is key!!!
Love this idea…our shoe basket by the front door is a MESS!
Thanks Holly!
Love this!! We have that same problem with shoes being piled on top of each other at our back door!! It drives me insane!! Would love to come up with a solution similar to this! Thanks for sharing Jessica!
Oh Tonya, I feel your pain on the pile of shoes! It’s ridiculous how nasty and smelly they get 🙂 ha. Thanks for stopping by!