The hallway is an important part of any house and apartment. Here we take off our shoes and also take off our outerwear. Depending on the size of the room, in the hallway you can literally install one shelf, a small chest of drawers and hang several hooks. Or install a functional cabinet. And a good addition for it would be a suitable shoe shelf in the closet.
If the furniture was initially empty, you can expand its capabilities yourself. Therefore, a shoe shelf in a closet will be a good solution.
The only question is how to choose it correctly. There are many design options. But not every one is right for you. Let's figure it out.
Sliding shoe racks
Sliding shoe racks, not to be confused with retractable shoe baskets, are produced in two versions: in the form of a curved rod, which is attached to the body of the wardrobe using fasteners, and in the form of plastic sidewalls with two metal tubes.
Sliding shoe rack figured
| Rice. 12-14. Sliding shoe rack |
As you can see from the photo, shoe shelves are called sliding because they can be moved to the desired width within a certain range. Shelves for shoes can be attached both to the back wall made of chipboard and to the side walls of the wardrobe.
If you have a lot of shoes, you can even make a whole column of curly shoe shelves, as shown in the example of our experimental two-door wardrobe from ready-made solutions for wardrobes.
Rice. 15. Two-door wardrobe with a column of figured shelves for shoesAnd again a bonus for patient readers of the site. I offer an option for making a retractable column with shaped shoe racks for a sliding wardrobe.
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
As you can see from the photo, we make a rectangular base from chipboard, and attach two ball guides to its bottom. We also attach five ball guides to the vertical part of the column.
The depth of such a column should not exceed 500 mm if the depth of your wardrobe along the outer side wall is 600 mm. You can read more about making your own wardrobe here.
At the bottom of the column we add two small radii made of chipboard to give rigidity and attach five figured shoe racks to the vertical screen. To extend this entire structure, we attach a furniture handle to the vertical wall of the column.
We again insert this unusual pull-out design with shoe racks into our experimental two-door wardrobe. I think that a wardrobe with such a shoe rack design will be a real exclusive and your pride, unless you only have two pairs of shoes :). Good luck making shoe racks.
Colors and design
The external decoration of the cabinet should be in harmony with the design of the other elements of the hallway: furniture, floors, walls. The classic rule: for narrow and dark rooms you should prefer a light option; for well-lit and spacious rooms, black and brown shades are suitable. When choosing color and design, be sure to rely on the features of the interior.
To decorate a hallway in a modern style (art deco, minimalism, hi-tech, loft), you can give preference to a shoe rack made of metal (or with individual metal inclusions), plastic, MDF, glass, or choose a combined model. Colors can be very diverse - from bright and catchy to muted and dull. You can also experiment with shapes - cabinets can be triangular, corner, round and oval, with different curves of the lines. Paintings, stickers, and unusual drawings are often used.
For country, Provence, and Scandinavian style, wicker furniture made of bamboo and rattan, textiles or leather products are suitable. An aging effect is often used to give a vintage look to a shoe rack. Plant and animal prints, carvings, and natural colors are used.
Classics require rigor and adherence to traditions. Wood finishes, calm colors (black, white, all shades of brown, gray) are suitable here; furniture can be decorated with stucco or carved elements, or floral patterns. There are clear lines, massive structures, measured decor, glass or mirror inserts are allowed.
Types of shoe shelves for closets: how to choose, install and make it yourself?
Shoes should be stored near the exit to the street. You don’t have to carry a removed pair of shoes across the entire hallway or corridor to put it on a shelf in a wardrobe or cabinet.
If your closet is in the hallway next to the outside door, it will be the most convenient place for shoes. The problem of the lack of a storage system for boots, shoes, and sandals in a closet can be solved by manufacturing and installing shelves for shoes.
Let's look at the options available in stores and tell you three ways to make your own at home.
Features and advantages of furniture cabinets
A cabinet with shelves for shoes is usually a closed furniture set equipped with doors.
Shoes are stored in it on specially equipped shelves. It eliminates the clutter of the hallway with shoes, which is especially important for small apartments.
The main advantages of shoe cabinets:
- convenience and aesthetics of shoe storage;
- maintaining cleanliness in the hallway;
- a wide range of models in different styles;
- Dust does not collect on shoes, so they last longer;
- Pets cannot ruin shoes.
Varieties
Standard materials are MDF, chipboard and metal profile. There are 3 types as standard:
But the first ones are conditionally divided into 4 more options.
Retractable systems
These are shoe shelves that can extend beyond the perimeter of the cabinet opening. Provides access to the entire shoe storage volume. Let's consider these types:
- mesh boxes;
- flat gratings;
- shoe column.
Mesh boxes
The height of the sides of the shelves in the mesh boxes prevents the outer shoes from falling. The lattice structure promotes ventilation of the interior space from all sides.
The mesh is made of wire reinforcement covered with vinyl. The plastic shell of the grille protects the surface of the shoe from accidental scratches. The shelves themselves pull out like drawers in cabinets and cabinets. The lower side corners of the mesh boxes are connected to the walls of the wardrobe with telescopic guides.
Pallets
They are made in the form of ordinary furniture boxes. The only difference is that the sides of the pallets are low (40 - 70 mm). There are special mechanisms thanks to which shelves on telescopic runners extend at an angle.
Since the pallets are made of solid material, there is no ventilation of the shoes from the bottom and sides. Therefore, bags of absorbent are placed at the bottom of the shelves. Metal rods are inserted into the sides to keep the shoes suspended. In this position, the soles do not contact the bottom of the box.
Flat gratings
They are made from the same material as in the previous example. The difference is that the planes have small sides only in front. They are placed on brackets that are attached to the vertical wall of the retractable system. The wall rests on a horizontal plane that extends from the cabinet opening along telescopic guides.
For maximum capacity, they are installed at an angle. The front edge prevents the shoes from sliding down.
Shoe column
The shelves can hold many pairs of shoes. There are two known options for columns: those that extend from the front and from the side. The choice of model depends on the size of the opening.
When the passage is narrow, it is better to mount the column on the side wall of the cabinet on retractable telescopic guides. If the transverse size of the opening is wide, then the front wall of the shelf is placed on a horizontal plane, to the bottom of which four roller legs are attached.
Handles are installed on both sides of the vertical panel, behind which the draw-out column is pulled out.
Note! The material for column support railings is MDF or laminated chipboard sheets. The shelves themselves are made of nickel-plated or chrome-plated metal profiles. They are mounted in a horizontal or inclined position.
Folding
As such a system, they take a ready-made shoe rack and insert it into the cabinet opening. Folding shelves are petal-type rotating mechanisms with built-in shoe racks. A closet can contain 2 or more pieces.
The peculiarity is that the lower shelf of the rotating section is also the front of the cabinet. Up to 4 shelves can be installed in the folding one.
Stationary
The structure consists of horizontal planes at different levels. This is the simplest solution for shelves in a closet. The disadvantages of such a storage system include the open position of shoes in the internal space of the wardrobe, the limited number of stored pairs and the inconvenience of their use.
The advantage of stationary shelves is their simplicity and low cost. Such storage systems can be mobile if they are a free-standing structure. Then the shoe rack can be removed from the closet and moved to another part of the hallway.
Types of structures
Depending on the design, there are 2 main types of shoe cabinets:
- built-in;
- case.
Built-in models are more preferable. They are integrated into the wall niche. It seems as if the cabinet is part of the wall.
A retractable shoe cabinet is often equipped in this way. It has special pull-out elements that allow the shelves to be pulled out. This ensures ease of use and space saving.
The key advantages of built-in furniture are saving space and hiding visual imperfections in the room, such as uneven walls.
A cabinet is a separate furniture set located in the desired location. The advantage of this type is its mobility; the cabinet can be moved at any time.
In the photo of shoe cabinets you can clearly see the features of different types of structures. You need to choose a model based on the specifics of the room and specific needs. For example, it is not always possible to install a built-in wardrobe.
We recommend reading:
Coffee tables for modern interiors: their shapes and main varietiesWardrobe for a loggia, pros and cons, optimal models, dimensions, materials
Furniture for a teenager in a modern style - top best options
There are also open cabinet models. They allow you to quickly pick up and return shoes to their place. However, due to the lack of doors, dust will collect on the shoes. Open shoes can negatively affect the aesthetics of the interior.
Dimensions
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
The width and depth of the cabinet opening imposes restrictions on the dimensions of the shoe rack. When calculating, do not forget about the size of the boots. The vertical distance between the shelves should provide freedom of access to each pair of shoes.
It is necessary to include the dimensions of the shelves in the calculation, taking into account the maximum number of pairs of the largest size.
I recommend sticking to the following parameters:
- width – from 600 mm;
- height (distance between shelves) – 150 mm;
- height for boots – 400 mm;
- depth – 350 mm.
How to make shoe racks with your own hands
If you have the skills to use the tool, our step-by-step guide will not seem difficult. The procedure for manufacturing and assembling shelves for a sliding wardrobe is described in the form of 3 instructions. Use the method you like best.
Option I: pull-out basket
- Install a partition in the cabinet at a distance from the side equal to the width of the basket with guide rails.
- Make markings for attaching the telescopic guides.
- Use a drill to drill holes for the screws.
- Install the guides.
- Having pulled out the moving parts of the slats, attach the upper side corners of the mesh baskets to them.
- If you don't need to place baskets across the entire height of the cabinet opening, install a limiter cover that will protect shoes from dust and create a division of space. On the one hand, secure the stove to the upper end of the partition, and on the other, secure the lid to the side wall of the cabinet.
- Use screws for fastening.
- Place shoes in baskets and push them deep into the closet.
Note! Fasteners for baskets on telescopic bars are sold in the hardware department of a construction supermarket.
Option II: pull-out shelves
- Using a jigsaw or circular saw, cut a panel from an MDF sheet to the depth of the opening. The size should be such that the front end of the slab does not interfere with the movement of the sliding wardrobe doors.
- Secure the shelves to the vertical panel with confirmations or self-tapping screws.
- As an alternative, you can hang brackets with rods.
- Connect the structure to the side wall through telescopic slats.
- Instead of a handle, use a jigsaw to cut a vertical slot.
- Put your boots and shoes in their places, push the shoe rack into the closet.
If the width of the shelves is much narrower than the opening, then you will have to install an additional vertical partition inside the cabinet.
Option III: folding sections
If the width and depth of the cabinet allows you to install a shoe rack with folding shelves, then do so. If this is not possible, build built-in storage. To do this, use the sides and partitions of the cabinet. For detailed instructions, read the article “Do-it-yourself shoe cabinet.”
Shoe stand
Often a metal, plastic, or less often a wooden stand is used as a functional item in many hallways. This type of furniture is great for apartments where there is little space.
It can be installed under a bench or in a wardrobe.
There are several types of shoe cabinets, photos of which give a clear idea of the furniture:
- thin wardrobe (slim) - has high capacity, has hinged doors. The depth of such a shoe cabinet is small, designed for the length of shoes and boots;
- cabinet-bona is a special display stand that is closed with doors. Has good ventilation properties;
- wardrobe - a special sliding wardrobe for shoes;
- Whatnot is an open stand designed for storing everyday furniture.
