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20 Simple Garage Shoe Storage Ideas

Items Inside of Garage
Fuse / Getty Images

Even though you may have a beautiful front door with a festive seasonal wreath on it, chances are you enter the house through the garage and that's where your shoes end up as well. Setting up and creating a functional and practical garage interior is essential to staying organized. If there's a growing pile of shoes on your garage floor that's both an eyesore and a serious tripping hazard, we've got you covered—we've pulled together 20 of our favorite ideas for organizing shoes in neat, visually pleasing, affordable, and space-saving ways. Scroll down for inspiration and clever tips and tricks that will help you create your own garage shoe storage system.

  • 01 of 20

    Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

    Shoes stored in an over the door organizer

    @nycneat_louisa / Instagram

    An over-the-door shoe organizer such as the one used by @nycneat_louisa is an inexpensive and space-saving way to store shoes in your garage. There are various different types available from large home goods retailers as well as online, and most feature either clear or fabric pockets that hold shoes individually. The organizer has two hooks at the top that simply go over the top of a door, but if there isn't a suitable door for it in your garage, it can just as easily be mounted on a wall.

  • 02 of 20

    Built-In Cubbies

    Built in cubbies and bench

    From Britt Design Studio

    If your budget and garage square footage permit, built-in cubbies like these beautiful deep teal ones designed by Britt Design Studio are a great way to provide shoes and other storage in your garage. Either store shoes directly in the cubbies or utilize various types of baskets— wicker, metal, or plastic— to hold them. Add a nice textural detail because even a garage can be a visually appealing space.

  • 03 of 20

    Wire Storage Baskets

    Rain boots on built in bench with wire baskets underneath

    Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

    Simple wire storage baskets are a great way to corral shoes and avoid them piling up on your garage floor. They are available in different sizes and colors—their open weave structure allows for good air ventilation to keep your shoes from developing any unpleasant odors. Depending on the number of people in your home and the amount of space in your garage, use one large basket for everyone, multiple baskets for different types of shoes—slippers, rain boots, and sneakers—or designate one wire basket for each family member.

  • 04 of 20

    Clear-Front Shoe Storage Boxes

    Shoes in clear shoe storage boxes

    @afreshspace / Instagram

    For less frequently used shoes that you have no other place to store but the garage,—utilize clear-front plastic boxes such as those used in a project by @afreshspace. They are specifically designed to store shoes and easily stack on the floor or on top of a shelf. The clear front makes it easy to identify their contents and many styles have ventilation slots to keep the shoes in a breathable environment.

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  • 05 of 20

    Freestanding Shoe Cabinet

    Person opening shoe cabinet

    zhihao / Getty Images

    A freestanding shoe cabinet such as this one is perfect for garage shoe storage, as it tends to have a low profile and takes up very little space. It typically has several drawers that have built-in slats for multiple pairs of shoes—they are stored vertically and since the cabinet isn't very deep, it won't clutter your garage. It can be mounted to the wall for an extra security measure and has a surface on the top which can be used to store shoe accessories such as a shoe horn, polish, or a pack of band-aids for those less-than-comfortable heels.

  • 06 of 20

    Repurposed Old Bookshelf

    Shoes organized in built-in shelves

    @afreshspace / Instagram

    These shelves from @afreshspace houses a large shoe collection—if you don't want to purchase any new furniture to store shoes in your garage, simply repurpose an old bookshelf. The open shelves keep shoes conveniently on hand and if the shelves are adjustable, you can set the height of each to accommodate different styles of shoes, from taller boots to shorter items such as flip-flops.

  • 07 of 20

    Open-Top Plastic Bins

    Wicker and plastic storage bins

    @nycneat_louisa / Instagram

    Open-top plastic bins such as the ones @nycneat_louisa used to organize these shelves are an inexpensive yet highly effective way to store shoes, whether it's in your garage, entryway, or closet. They look neat and clean when placed on shelves, but can just as easily sit by the garage door. Add a cute label to make them extra nice and to keep shoes sorted and organized.

  • 08 of 20

    Organize Sports Shoes and Equipment Together

    Shoes on a built in rack under skateboards

    @afreshspace / Instagram

    This garage organized by @afreshspace is an excellent example of everything having its designated place. Instead of shoes and skateboards piling up on the floor and causing a serious tripping hazard, install wire shelving on the wall that can hold both. Keep shoes and sports equipment together so they can easily be grabbed for practice when heading out of the house.

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  • 09 of 20

    Wicker Baskets

    Shoes in wicker baskets in wooden cubbies

    Catherine McQueen / Getty Images

    Wicker baskets are one of the easiest and nicest looking ways to organize just about anything, including shoes in your garage. They are sturdy enough to hold multiple pairs of shoes without getting damaged or dirtied, which is a plus.

  • 10 of 20

    Tiered Shoe Rack

    Shoe rack with shoes on it

    venusphoto / Getty Images

    There are countless different styles of tiered shoe racks available, made from various materials such as metal or bamboo, and offered at a range of prices. The main advantage of a shoe rack is that it takes advantage of vertical space, taking up little square footage in your garage.

  • 11 of 20

    Wall-Mounted Metal Shelf and Drawer System

    Wire shelf and drawer garage organization system

    @afreshspace / Instagram

    Create lots of storage space by installing a metal shelf and drawer system on your garage wall, such as this one from @afreshspace. A storage system like this is highly customizable and adjustable, allowing you to position shelves at whatever heights you choose and incorporate as many drawers as you need. It's an investment and a more permanent fixture than a small shoe basket—if you need lots of extra shoe storage in your garage, this is the way to go.

  • 12 of 20

    Built-In Storage Cabinets

    Green built-ins and sliding barn doors

    Kate Marker Interiors

    These beautiful built-in cabinets by Kate Marker Interiors provide inspiration for a set of built-in cabinets for your garage shoe storage. If there is an existing closet or nook in your garage that can easily be turned into a shoe closet, dress it up with a set of sliding barn doors such as these and paint them for a fun splash of color in your garage.

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  • 13 of 20

    Pegboard Wall Storage

    Garage with peg wall for storage

    Jodi Jacobson / Getty Images

    You may already have a pegboard wall in your garage, and if you don't, it's a great organizational tool that will create plenty of storage space. Use it to hang hooks or shelves that can be used for shoes and lots of other items cluttering the garage floor.

  • 14 of 20

    Rolling Rack

    Rolling rack with clothes and shoes on it

    Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images

    If you could use a practical way to store extra shoes and outerwear such as long coats and light jackets, a rolling rack provides both in one. Its low profile doesn't take up excessive amounts of space and since it's on wheels—it's easy to move as needed.

  • 15 of 20

    Built-In Lockers

    Built in cabinets and drawers

    Kate Marker Interiors

    Elevate your garage storage by installing built-in lockers. If your budget and garage space permits it, they are a fun and practical way to store shoes as well as other items such as coats and seasonal accessories. The closed cabinet doors and drawer fronts ensure that everything looks neat and uncluttered—all shoe piles are discreetly hidden inside as well.

  • 16 of 20

    Boot Rack

    Black metal boot rack with rain boots on it

    Janine zdemir/EyeEm / Getty Images

    A metal boot rack is specifically designed to hold various types of boots, from hiking to rain boots. It keeps excessive dirt off the floor, helps them dry faster, and keeps them off the ground. A metal boot tray can be placed under the rack to catch extra water.

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  • 17 of 20

    Repurposed Wood Crate

    Repurposed wood crate with two pairs of shoes in it

    Zainul Amin Zholkhornain/EyeEm / Getty Images

    Get creative with your garage shoe storage and repurpose an old wood crate to serve as a shelf to hold shoes! Stand the crate on its side longways, and attach a wood plank halfway up the height of the shelf to double its storage space.

  • 18 of 20

    Shoe Boxes With Photo Labels

    Shoe boxes with photos of shoes on each

    Jeffrey Coolidge / Getty Images

    Store out-of-season shoes or those that are only used for special occasions once or twice a year in shoe boxes in the garage. Instead of having to rummage through every box to find the pair that you are looking for, snap a quick photo of the shoes and attach it to the shoe box to make finding what you need quick and easy.

  • 19 of 20

    Utilize Small Nooks

    Shoes stored in cabinets under a window

    Bojanstory / Getty Images

    If your garage is not particularly large and already crammed with as many pieces of storage furniture as it can handle, look for any nooks that can be utilized—such as this narrow space under the window. The good news is that shoes are compact and don't take up an excessive amount of space, so even a small built-in cabinet or shelf under the window can be a game-changer and provide just enough storage.

  • 20 of 20

    Industrial Shelves

    Two industrial shelves

    Jitalia17 / Getty Images

    To maximize storage space in your garage, consider purchasing heavy-duty industrial shelves. They are sturdy enough to hold large and heavy items such as tubs filled with seasonal decor or all that extra gym equipment, but work just as well to hold extra shoes. Store frequently used pairs of shoes on the bottom shelves since they may have dirt on them from everyday use, and use upper shelves for shoes in boxes and other containers.