In short
The tidiest hallway shoe storage is hidden. Low pull-out drawers under the stairs hold a whole family's everyday shoes in the least usable part of the void, leaving the hall floor clear.
The shoe pile problem
A family of four can easily have 20 pairs of everyday shoes by the front door. Open racks help, but they still take floor space in a hall that is often only a metre wide.
Open racks and benches
Slim racks and storage benches are cheap and quick. They work best in wider halls, and they still leave shoes on show.
Wall-mounted tilt-out cabinets
Tilt-out cabinets are shallow, so they suit narrow halls, but they only take flat shoes and struggle with boots and trainers.
Our Tall Coat Unit + 2 Shoe Drawers layout is built for exactly this.
See shoe drawer layouts →
Pull-out shoe drawers under the stairs
The low end of an under-stairs void is too shallow for coats but ideal for shoes. Pull-out drawers bring the full depth forward, so every pair is visible and the fronts close flush.
Pair them with a tall coat unit at the high end and the whole daily routine — coats, bags, shoes — lives in one place.
- ✓Keeps shoes off the hall floor
- ✓Hides muddy boots and trainers
- ✓Uses space you already have
- ✓No extra floor area lost
Tips for keeping it working
Give each person a drawer, keep out-of-season shoes upstairs, and put a washable liner in the drawer used for wet boots.
Frequently asked questions
How do I store lots of shoes in a small hallway?
Use the space under the stairs. Low pull-out shoe drawers hold a family's everyday shoes without taking any extra floor space.
Are pull-out shoe drawers strong enough for boots?
Heavy-duty runners carry boots and trainers comfortably; a washable liner protects the drawer from mud.