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9 best shoe racks: Wooden and metal organisers for saving space
Keep your hallway tidy with a stylish storage solution
Ali Howard
Thursday 19 March 2020 12:15 GMT
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Shoes are notorious for tripping over in the hallway – especially if you're the type to nonchalantly kick them off the moment you get through the front door. Which is why a smart and functional shoe rack can save on both family arguments and floor space.
Before you buy, think about the number of pairs of shoes you tend to have on the go at any given point. We found that the capacity of a shoe rack can differ wildly from one product to another. Your choice needs to take seasonal footwear into account, too. It’s one thing filling up a slim-line shoe rack with summer pumps but it’ll also need to accommodate those big winter boots when the time comes.
If you prefer a minimalist approach to shoe storage, consider a cabinet that neatly keeps your footwear out of sight with generous pull-down drawers. These tend to be more substantial furniture pieces but what you lose in space you more than make up for in those clean, uninterrupted lines.
For such a practical piece, we found some surprisingly stylish storage in our roundup. The humble shoe rack deserves a little limelight – after all, this unassuming furniture piece will offer important first impressions.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
1Rebrilliant 4 tier 16pair shoe rack
Dimensions: H 76cm x W 70cm x D 30cm
This lofty shoe rack is a space saver if you have limited square footage in the hallway. It’s made from bamboo and MDF and features four easy-access slatted shelves that hold up to 16 pairs of shoes (or 12 if you’re a household of big-footed grown-ups). The contrast between the white and natural wood gives this one a sleek Nordic appeal while the curved frame awards it a fashionable edge beyond its obvious functionality.
2Cox & Cox wire shoe rack
Dimensions: H 63cm x W 97cm x D 35cm
Design-led and practical, this cage-like storage unit will give your hall a trendy, industrial look. It’s crafted from a sturdy, coated iron wire and features eight hairpin legs that elevate the unit off the floor. The rack boasts a 12 pair capacity with its individual compartments keeping the whole family’s footwear neatly tidied away. This one’s not cheap but it makes a big, stylish impact in the entranceway.
3Ikea hemnes shoe cabinet
Dimensions: H 127cm x W 89cm x D 30cm
If you prefer a clean line without your shoes on show, this slimline furniture piece is ideal. It features two drop-down drawers with perforated polypropylene plastic interiors that store up to 12 pairs of shoes, as well as a nifty top drawer to keep your keys to hand. Thoughtfully designed, the wooden unit is made to fit over a skirting board with just two feet at the front (this keeps the shoe rack perfectly flush to the wall) and features pre-drilled holes for easy wall fastening. Sleek and stylish.
4Normann Copenhagen sko shoe rack
Dimensions: H 42cm x W 76cm x D 34cm
This design-led shoe rack comprises a pale ash frame with two perforated steel shelves in white, making it an attractive addition to the contemporary hallway. Compact and neat, the rack will hold up to six pairs of shoes, keeping a smaller household’s footwear in easy reach. We loved the attention to detail on this one: the perfectly curved edges of the wood and the oversized screw heads add to its cool, Scandinavian aesthetic.
5Madam Stoltz large brass and iron three shelves shoe shelf
Dimensions: H 61cm x W 63cm x D 33cm
We love a cheeky touch of glamor in unexpected places – even on a shoe rack. This piece from cool Danish brand Madam Stoltz gets in on the metallics trend with its shiny antique brass finish. Boasting simple shaping, the three-tier unit is made from sturdy iron but is lightweight and airy in design. This one offers versatile and easy to move shoe storage that glams up any room – ideal if your entranceway is one that goes straight into the living space.
6John Lewis & Partners croft collection wooden shoe rack, lily white
Dimensions: H 48.5cm x W 82cm x D 30cm
This is a simple and attractive shoe rack that more than earns its place in an open-plan living space, and it adds an elegant air to the hallway, too. Part of the popular “croft” collection, which focuses on stylish, considered design at affordable prices, the unit perfectly marries form and function. The rack holds up to eight pairs of shoes that tuck in neatly and even offers a beautiful natural wood surface on top – best prettified with pot plants.
7Made huldra metal and wood umbrella stand and shoe rack, black
Dimensions: H 48cm x W 78cm x D 30cm
Cleverly designed furniture pieces with dual functionality always get our vote, and this stylish number from Made is the perfect example. Crafted from natural wood and jet black powder-coated metal, it gives a chic and contemporary Nordic look to the hallway. The unit easily takes six pairs of shoes – and all the family’s folded up brollies. This is neat and compact but offers big impact on the design front.
8Side by Side shoe cabinet, Gaston
Dimensions: H 66cm x W 72cm x D 22cm
Minimal and elegant, this award-winning shoe rack puts paid to pesky drilling with its ingenious design that allows the unit to simply lean against the wall – and it is surprisingly sturdy. While it relies on clever physics on its own, the more shoes it carries the more it’s weighted down, and the more secure it feels. This one’s crafted from solid untreated ash and comes with the added bonus of a sleek metal shoe horn.
9Maisons du Monde Wayne metal and fir shoe organiser
Dimensions: H 84cm x W 69cm x D 30cm
This neat metal shoe cabinet offers a slice of industrial luxe to your hallway with its distressed copper finish and beautifully aged fir top. At 22kg in weight it is a hefty furniture piece and boasts two generous pull-down drawers that both store away and protect the family’s shoes. The unit features locker-style rivets and air vents while the sleek wooden top acts as a handy (and attractive) surface to keep those bits and bobs you need to grab in a hurry before heading out of the door.
The verdict: Shoe racks
Rebrilliant’s four tier 16 pair shoe rack proved both stylish and functional. Its tall shaping makes it a versatile piece that takes up more wall than floor space – and in a tight hallway, that can be a godsend. We were also impressed with Made’s dual function huldra metal and wood umbrella stand and shoe rack for its clever design and stylish, contemporary aesthetic.