Shoe Storage Solutions

Installing custom shelving ups the glam quotient for your shoe collection. In this option, you can tailor the height and number of shelves to accommodate your collection perfectly, rather than purchasing a shoe rack that might not fit your entire collection.

A few tips:

• The most important step is to measure your space before buying the shelves. There's nothing more annoying than returning from your home improvement shopping trip to find your shelves are just a tad too wide for the designated shoe space.
• Don't be afraid to hire a professional handyman to tackle this home improvement task for you. The last time I hired someone he not only installed my kitchen shelving, he gave me several more tips for my apartment I happily implemented.

The workhorse of shoe storage, shoe racks are available in several different incarnations: floor shoe racks, wooden shoe racks, eco-friendly hanging shoe racks and over-the-door or on-the-door shoe racks. Peruse this list of the best in each category.

Tips for Choosing & Buying a Shoe Rack:

• Before you buy a shoe rack, delcutter your shoe collection. There's no use to spend extra money on shoe storage for shoe you no longer wear.
• Measure the space 3 times and write it down before heading to the store.
• Recognize you may need different types of racks for the following: very high heels, knee-high boots and hiking boots.

Plastic shoe boxes are great for a serious shoe collection. They will protect your shoes against the elements and pets, and most importantly they will stack easily for storage.

If you want to get fancy and have the time and budget, here are some "celebrity" upgrades:

• Tape a picture of the shoes to the outside of the box.
• Label the box with the designer and name of the shoe.

The height of shoe storage luxury! Designate a closet for shoes and install custom shelving.  Measure carefully, and head to the local hardware or home building products store (Home Depot, Lowes, California Closets and the Container Store). They will have the materials you need and provide guidance.

What you'll need:

• A closet or pantry;
• Shelving (see above!);
• Basic tools; and,
• 2-3 hours for shopping, installation and organizing your shoes.

This is an excellent weekend organization project, and check out the Celebrity Closet Gallery for inspiration.

Out of sight out of mind? I would recommend under the bed shoe storage for the 2 following categories

1. Super special shoes you only wear on New Year's Eve or to your debut performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. Seriously. Since you won't be pulling these shoes out too often, the dead space under the bed is perfect. Or,
2. Out of season shoes.

Why? because putting shoes back under your bed is a much more involved process than putting them back into your in-closet shoe rack or in your entry way closet. Essentially, you're putting these shoes into storage. I recommend canvas storage boxes which are sturdy enough to be pulled and pushed under the bed and are long enough to accommodate boots.

If you can believe it, boots are an even bigger challenge. They can be bulky, and if they're made of slouchy fabric, they need a storage solution that helps them to stand upright. Here are the best Boot Storage Solutions.

A book case with adjustable shelving is a great option to store and store display shoes.

Here are some ideas:

• My friend Kristin stores her boots on a small bookcase at the back of her closet. The shelving is the perfect height for her unique collection of vintage cowboy boots.
• I store my frequently-used shoes in a cubby in my entry way.
• For the true fashionista, store your stylish collection out in the open where you can see them daily.