It used to be that a pair or two pairs of shoes are enough for most men. Having several pairs of shoes was limited to women who had to match the color of their shoes with that of their dresses. Their shoes came in black, brown, red, gold, silver, and so on. Today, however, men have caught on. They still do not use gold or silver but now there are leather shoes for the office, such as Balmorals and Oxfords. There are also slip-on loafers and elastic-sided shoes for casual wear. If you play golf or bowling, or you like to go hiking or white water rafting, you probably own shoes specifically intended for your sport. And then there are the ubiquitous athletic shoes which have become more of a fashion statement than a support for the feet. Everybody, from royalty through movie stars and business tycoons and professionals to preteens, seems to own a pair.
Storing several pairs of shoes can sometimes be a pain in the foot. You can probably just lay a pair or two beside your doormat but when you have four or 14 pairs, you will need some kind of equipment to store them in. Fortunately, there are a number of shoe organizers, in different styles and made of various kinds of materials, designed to keep your house or room uncluttered with your footwear. Check around online at stores like Ikea and other specialty furniture dealers for innovative solutions.
You can choose between one that is simply laid down on the floor, or, if space is a problem, one that hangs behind a door or from a wall. If you have enough space, you can purchase a pre-fabricated shoe closet or have one custom built to dimensions of your own choosing.
The bigger shoe closets or cabinets can store as much as 64 pairs of shoes, large enough for a family of four. These can have shelves or cubbyholes for storage and may either be with or without a door. If you opt for the open type, it is best to keep it in your bedroom as you would not want to display your shoes, especially when they were just used, in your living room.
A variation of the shoe closet is the storage bench. As its name implies, this is a horizontal closet that doubles as a bench where you can sit comfortably when putting on or removing your shoes.
These closets are often made of wood but there are models that are made of wicker or plastic. There are a wide range of styles and designs to choose from. If made in plastic, there are also plenty of colors available. You are sure to find one that matches your existing furniture.
