How to Make Shoe Shelves for Closets
Many people own more shoes than their closets can adequately hold, leaving their shoes to be thrown into a bin or large pile on the floor. This can cause your shoes to become damaged and misshapen due to the weight of the other shoes. If you have this problem, adding a shoe shelf to your closet will help you to keep your shoes neat and organized.
Materials
- Tape measure
- Saw
- Drill
- Wood screws
- Drywall screws
- Several 2"x4" boards
- Count the number of shoes that you will be storing; this will help you to determine the size of the shoe shelf that you need to build in your closet. Remember, each pair of shoes should on average be about 9" wide and 9" high. For example, if you have 20 pairs of shoes you need to store, you could make four rows of five cubes; your shelve would need to be 45" wide by 36" tall. You can make your shelve as big as you need depending on the number of shoes you have.
- Measure your 2 x4s after you have figured out the dimensions of your shoes shelf. Remember, measure twice and cut once so you do not end up with a wrong cut. Simple mistakes in measurements will cost you extra money in lumber.
- Secure the four outer sides of your shoe shelf with wood screws. Secure all four corners with two screws. You will want to use one at the front of the joint and one at the back.
- Mark the spots where your horizontal shelves are going to be placed inside of your frame with a pencil. Use a tape measure to ensure proper placement.
- Secure your horizontal shelves with wood screws following the same method as the frame. One screw should be placed at the front of the joint and one screw should be placed at the back of the joint
- Continue the process until all horizontal shelves are secured in place.
- Measure and mark the dimensions of your divider shelves with a carpenter’s pencil. Cut all of your divider shelves to the dimensions required.
- Install your divider shelves one at a time being sure to leave a 9" space in between dividers so that your shoes will fit. Secure each divider with wood screws.
- Check your now complete shoe shelf for sturdiness. If it does not seem secure, tighten screws with a drill, if necessary you may add a couple more screws for stability.
- Secure your shoe shelf to the wall in your closet using 1 1/2" drywall screws. This will help your shoe shelf to be stabilized once the weight of your shoe collection is added.
TIP: If you would like to stain and varnish your shoe shelve you should do so before securing to your wall. Take your shoe shelf outside or to a well-ventilated area to finish the wood. Allow adequate drying time before securing it to your closet wall.