Entryway guide
Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
By Homeward Goods ·
The entryway is the first thing you see when you come home and the last thing you pass on the way out. In a small home it's often just a few feet of hallway, and shoes take it over quickly.
The goal is simple: every pair that gets worn this week has a spot, there's somewhere to sit, and the path to the door stays clear. Here's how to get there, whether you have a narrow hallway or a corner by the front door.
Count the shoes that actually live by the door
Before you pick anything, count. Not every pair you own, just the ones that come and go every week. For most people that's two or three pairs each, plus maybe a pair of boots in winter.
- Daily pairs for each person in the house go by the door.
- Dress shoes, off-season boots and sandals go to a bedroom closet.
- Pairs nobody has worn in a year can be donated.
That count tells you what size of storage you need. A household with eight daily pairs needs something very different from a family with thirty.
Measure the walkway, especially the depth
In a small entryway, depth matters more than width. A piece that sticks out a few inches too far turns a hallway into an obstacle course, especially when the front door swings into the space.
Open the front door all the way and measure from the wall to the edge of the door. Then measure how much clear floor you'll have left to walk through once the furniture is in place. Try to keep a comfortable path for carrying groceries, and remember that someone will be sitting or crouching here to take shoes off.
A bench gives everyone a place to sit
People leave shoes in a pile mostly because there's nowhere to sit and take them off properly. A bench solves that and stores shoes underneath at the same time, so it's usually the first thing worth buying for a small entryway.
Flip-down drawers are the slimmest option, because the shoes stand at an angle instead of lying flat. Open shelves under a seat are faster to use and let damp shoes air out. A bench with a tall side cabinet adds closed storage for things like dog leashes, reusable bags and gloves.
Flip-Drawer Shoe Bench
Only 9.5" deep (39.8" W x 18.9" H), with flip-down drawers and an open cubby for about 10 to 15 pairs, a padded seat and adjustable shelves inside for boots or sneakers.
$149.99
See details
Rattan Entry Bench
39.4" W x 11.8" D x 27.6" H, with two open shoe tiers under a cushioned seat and a three-tier cabinet behind a faux rattan door. The seat cushion is removable and washable.
$139.99
See detailsPlan for wet and muddy shoes
Closed drawers look tidy, but they're the wrong place for shoes that just came in from the rain. Put a washable mat or boot tray by the door for wet pairs, and move them into closed storage once they're dry. Shoes put away wet tend to smell, and so does the drawer.
A good doormat outside and a second one inside catch most of the dirt before it reaches your storage. Wipe shelves and drawers out every few weeks, and more often in winter.
When you have a lot of shoes, go tall
A bench works for a couple or a small family. When the count is closer to thirty, forty or fifty pairs, you need height. A tall shoe rack uses the wall instead of the floor, and it fits well in a coat closet, a mudroom, a garage entry or along a long hallway wall.
Put kids' shoes on the lowest tiers so they can put them away themselves, everyday adult pairs at waist height, and rarely worn pairs at the top.
9-Tier Shoe Rack
50" W x 11.75" D x 62.25" H, holds about 50 pairs across three columns and nine tiers. Two side hooks hold umbrellas, bags and keys, and assembly is tool-free.
$64.99
See detailsUse the wall above and beside the bench
Once shoes have a home, the rest of the entryway gets easier. The wall is where you gain space without losing any walkway.
- Hooks at two heights: one row for adults' coats and bags, a lower row for kids.
- A small tray, bowl or hook for keys, so they always land in the same spot.
- A full-length mirror for a last look on the way out. In a narrow or windowless entry, a tall mirror also reflects light and makes the space feel less cramped.
- One basket per person for hats, gloves and scarves.
Arched Floor Mirror
64" H x 21" W in a thin black aluminum frame. It stands on its fold-out leg, leans on a wall or hangs, so you can use it even where you can't drill. No assembly needed.
$139.99
See detailsEntryway Set
The Flip-Drawer Shoe Bench and the Arched Floor Mirror together: a seat with shoe storage, and a full-length mirror beside it.
$259.99$289.98
Small entryway ideas that cost nothing
Not every fix needs furniture. A few habits keep a small entryway clear:
- Set a limit of two pairs per person by the door, and move the rest when the seasons change.
- Clear the bench seat every evening, so it stays a seat and doesn't become a shelf.
- Keep mail out of the entryway. Open it at the kitchen counter, toss the junk right away and file the rest.
- Do a five-minute reset once a week: return stray shoes, empty pockets and bags, shake out the mat.
Putting it together
Narrow hallway, two or three people: a slim flip-drawer bench against the wall with a full-length mirror beside it.
A bit more depth and you want a warmer look: a wood bench with open shoe shelves and a cabinet for the odds and ends.
A big family or a shoe collection: a tall rack in the closet or mudroom, with a bench by the door for the pairs in daily use.