DIY Wooden Shoe Rack – Wall Mounted

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Shoe storage has been a struggle of ours for years. Since we use the garage to store our shoes, there was always a mess before installing our DIY wooden shoe rack. However, our new DIY vertical shoe racks have simplified our lives. It saves time and keeps our shoes safe from damage.  Vertical shoe racks are the perfect solution for shoe organization in a small space.

 

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How to Build a Wooden Shoe Rack

Building a custom shoe rack to organize and store shoes is an easy DIY.

I searched high and low for DIY shoe rack ideas for a storage solution, but nothing would work for all of our shoes.

Therefore I decided to build a custom vertical shoe shortage solution. 

➡️ Before you begin I recommend you watch this quick shoe rack how-to video.

Supplies and Tools

Compound saw

Wood glue 

1-inch staples or 1.25-inch trim screws or finish nails (fasteners)

Polycrylic finish

120 grit sandpaper

Wood filler

2.5-inch screws (for mounting to the wall)

Stud finder

Saw

Crown staple gun

Cordless drill

Speed square

Measuring tape

Putty knife

Small paintbrush

Tack cloth

Lumber (3 each 1″x4″x8′)

➡️ Before you begin I recommend you watch this quick shoe rack how-to video.

Wood Cuts

The length of the front and back boards will determine how many pairs of shoes your rack will store.

1x4x48 3 each pine (front and backs)

1x3x48 1 each pine

1x3x12 2 each pine (ends)

1×1.5×48 1 each pine (upper front) 

End Boards

You can customize the end boards to hold shoes according to their size. In other words, the smaller the shoe, the shorter the end boards.

For shoe size 9 and up, make the ends 12 inches

For shoe size 8 and below, make ends 10 inches

 

 

Assembling the Wooden Shoe Rack

Note: Sand all the boards before assembling.

Attach the bottom board to the ends with glue and fasteners—two in each attachment point.

Wood Glue

Attach the bottom front board flush with the bottom front edge with glue, and two fasteners at each attach point. 

 

Shoe Rack Back

Attach the top and bottom of the backboard to the ends with glue, and fasteners flush with the top and bottom edges. Two fasteners at each attach point to make the wooden shoe rack sturdy. 

This is the backside view of the rack. 

Align the top backboard to the top of the ends and attach it with staples.

Shoe Support Board

Attach the 1.5-inch front board 6 inches up from the bottom with glue and two fasteners at each attachment point. For the shorter rack, attach the board directly above the front bottom board.

Wood Filler

Using a putty knife fill all the fastener holes with wood filler. 

After the wood filler dries, sand to remove any rough edges and excess wood filler. 

Prepare the wooden shoe rack for finish by removing all the dust with a tack cloth. 

Sealing Wooden Shoe Rack

Apply a finish coat as per the manufacturer’s directions. I choose a clear polycrylic, however, your shoe rack could be stained or painted if you perfer.

 

 

To hang, locate the wall studs and make them with a piece of painter’s tape.

Predrill holes to hang shoe rack with 2.5-inch screws into the studs for wall-mounted racks.

 

You can complete this easy and fast DIY project in one afternoon.  

Note: We built a storage hall tree with a shoe storage bench (you can read more about it in this earlier post) for putting on shoes but since the shoe cubbies are so small we needed to add more shoe storage. However, since our floor space was limited we had to the vertical space.

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DIY Wooden Lanterns from scrap wood. 

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I have been working on some easy, gorgeous fall decorating projects you will love, so if you don’t want to miss any inspiration, join The Fall Inspiration Newsletter and get it delivered to your inbox.

See you soon,

Kippi