If you’re not familiar with the IKEA Hemnes shoe cabinet, be sure to watch the video above for some context of what the cabinet looks like and how the tilt-out doors work. Now let’s take a closer looks at some of the ways you could use this versatile piece of furniture to organize just about anything in your home.
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First up are three solutions that solve problems I hear most often from readers: electronics overload; an overflowing coat closet; and no space for gift wrap supplies.
Electronics are a constant source of clutter! There was a time when there was a computer on the desk in the office, and that was that. But now we have multiple laptops, tablets, and portable keyboards floating around the house all the time. Add to that cameras and video cameras, headphones, and other small electronics. These are all items that we want to keep close at hand and easily accessible, but they too often wind up piled up on the kitchen counter.
I recently created a stylish solution for storing our cords, cables and chargers on the kitchen counter, but the bigger items are more challenging. I gathered up all of our gear and was amazed at how easily it all fit in one tilt-out section of the shoe cabinet, with room to spare.
And what’s a family movie night without some cozy blankets to curl up under? I tucked two of our favorite blankets in the shoe cabinet, but I could have easily fit two more just in this section alone!
The hallway linen closet {if you’re lucky enough to have one} is often bursting at the seams! A shallow shoe cabinet would be the perfect solution for storing extra sheets and towels. You could even add one of these space saving cabinets in a small bathroom for towels and toiletries.
And where there’s art supplies, there’s bound to be loads of precious artwork! Between the art they create at home and all of the drawings and paintings they bring home from preschool, I needed a way to store our favorites. A while back I shared my solution for filing and protecting kids’ art work in these archival storage boxes, and it turns out that they fit perfectly inside the shoe cabinet!
Paper clutter seems to be the number one challenge in most households. It piles up and gets out of hand so quickly. If you struggling to get your paper problem under control, consider adding a shoe cabinet near the front door. It’s a great place to drop the day’s mail, the newspaper, files, calendars, and planners. The tilt-out doors are wide enough that you can easily give each it’s own dedicated space.
I use these translucent storage boxes to contain all of the instruction manuals, organized into a few categories to make it easier to quickly find what we need. But the boxes are a bit too deep to fit on the shelves of our entry table or in our cabinets. But one of the tilt-out doors of the shoe cabinet is the perfect size to hold all four instruction manual storage boxes.
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Bonnie says
I kept my laptop in ours the years I teleworked from our dining room. Such a great clutter buster for a tiny space!
Anonymous says
I actually JUST bought one (still in it's box) and happened to run into your article today. I will be using mine to hold the dog leashes and I may use the lower level flip out for instruction manuals because OMG never thought of that one. Love the bags one too, may end up with the triple decker one, and store bags and cleaning supplies and get rid of the bulky shelf they are on now. Thank you SOOOO much!
Angela, Blue i Style says
You are so welcome! Dog leashes are a great idea too! We don't have pets, so I hadn't thought of that one!
Anonymous says
that *doesn't* involve shoes
Angela, Blue i Style says
*don't* is grammatically correct because it is "20 ways". *doesn't* would only be correct if it were used in the singular.
Sylvie says
How about fabric storage?
Angela, Blue i Style says
That's a great idea!
Anonymous says
Kids backpacks and school papers!
Ann @ The Scrapbooking Housewife says
These are fabulous ideas! You have inspired me to get some for our house! Likely the entryway and master bedroom closet! 🙂
Jessica says
This has GOT to be the best post about these shoe cabinets! I have the perfect wall needing some extra storage for the family and this post has opened my eyes!!!
Susy Hughes says
We use ours as a liquor cabinet. I put some sticky (craft) foam pads down so that the bottles wouldn’t sound so loud or break when opened. It’s worked perfectly!! I came here to try to repurpose it as we don’t have the variety to take up all the space in our old age anymore. Haha
MJ says
This post got me to see that the Stall 4 compartments Shoe Cabinet will fit in a small bathroom for the towels, washcloths etc. –
for the much needed storage AND on top of shoe cabinet 2 Moppe mini Storage Chests fit for additional smaller bathroom supplies.
Will be painting all to match for a cohesive look and moisture resistance – Thank You so much for the eye opening storage solution
I so desperately needed! Thank you again.