It doesn’t really matter what size apartment you have, you still want more living space, air, organized space so that things don’t put pressure on your energy. An excellent solution in this situation is a wardrobe. In this way, you can intelligently distribute the room space, making it more comfortable, because even a small room is perfect for equipping a dressing room in it, for example, a corner one, with mesh shelves and baskets, instead of bulky chipboard shelves.
Sliding wardrobes are a convenient and modern element of the interior; they are ordered for hallways, bedrooms, and children's rooms. Often, a closet is designed according to the size of the room, resulting in an original and stylish room design.
Sliding shoe racks
Sliding shoe racks, not to be confused with retractable shoe baskets, are produced in two versions: in the form of a curved rod, which is attached to the body of the wardrobe using fasteners, and in the form of plastic sidewalls with two metal tubes.
Sliding shoe rack figured
| Rice. 12-14. Sliding shoe rack |
As you can see from the photo, shoe shelves are called sliding because they can be moved to the desired width within a certain range. Shelves for shoes can be attached both to the back wall made of chipboard and to the side walls of the wardrobe.
If you have a lot of shoes, you can even make a whole column of curly shoe shelves, as shown in the example of our experimental two-door wardrobe from ready-made solutions for wardrobes.
Rice. 15. Two-door wardrobe with a column of figured shelves for shoesAnd again a bonus for patient readers of the site. I offer an option for making a retractable column with shaped shoe racks for a sliding wardrobe.
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
As you can see from the photo, we make a rectangular base from chipboard, and attach two ball guides to its bottom. We also attach five ball guides to the vertical part of the column.
The depth of such a column should not exceed 500 mm if the depth of your wardrobe along the outer side wall is 600 mm. You can read more about making your own wardrobe here.
At the bottom of the column we add two small radii made of chipboard to give rigidity and attach five figured shoe racks to the vertical screen. To extend this entire structure, we attach a furniture handle to the vertical wall of the column.
We again insert this unusual pull-out design with shoe racks into our experimental two-door wardrobe. I think that a wardrobe with such a shoe rack design will be a real exclusive and your pride, unless you only have two pairs of shoes :). Good luck making shoe racks.
Benefits of mesh shelves
Easy installation and light weight
Compared to shelves made of chipboard, mesh shelves have less weight and, accordingly, create a small load on the base of the cabinet body. Also, mesh shelves allow you to organize a convenient structure inside the cabinet, since the shelf is attached to the wall or partition with special convenient fasteners:
- clips,
- support brackets,
- pockets,
- brackets.
Mesh shelves are environmentally friendly and durable
The metal mesh allows air to circulate freely, things do not cake, they are ventilated, maintaining a fresh smell. This is important for knitted and woolen items. You don’t have to put special fragrances on your closet shelves.
Dust will not accumulate on such a shelf and is easy to clean.
To produce the mesh element, metal wire and steel are used with a durable polymer powder coating.
High-quality structural steel provides the shelves with the necessary elasticity, resistance to deformation phenomena and other damage.
Versatility and Durability
Mesh shelves are universal, as they can be used for both clothes and shoes. If the shelf is installed horizontally, then any clothes or linen can be perfectly stored on it. Installed at an angle, the mesh shelf serves as a shoe rack.
Long service life, wear resistance, anti-corrosion, thanks to the high quality of the material, make the mesh shoe rack a practical and inexpensive solution.
Types of shoe shelves for closets: how to choose, install and make it yourself?
Shoes should be stored near the exit to the street. You don’t have to carry a removed pair of shoes across the entire hallway or corridor to put it on a shelf in a wardrobe or cabinet.
If your closet is in the hallway next to the outside door, it will be the most convenient place for shoes. The problem of the lack of a storage system for boots, shoes, and sandals in a closet can be solved by manufacturing and installing shelves for shoes.
Let's look at the options available in stores and tell you three ways to make your own at home.
Requirements for shelves
Since a shelf for shoes in a closet sometimes becomes a necessity, it is important to think through everything correctly from the beginning.
Regardless of what materials are used, as well as the types of structures, shoe shelves in the dressing room, in the hallway or corridor, built into the closet, must meet the following requirements:
- increased strength;
- moisture resistance;
- ease of care;
- attractive appearance;
- compliance with the general style.
In fact, you can choose ready-made designs. Or assemble them yourself.
Varieties
Standard materials are MDF, chipboard and metal profile. There are 3 types as standard:
But the first ones are conditionally divided into 4 more options.
Retractable systems
These are shoe shelves that can extend beyond the perimeter of the cabinet opening. Provides access to the entire shoe storage volume. Let's consider these types:
- mesh boxes;
- flat gratings;
- shoe column.
Mesh boxes
The height of the sides of the shelves in the mesh boxes prevents the outer shoes from falling. The lattice structure promotes ventilation of the interior space from all sides.
The mesh is made of wire reinforcement covered with vinyl. The plastic shell of the grille protects the surface of the shoe from accidental scratches. The shelves themselves pull out like drawers in cabinets and cabinets. The lower side corners of the mesh boxes are connected to the walls of the wardrobe with telescopic guides.
Pallets
They are made in the form of ordinary furniture boxes. The only difference is that the sides of the pallets are low (40 - 70 mm). There are special mechanisms thanks to which shelves on telescopic runners extend at an angle.
Since the pallets are made of solid material, there is no ventilation of the shoes from the bottom and sides. Therefore, bags of absorbent are placed at the bottom of the shelves. Metal rods are inserted into the sides to keep the shoes suspended. In this position, the soles do not contact the bottom of the box.
Flat gratings
They are made from the same material as in the previous example. The difference is that the planes have small sides only in front. They are placed on brackets that are attached to the vertical wall of the retractable system. The wall rests on a horizontal plane that extends from the cabinet opening along telescopic guides.
For maximum capacity, they are installed at an angle. The front edge prevents the shoes from sliding down.
Shoe column
The shelves can hold many pairs of shoes. There are two known options for columns: those that extend from the front and from the side. The choice of model depends on the size of the opening.
When the passage is narrow, it is better to mount the column on the side wall of the cabinet on retractable telescopic guides. If the transverse size of the opening is wide, then the front wall of the shelf is placed on a horizontal plane, to the bottom of which four roller legs are attached.
Handles are installed on both sides of the vertical panel, behind which the draw-out column is pulled out.
Note! The material for column support railings is MDF or laminated chipboard sheets. The shelves themselves are made of nickel-plated or chrome-plated metal profiles. They are mounted in a horizontal or inclined position.
Folding
As such a system, they take a ready-made shoe rack and insert it into the cabinet opening. Folding shelves are petal-type rotating mechanisms with built-in shoe racks. A closet can contain 2 or more pieces.
The peculiarity is that the lower shelf of the rotating section is also the front of the cabinet. Up to 4 shelves can be installed in the folding one.
Stationary
The structure consists of horizontal planes at different levels. This is the simplest solution for shelves in a closet. The disadvantages of such a storage system include the open position of shoes in the internal space of the wardrobe, the limited number of stored pairs and the inconvenience of their use.
The advantage of stationary shelves is their simplicity and low cost. Such storage systems can be mobile if they are a free-standing structure. Then the shoe rack can be removed from the closet and moved to another part of the hallway.
Basic elements of a sliding wardrobe
Internal filling is an important factor in choosing this design, and it is certainly divided into three important parts:
- lower part designed for storing different types of shoes;
- the middle compartment, which has the largest dimensions, and also provides free space for storing outerwear and shelves for various things;
- the upper part, represented by mezzanines, on which the largest and rarely needed things are stored.
Almost all sliding wardrobes are divided into the same three parts, for which you can view the corresponding photos below.
Upper
Lower
Medium
Required content includes:
- a rod designed for fixing special hangers with outerwear, suits, dresses, trousers or shirts;
- small drawers, usually used to store underwear, not only women's, but also men's;
- retractable baskets used to store various small items or even act as a stand for umbrellas;
- numerous shelves, the distance between which can be different, and they are used for storing various folded clothes, and this storage method is used only for wardrobe items that can be folded without the possibility of compromising their quality;
- a special narrow compartment located at the bottom of the closet and used to store numerous shoes, and a special mesh is often installed, so shoes can be stored even when wet.
Since a sliding wardrobe is installed in the hallway, it is necessary to use all the free space, so it is considered optimal to independently attach various hooks, hat holders or corner shelves, which are used for bags, keys, umbrellas, souvenirs and other small items.
Pull-out hanger
Baskets
Drawers
Barbell
Pantograph
Dimensions
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
The width and depth of the cabinet opening imposes restrictions on the dimensions of the shoe rack. When calculating, do not forget about the size of the boots. The vertical distance between the shelves should provide freedom of access to each pair of shoes.
It is necessary to include the dimensions of the shelves in the calculation, taking into account the maximum number of pairs of the largest size.
I recommend sticking to the following parameters:
- width – from 600 mm;
- height (distance between shelves) – 150 mm;
- height for boots – 400 mm;
- depth – 350 mm.
How to make shoe racks with your own hands
If you have the skills to use the tool, our step-by-step guide will not seem difficult. The procedure for manufacturing and assembling shelves for a sliding wardrobe is described in the form of 3 instructions. Use the method you like best.
Option I: pull-out basket
- Install a partition in the cabinet at a distance from the side equal to the width of the basket with guide rails.
- Make markings for attaching the telescopic guides.
- Use a drill to drill holes for the screws.
- Install the guides.
- Having pulled out the moving parts of the slats, attach the upper side corners of the mesh baskets to them.
- If you don't need to place baskets across the entire height of the cabinet opening, install a limiter cover that will protect shoes from dust and create a division of space. On the one hand, secure the stove to the upper end of the partition, and on the other, secure the lid to the side wall of the cabinet.
- Use screws for fastening.
- Place shoes in baskets and push them deep into the closet.
Note! Fasteners for baskets on telescopic bars are sold in the hardware department of a construction supermarket.
Option II: pull-out shelves
- Using a jigsaw or circular saw, cut a panel from an MDF sheet to the depth of the opening. The size should be such that the front end of the slab does not interfere with the movement of the sliding wardrobe doors.
- Secure the shelves to the vertical panel with confirmations or self-tapping screws.
- As an alternative, you can hang brackets with rods.
- Connect the structure to the side wall through telescopic slats.
- Instead of a handle, use a jigsaw to cut a vertical slot.
- Put your boots and shoes in their places, push the shoe rack into the closet.
If the width of the shelves is much narrower than the opening, then you will have to install an additional vertical partition inside the cabinet.
Option III: folding sections
If the width and depth of the cabinet allows you to install a shoe rack with folding shelves, then do so. If this is not possible, build built-in storage. To do this, use the sides and partitions of the cabinet. For detailed instructions, read the article “Do-it-yourself shoe cabinet.”
