Everything needs its proper place, and that’s especially true inside a walk-in closet, where things can easily get cluttered if you’re not organized. This DIY shoe rack is simply a shelf unit laid out with dimensions to accommodate shoes — but its impact on this cloffice (a closet with an office) speaks for itself!


Materials Needed

  • 1” X 12” primed shelf boards
  • 1” X 2” primed boards
  • 2-1/2” finish nails
  • Wood Glue

DIY Shoe Rack: How to Build

  1. Determine the size of your DIY shoe rack. Ours will be about 77 inches tall, and wide enough for two pairs of shoes on each level. We measure two average pairs and determine our width is 20 inches and the space between the shelves will be 7 and 1/2 inches.
  2. Cut 1-by-12 primed shelf boards.  We need two at 77 inches for the sides and about 10 at 20 inches for the shelves.
  3. Lay out the shelf locations on the two side pieces. Mark the location of the top of each shelf — include the thickness of the shelf itself. Our spacing between shelves will be 7 and 1/2 inches and the shelf boards are 3/4 inches thick, so we’re marking every 8 and 1/4 inches.
  4. Attach the shelves to one side at these marks. Apply wood glue to the end of each board and nail it in from the outside of the side piece. When the first side is complete, repeat the process on the other side piece.

How to Install Your DIY Shoe Rack

  1. Our DIY shoe rack will rest on the baseboard in the closet, so it floats above the floor. After tacking it in place, we add horizontal 1-by-2 cleats beneath every other shelf. These are nailed into the wall’s studs to firmly secure it in place. In this case, a longer shelf board rests on top to connect the shoe rack with the rest of the closet system.
  2. After filling the nail holes and caulking the seams, the shoe rack is ready to paint.

Watch the video above to find out more.


Further Reading

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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