The Portable Shoe Storage Gem That's A Game-Changer For Small Closets & Entryways

If you have a narrow entryway, it can be challenging to create a good organization system for shoes. Standard shoe racks are typically low and wide, which won't work if you only have a sliver of space next to your front door. One option is to simply kick off your shoes next to the front door, but this can quickly turn into a disorganized jumble of shoes. A much better solution is to invest in some type of shoe storage rack that actually fits your space, like the Yamazaki Compact Metal Shoe Rack.

Available on Amazon for $65, this product is specifically designed to fit in narrow spaces, with a width of a little over 8 inches. The rack is about 30 inches tall and 7 inches deep and has five tiers that can each support one pair of shoes. Thanks to a handle at the top of the rack, it's easy to pick up, making it compact and easy to clean around. It's also made from steel for a modern and sleek look, making it also quite sturdy.

Since the rack fits 5 pairs of shoes, it may not be enough shoe storage for a whole family, but you could also purchase a few different units and perhaps designate one rack for each family member so you can each organize all of your shoes. With its slender dimensions, the rack should be easy to slide into narrow and awkward spaces in your home that you might otherwise leave empty.

While one of the most popular features of this free-standing shoe storage solution is that it fits in narrow spaces, this also may also be one its greatest drawbacks. After combing through almost 1,500 reviews of the Yamazaki Shoe Rack on Amazon, it seems that the biggest complaint users have about the rack is that it is too narrow for certain shoes. Users also mentioned that it's too small for men's shoes, hiking boots, and even women's shoes over a certain size.

However, for many users, this doesn't seem to be an issue. One reviewer reportedly solved this problem by simply turning one shoe around to accommodate awkward shapes and sizes. Others have mentioned that for their more oversized shoes, they place one shoe per rack. However, these may not be feasible options for everyone because some people may not want to grab their shoe by the toe as it may be dirty, and also because using one shoe per rack drastically cuts down on the number of shoes you can store per rack.

If you have a petite shoe size, this rack will most likely work well for you. For anyone with larger shoe sizes, you may be better off with a slightly wider shoe rack like the SORCEDAS Vertical Narrow Shoe Rack, which is 9.3 inches wide and has removable shelves to house tall shoes like boots. Despite the fact that the Yamazaki rack may be too narrow for some shoes, it's still a sturdy, stylish, and functional shoe storage solution for your entryway and other narrow spaces.