DIY: Build a shoe rack under a bench
Shoes: you can't have too many pairs. But where to put them…? They take up a lot of space so it can become a big issue, especially if you're sharing your home with anyone else.
A Portuguese woman called Nina found a brilliant solution both in terms of space and money. All you have to do is find that one odd spot in your home you always thought was useless. Pretty soon, you'll be exploiting it to the hilt:
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You'll need:
- wire mesh sliding drawer sets (plastic works too, or whatever material and size best suits your needs)
- white shelf boards
- foam rectangle cut to size of your shelves
- a nice fabric or sheet
- drill and screws
- needle and thread
- ALL your shoes
Here's how:
1. The shelves
Nina started by finding some white shelf boards and building a shelf in three parts.
With a drill and some screws, the basic rack was done in no time.
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Then she screwed drawer frames on in two of the compartments and slid in the wire mesh drawers.
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She dedicated most of it to her prodigious shoe collection, plus some space for blankets, shoe shine wax, shoe brushes, and so on.
Youtube/Tu organizas por Nina Braz
Youtube/Tu organizas por Nina Braz
Youtube/Tu organizas por Nina Braz
Youtube/Tu organizas por Nina Braz
Next came a fitted cushion to turn the cupboard into a cozy window seat or bench.
2. The seat cushion
Have a piece of foam cut to the size you need at your local hardware store. Then back at home, iron the sheet you want to use to cover the foam.
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With a few quick stitches you can sew the corners of the sheet neatly around the corners of the foam and there you have it: a cozy cushion is ready to go.
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For a softer surface you could even use two layers of foam or a thicker variety of foam.
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What a fantastic way to fix a very serious problem: too many shoes!
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Since Nina speaks in Portuguese you probably won't understand her video — but it's still useful to watch her go through all the steps:
What a great way to use space more efficiently! Now you have lots more storage and a lovely place to curl up with a magazine. And it looks good in any size apartment.