How to Build a Custom Storage System for Your Sneaker Collection

From a giant, custom shoebox replica to simple stackable bins, we have a sneaker storage solution for evey type of sneakerhead.

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Complex Original

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So you just moved into a new place and mom finally made you take all the sneakers you’ve been storing at her house with you. Odds are you don’t have a sneaker closet like DJ Khaled to house all your pairs, so you will need to get creative. After all, you spent a lot of money over the years building your collection, so you want to make sure that they’re well maintained and the best of the best are properly displayed.

Take a look at your room and figure out how to best utilize your space. Does it make more sense to stack vertical or build horizontal? How many pairs can realistically be out for display? Is it more important to find a container big enough to get our sneakers off of the floor, or do we just want a platform to stunt the Yeezys? All of these questions are important and will go a long way in finding the piece that works best for you.

Pairing the right shoes with the ideal storage display adds style and flair to your living space, and there isn’t a shortage of great ideas. Here are some of the more popular options you can run with. They can be cost-effective if done properly, and all can be completed with limited carpentry skill. With a little focus and some precise directions, Here's How to Build a Custom Storage System for Your Sneaker Collection​.

Giant Shoebox Replica

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PVC Pipe Rack

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Vertical Cube Shelves

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Floating Corner Shelves

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Wood Shelf Unit

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Stackable Plastic Bins

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You can go two ways with the old reliable option of the stackable plastic bins. First, if you’re blessed with loads of closet and shelf space, you can get individual boxes for your sneakers and display them like an old episode of MTV Cribs. Even slap a picture in front of each box for easy lookup. There’s no assembly required for these, just cop some see-through boxes.

The best way to use them is in conjunction with one of the other listed options that effectively display your pristine pairs. While it would be nice to house each pair of sneakers in its own individual plastic container to shield it from the perils of contamination, you may not have either the funds to keep up with your ever-growing collection or the space to make this method feasible. If you’re young and live in a cramped apartment, odds are you have some spatial limitations. If that’s the case, ditch the stackable plastic bins in favor of the flat rectangular bins that you can store under your bed. Seriously.

This route favors utility over flash and that’s okay. The trainers you lift in, the shoes you ran that 10K in, and the Kobes you bought two years ago that you wear every Thursday night for pickup games at the Y don’t need to be out on display. Some containers can fit between 10-20 pairs and are very cheap. Buy one, put a sizable chunk of your collection under the bed and roll it out when you need to.