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Have your entryway shoes tripped you into the house? There is no shortage of Ways to store shoes without clutterBut it’s important to find the right option for your space. Sometimes, the best idea starts with something that is meant for shoes and adds a little improvement. In this case, the idea starts with a simple boot tray. You know: the simple plastic tray, usually black, that sits on the floor. Since it is a tray, the sides prevent water, mud and dirt from your footwear from landing on the floor.
But black plastic trays aren’t the prettiest option in your entryway. And even though the sides prevent water from dripping onto the floor, your shoes are still sitting in them. The solution to both these issues? River rocks! When you pour it into the tray, the rocks move the shoes up while letting all the gunk drip through the gaps into the plastic tray below. In this way, the shoes can dry out. Rocks are more attractive than trays on their own, and are a relatively inexpensive upgrade.
Large bags of decorative rocks are available at home improvement stores, or you can get several bags Floral Garden River Pebbles From Dollar Tree. Plastic boot trays are available almost anywhere (they’re also on our list IKEA shoe storage solutions are a must have). You’ll find a range of sizes, including larger options like this one Matace extra large shoe tray. Measure the available space and consider how many pairs of shoes you want to store there to help decide.
Fill the boot tray with river rocks
even Simple boot storage solutionsThis is one of the easiest. It works by simply pouring river rocks into the tray, but you can expand the idea. If you don’t want the rocks to fall out, you can glue them in place, making sure to leave gaps where water drips. The color and size of the rocks you choose also affect the look. River rocks usually have earthy tones, but you can also buy white or black rocks if you prefer a consistent look. Or, swap out the rocks for something else, like marble for a colorful look or small seashells to fit a coastal-themed space. You can also place a smaller boot tray in the middle of the larger tray and use two different types of rock or filler in each section.
If you want a more polished look, spray paint the boot tray a gorgeous metallic color first. Or, make a simple frame out of wood with a plywood bottom that is slightly larger than the tray and wooden sides that extend beyond the edges of the tray so that it disappears. Stain or paint the wood to fit the look of your entryway. Adding drawer pulls on the short sides makes it look like a serving tray and adds a little extra embellishment. And to make boot storage a little more functional, add casters to the bottom, so you can move the tray around or slide it in and out of the coat closet.
