Shoe rack or shoe bench: what suits your hallway?

Shoes by the front door are handy, but a pile of shoes on the mat is not. With a fixed spot for every pair, your hallway stays tidy and you find your shoes straight away. The big question: do you choose a shoe rack or a shoe bench? In this guide we set out the differences.

The difference in short

Shoe rack: as many shoes as possible on as little floor as possible. Ideal if you have lots of pairs.
Shoe bench: seat and storage in one. You sit down for a moment to put your shoes on or take them off and then put them away straight away.

Which type suits you?

Type	Best for	Our models
Tall shoe rack	Lots of shoes, little floor space	Yasmin, 10 shelves, Ysera, stackable
Compact shoe rack	Next to the front door or in the bedroom	Gerard, 80 cm tall, Tyler white
Shoe bench with soft seat	Sitting comfortably in the hallway or at the foot of your bed	Mathias
Industrial shoe bench	A robust entrance with room for shoes and things	Maevron dark wood, Mythera black, Solthara black

When do you choose a shoe rack?

Do you have a family with lots of shoes or a narrow hallway? Then a tall rack makes the most of your vertical space. The Yasmin rack is 174 cm tall and has 10 shelves. You use it as one tall rack or split it into several small racks. For tall boots you simply remove a shelf. On the Ysera rack you set the shelf at 5 different heights, and with the supplied connectors you stack several racks on top of each other.

When do you choose a shoe bench?

Tired of putting your shoes on while standing on one leg? Then a shoe bench is the smartest choice. The Mathias has a seat with thick padding and faux leather upholstery, and adjustable feet so it stands firmly. On the Maevron you use the top as a seat or as a place to put down your bag, with room for 6 to 8 pairs of shoes underneath.

What to look for

Number of pairs: count your shoes and those of your family, and leave some room to spare.
Width and depth: measure the wall and leave enough walking space and room for the door. The shoe benches in this guide are 70 to 92 cm wide.
Tall shoes: choose a rack with adjustable or removable shelves.
Style: black metal suits an industrial interior, wood adds warmth and white looks light and fresh.

Tips for a tidy hallway

Put the shoes you wear every day at the front or at eye level, seasonal shoes at the top or elsewhere.
Let wet shoes dry first before they go on the rack.
Hang a wall coat rack above your shoe bench for a complete entrance. Which coat rack suits you, you can read in Choosing a coat rack: wall-mounted or freestanding?
More shoes than space? Combine a shoe bench with a tall shoe rack.

Read also

View all shoe racks and shoe benches. Ordered on a working day before 15:00, shipped today, shipping is free and you get free 30-day returns.