Many users will be fine with standard shoe storage products: basic shoe racks, plastic shoe boxes, shoe cubbies or shelves in a closet, over-the-door shoe pockets, etc. But shoe storage can also involve creative designs which some users will appreciate.

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The wall-mounted horizontal shoe racks from J-Me (above) come in two styles; one is designed specifically for stilettos and one for shoes in general. The non-stiletto version also comes in two lengths, holding either three or six pairs of shoes. These racks could be used in many different places: an entranceway for shoes-off homes, a bedroom, a closet, etc. Many users have chosen to stack two or more of them, one above the other. The standard racks take up as little room as shoe racks possibly could, so they're going to work well in small spaces. But they won't work in homes with dogs or children who will grab the shoes, unless the racks are placed above their reach (which wouldn't be the normal location).

The ZJUP shoe holder from LoCa, designed by Harrit-Sørensen, was designed to accommodate shoes of all shapes and sizes—and Nicolai Sørensen says it should indeed work for about 95 percent of shoe types. KJUP was also designed to protect the walls from muddy or wet shoes. (Any shoe rack accommodating wet shoes would need to be placed over appropriate flooring, obviously.) The plastic bar holding the shoes in place is a non-spring loaded bar, so it exerts no pressure on the shoes. Because each ZJUP holds just one pair of shoes, it can fit in places where a multi-shoe rack could not.

The Shrine shoe rack goes with a vertical orientation, so it will fit into spaces where a horizontal rack would not. This one won't work if the shoes are wet, though, since the top ones could drip onto the lower ones. The shoes are more on display here than with the previous racks, which will appeal to some users.

We've mentioned the Rakku shoe wheel before. But having seen one of these in person recently, I noted that it's actually somewhat awkward to get the shoes in and out, so it's not a product I would recommend.

This shoe tower is basically a lazy Susan for shoes, and that's a pretty nice idea. It's not totally clear, though, whether most men's shoes are going to fit into a single cubby; if not, this wouldn't be a good storage solution for those with those larger shoes.

I've seen photos of numerous shoe ottomans and shoe storage benches, and the ones from The Sole Secret impress me the most. The rectangular shape makes better use of space than a round one (where the center space doesn't hold any shoes), and the cubbies seem easier to use than the pockets used in other designs.

The ShoeTrap takes the idea of shoe boxes and creates a configurable storage unit. Since the boxes have drop-front windows rather than lids that lift off, they can be stacked and still provide easy access to the boxes at the bottom. And the glass front means it's easy to tell what's in each box. There are also multiple sizes to accommodate different types and sizes of shoes. This will work for users who are concerned with keeping their shoes dust-free, and who have enough space for this type of storage.

This shoe tree from Fashion for Home, designed by Mark Hark, is certainly eye-catching. It's going to require a decent amount of space, though. And from my experience, the users who are very into shoes and would enjoy a product like this also have many more pairs of shoes than would fit in this tree. But I'm glad to see that the shoe boxes used in the tree have windows, so users can see what's inside.

The Spin from Germania is a slender cabinet that keeps the shoes hidden but still readily accessible. The mirror is a nice touch, since the places where the Spin is likely to be used (the entranceway or a bedroom) are also places where mirrors come in handy.