All about shoe racks in the hallway

Our today's material is devoted to the consideration of such a piece of furniture as a shoe rack. A description of the varieties, materials of manufacture, design options and placement is given. Provides other interesting and necessary information regarding the choice of shoe racks.

When discussing various types of furniture, the main attention is paid to wardrobes, sofas, armchairs and other similar things, but shoe racks in the hallway are bypassed. And this is completely in vain, because such a piece of home decoration is also very important.

The indisputable advantage of such a shoe cabinet is its functionality... Once you put it on, you no longer have to guess where to stick your sneakers, boots or ugg boots. There will be no need to fiddle with newspapers, with various rugs and so on.

Even with a modest size, the shoe rack is very roomy and allows you to collect all or almost all the shoes that are used in the family. Some models are multifunctional, additionally replace a bench or a pedestal. Thanks to the small openings inside the cabinet, even when closed, a decent level of ventilation is maintained, so there is no need to be afraid of dampness, mold and other problems.

Models of closed shoe cabinets are called a wardrobe, although there is another name in use - a chest of drawers for shoes. Such products can differ in a wide variety of dimensions. They are usually divided into 3 main levels in height:

• low models (such as a shoe rack) contain only one shelf, designed for shoes up to 50-55 cm high;
• average allow you to place everything you need in the corridor for a family of 3-4 people;
• high comparable to full-fledged wardrobes, these are not just ancillary storage for boots.

The latter option is rare, even in private homes, because it is expensive and does not fit too well with common ideas about shoe racks. In addition, in such "pencil cases" shoes dry longer. This is due precisely to the fact that it is difficult to ensure air exchange in such large volumes.

But such roomy furniture is often used in schools, stadiums and other similar places. As for open shoe furniture, it refers to either the low or medium group maximum.

Some versions contain separate closed shelves or drawers, which allows you to keep shoes and some other things out of sight. There are also shoe-benches. Their height is relatively small, most often limited to 0.5-0.6 m, because otherwise it would be uncomfortable to sit.

The width is usually at least 0.6 m and the depth is at least 0.4 m. It is more difficult to make a shoe rack with a bench function than an ordinary one, because it must be designed for increased loads. Combined products can be of various types of shelves, the choice of which depends only on the decisions of the developers. Sometimes there are models of the "rack" or "stand" format. Instead of shelves in the usual sense, wire or plastic "shovels" are used to fit the shoes; such a solution is roomy, but not very functional.

The swing door has long been recognized as a classic solution.Technically, this is a cantilever design with a pull-out opening. This performance is simple and harmonious. Hinged doors allow easy access to all stored shoes with minimal effort. However, the downside is that swinging a door takes up a lot of space and can sometimes be inconvenient, especially in narrow corridors.

The sliding design allows you to bypass this problem and save a lot of useful space. Another advantage is its attractive appearance. However, one must understand that the cost of a sliding door will be quite expensive, and the view of the interior space will be difficult.

Folding doors can be considered the best choice, devoid of the disadvantages of the two previous options, but in this case, the quality of the lower guides is critical, in case of a breakdown of which the normal use of the shoe rack is impossible.

The classic approach is that shoe cabinets with any type of door, open or closed, sit firmly on the floor. However, wall models are increasingly common. Sometimes mounted and hanging models are equipped with folding shelves, dividing into cells. It should be noted that wall solutions in hallways are not very aesthetic. But in a separate wardrobe or in a wardrobe, they really belong.

The corner model of the shoe rack saves space and stores shoes even in a small room or in the corridor. But this is not the end of its merits. It is very important that such a product allows you to profitably use corners, narrow areas and other similar places that are usually not involved in any way. Another important advantage is the affordable price.

Traditionally, shoe racks are made of wood. It is not necessary that these are different types of solid wood - chipboard and fiberboard also perform well. They are extremely durable and comfortable. In addition, the cost of such structures is lower than that of high-grade wood. True, there is also a pronounced minus - if their manufacture was approached unprofessionally, then one cannot count on a long service life and ease of use.

Not everyone likes the soft design, and therefore the metal variety of shoe racks is becoming more widespread. Basically, it has an open design. Some specific versions contain parts made of PVC or chipboard... The choice between these options is largely a matter of personal taste.

The iron shoe system can be forged or tube... In addition to the design characteristics of both solutions, one should not forget about the degree of strength and other technical properties. Wrought iron the designs fit perfectly into the setting of Provence and other old-fashioned styles. In extremely humid conditions plastic shoe rack is preferable to metal products. A similar solution is often used in country houses and dachas.

In addition, plastic is easy to wash, and its modern versions are quite durable, so there is no risk when using them. Recently, shoe storage made of fabric has become quite widespread. This material is not very typical, but it has decent prospects. The main part of the structure is a strong metal frame. It is also covered with a strong, wear-resistant fabric.

Furniture is considered high, the total height of the body of which ranges from 1.2 to 2.2 m. These versions are convenient to use and allow you to easily reach any shelf. They fit a different number of shoes. The distance between the shelves is usually 0.3-0.4 m. But you can always order a product with other dimensional parameters. Low galoshes are also quite popular, the height of which is no more than 0.55 m.

They usually have only one shelf, which is suitable for storing seasonal shoes. Sometimes two compartments are allocated. The low headroom is almost always compensated by a comfortable seat. Shoe racks of medium height are also relatively widespread; they may contain additional functional compartments.

How big the shoe rack will be depends primarily on its depth. A typical solution for an ordinary family is considered to be 55 cm. People living alone can choose designs with a depth of 17-30 cm. The wide model - with a width of more than 70 cm - is mainly suitable for family use. In all other cases, you can limit yourself to 40 cm. To what extent the specimens should be long are always calculated individually, taking into account the characteristics of the room.

In a wide variety of interiors - classic and modern - the white model will look good. But one must always remember about the increased soiling of this color, on which any dirt is easily noticeable. Most often, such models are created using expensive, elite wood species, including wenge oak.

Rather, it is a desire to stand out than a real advantage. It is sufficient to use simple, high quality breeds. The appearance of furniture in the spirit of the classics can be defiantly catchy or laconic, but in any case, he must express dignity and nobility to the fullest.

It is useful to introduce small notes of antiquity, a kind of reference to it. But this skill is available only to trained designers and people with a particularly developed aesthetic taste. A mandatory feature is the use of simple colors and harmonious color combinations; sometimes arched elements are used.

Shoe racks in style turn out to be quite beautiful and stylish solutions. provence... They can be either glossy or matte. Such furniture is suitable for lovers of floral themes. She is elusively old-fashioned and elegant at the same time. Special attention should be paid to the selection of subjects according to these indicators.

Provencal style implies:

• active use of natural materials;
• curved legs;
• the use of white, but not too expressive tones;
• admissibility of using other light colors.

If you prefer a loft style, remember that in this version, the furniture for the hallway should have different colors and textures, some dissonance will be a kind of rule. Style shabby chic can be used if comfort and visual warmth are in the first place.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the size of the room. In a small hallway, you need to put a shoe rack of proportional size. On the contrary, the larger the product, the more attractive it will be in a large room. Design options for the original look are a matter of purely personal taste. An unusual visual complement to the interior is, of course, good, but only with the right selection it will harmoniously fit into the environment. Beauty and naturalness are an important advantage of wooden models. However, they are quite expensive and quite massive.

Another inconvenience is the need for scrupulous care and special impregnations. Plastic is cheap and convenient. It serves for a long time without any specialized care procedures, but its appearance and the likelihood of cracks become a problem. Metal is durable and practical. The probability of damaging it is relatively small. It should be borne in mind that only with a layer of paint is the protection against corrosion guaranteed. Very thin sheets of metal are immediately a minus, they can still be damaged by heavy shoes.Glass structures (made of extra strong glass) are rarely used because they are impractical and easily covered with all kinds of prints.

The dimensions of the shoe rack are chosen at your discretion. It is very good to store seasonal shoes in “slim” products. Another nuance is strict compliance with the given style of the room. Lovers of originality should pay attention to unusual ideas. Other subtleties should be taken into account:

• for a narrow corridor, narrow high shelves with increased capacity are desirable;
• models containing a seat and a mirror are more practical than simple ones;
• the cheapest products are obviously inconvenient for the most part;
• an individual order is most preferable when using the original author's interior in the house.

Consideration should be given to lighting and usability. If you put a shoe rack in a poorly lit, hard-to-reach corner, then all the advantages will be lost. They also take into account one more fact - the hallway should not be overcrowded. In case of an acute lack of space, you need to put the shoe rack in conjunction with a mirror and a hanger.

• A large shoe rack of light gray color is perceived well. It goes well with the bent-legged seat and other classic interior details.

• A white shoe cabinet can also be a worthy interior decoration. It combines well with a white round ottoman and an expressive dark floor covering.

• And this is how another version of the shoe rack looks like, surrounded by an umbrella holder and an elegant armchair.