By Cheri Sicard
For anyone living or traveling in an RV, clutter from shoes can quickly get out of hand. Almost every RVer faces the same headache: Shoes and laundry always end up in piles near the door or scattered in every corner.
Leanne from Making My Abode On The Road has tested dozens of approaches over the years with her family of four. She shares them in the video at the end of this post. Check out these clever RV shoe storage tips that work for full-timers, weekend campers, or anyone tired of tripping over sandals.
Leanne’s RV shoe storage tips:
#1 IKEA shoe storage bins
A favorite spot for RV clutter? Right inside the front door. A shoe bin from IKEA can pull double duty: the top section holds dog leashes and bags, while the bottom stores shoes of all sizes. The slim design fits neatly under a counter and surprisingly holds a lot. With the right careful stacking, Leanne manages up to five pairs, without crowding the doorway.
#2 Over-the-door and bed frame RV shoe storage
Those over-the-door hooks from Family Dollar turn any bed frame into a shoe station. Leanne’s husband tweaked the hooks so they’d hang tightly over the bed area, but similar ready-made ones are out there. For beds with an overhang, slim baskets can slide right underneath, creating instant shoe slots.
Skip the metalwork by scouting for hooks designed for your rig’s frame or beds with enough of a lip. Slim, deep bins or baskets add even more shoe storage for kids or guests.
#3 Adhesive plastic shoe holders
Wall-mounted plastic shoe holders found on Amazon are simple to install with included sticky pads. Leanne worried about the adhesive holding up over time, especially with heavier shoes. Her fix: Alien Tape, which peels off when needed but stays put day after day. These holders come in packs of two and blend well in small living rooms or bedrooms without looking out of place.
#4 Outdoor shoe storage
Shoes used at the pool or in muddy areas need to dry before heading back inside. Heavy-duty magnets snap onto the outside RV stairs, letting families hang wet shoes and keep dirt outside. For even more organized storage, hang a shoe organizer bag from strong suction hooks and tuck shoes away right at the entry.
#5 Large airtight bins
Families need options for everyone’s footwear. Large bins with tight lids, like a clear tote with wheels, stow under the camper and keep shoes contained—no more dirty piles inside.
#6 Under-bed storage
Many RVs offer hidden storage under the bed—perfect for extra shoes. A sturdy bin keeps hiking boots or seasonal footwear stacked and ready. This makes use of forgotten space and frees up living areas for daily shoes. For organizational clarity, Leanne labels her bins for easy sorting.
#7 DIY shoe racks
Get smart with vertical space inside closets and cabinets. Two tension rods, spaced a few inches apart, create a simple shoe rack. This simple, bite-sized project turns wasted vertical space into shoe storage in minutes.
• Place two tension rods inside a cabinet several inches apart.
• Rest shoes across both rods, heels to toes.
• Place another row below as needed.
• Swap tension rods for wire shelving for stacking thinner shoes or sandals.
#8 Modifying RV stairs and over-the-door organizers
RV stairs sometimes feature empty space underneath. With careful checks (and an eye on weight), convert that gap into storage by adding a hinged lid. Another option: trim an over-the-door shoe organizer to fit odd spaces around beds or entry doors.
Warning: Don’t overload any door or step—RV hardware isn’t as strong as household builds.
#9 Drawers, bins, and closet floor space
Unused dresser drawers become shoe cubbies for small families. Closet floors often have space for flexible bins or baskets, especially in larger RVs. Just toss shoes in at the end of the day.
#10 Wall-mounted storage for small or full-time setups
Wall-mounted options save precious floor space in travel trailers and motorhomes. These work well in living rooms, bedrooms, or even in closets where extra pairs tend to pile up.
#11 Small trailer and van hacks with cargo nets
Tiny homes on wheels make every inch count. Cargo nets—like pocket-style mesh nets—attach to bed frames, cabinets, or near kitchen benches. With secure mounting (screws or permanent adhesive), they hold sandals, water shoes, or flip-flops, keeping them from turning into tripping hazards.
#12 Get inventive with odd spaces
Sometimes, the best storage isn’t obvious. Triangular bathroom cabinets, weird corners, or dead space next to the fridge may hide hidden shoe solutions. Each RV has quirks—use imagination and try different options until the right fit pops up.
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RVT1213
Neat ideas for small and average sized shoes. Oh well, I wear a size fifteen shoe.
Thank you for the video and summary, Cheri! Wow! That took a lot of work to try, or even find, so many alternatives. We have a wire-frame laundry hamper that folds flat when empty (similar to this https://a.co/d/h0uh88F). It sits in the closet floor when we travel. When the laundry approaches the top, then it is time to get full-hookups so I can do laundry. As part-timers, we never lack sufficient closet floor space for our shoes. The most recently worn pairs sit under the steering wheel when not worn. Only two pairs allowed up front at a time. Have a great week and safe travels!