I have a large family...we just added our 6th member, so our shoe STORAGE needs are greater than what fits under this bench.  But this bench is terrific NEXT to the tall storage shelf I have holding shoes.  There's room for the kids and grown-ups to sit down and put shoes on and we are keeping mittens, hats and other small things in the baskets and cubbies down below.  Very nice quality.  The cushion slides a little but I just put a long piece of that foam stuff people put in their cabinets and it keeps it in place perfectly.  I like the simple but traditional styling and the quality so far seems perfect, especially for the price.  My father in law put this together for me in about a half hour, so I'm assuming assembly is pretty easy, too.  (Tho he's an engineer...may have had an advantage there.)  :)