Storage solution

We have light color carpets, so we generally ask people to take off their shoes when they come in...not everyone follows it, but enough DO that there is an untidy pile of shoes at the front door when we have a bunch of people over.

We also have a nice storage bench in the foyer now. It is currently empty, but I've been thinking...

Instead of hanging those shoe storage cubbies up, why can't I put them inside the bench? That way, people can slip their shoes into a cubby, there isn't a jumble of mixed up shoes to sort through when you want to leave, and it's all nicely "hidden" in the bench so no one trips over them!

Or take the same idea further...use it to keep mittens and scarves in the winter so things are paired up. Or maybe use a couple of small boxes/cubbies to keep small dress-up accessories accessible.  All the sudden, these jumbled toy boxes become fun to use!

I just tried it out with the fabric shoe pocket we've had hanging by the back door.  Obviously, I just tossed it in there.  It looks like there is room for 12-14 pockets in my bench if I double up the rows.  It is longer than the bench, so I'll have to cut it to fit.  I will probably staple it in for additional support, but I'm a cheapskate.  You could probably buy slightly more sturdy versions.  What do you think?