20 Cool Ways To Lace Shoes

There's something awesome about lifting a shiny new pair of sneakers out of their box and sliding them on. Those gleaming treads and the lack of scuff marks are everything we're missing in our life — until we try them on and realize that breaking in these new kicks will cost us several blisters and possibly a layer of heel skin. Suddenly, our tried and true, worn-in sneakers don't seem so bad, after all. And with a fresh spin on how they're laced, suddenly our favorite old shoes can become our favorite new ones. 

It turns out, the standard issue in-one-side-and-out-the-other, then tie a bow at the top shoelace design that all shoes come home with isn't the only way to lace a sneaker. With a few minutes and a little patience, there are countless cool designs to give a pair of sneakers a little more style. 

Trying out a new shoelace technique is good for looking at what's already in the closet with fresh eyes. But it's also a way to make sneakers stand out in a crowd, a great idea for kids' karate or dance classes or even that weekly yoga meeting with the besties. And choosing a distinctive shoelace design for each child is an easy way for parents whose kids love to wear matching clothes easily figure out whose shoes are whose (besides squinting at those teeny numbers on the label). 

From sunburst and bow patterns little girls will love to funk ladders and basket weaves even teenagers will smile over, check out these 20 cool ways to lace sneakers and show those old kicks some new love.

Super Star

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Stuntmotomoto/Youtube

Got a future rock star at home? They'll never want to take their sneakers off once they see this star shoelace tutorial.

Beautiful Bows

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fashiono.1/Instagram

Try this pretty bow laces tutorial to give any sneaker a girly vibe. And look how cute the color of these laces are!

Lattice Laces

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Ydson/Youtube

This lattice laces tutorial is an easy way to make old sneakers feel new again. Plus, it's super simple to do.

Single Bow

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fashiono.1/Instagram

This single bow laces tutorial makes it easy to rock sneakers with a dress.  And it's super creative!

Double X's

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RG Maker/Youtube

For a simple but cool way to switch up shoelace style, try this double X's tutorial. It's eXtremely cool. (See what we did there?)

Lightning Laces

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How to Lace Shoes/Youtube

Harry Potter lovers can show off their super fan status with the help of this fun lighting laces tutorial. It's subtle but totally there.

Classic Bars

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TheDIYGirl/YouTube

This straight bar shoelace tutorial is the secret to achieving this classic and cool look.

Star of David Laces

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JFongStyle/YouTube

Jewish and dang proud of it? Get Hanukkah ready with this Star of David shoelace tutorial. 

Diamond Laces

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The DIY Girl/YouTube

Shine bright — even while wearing sneakers. This diamond laces tutorial works well for shoes with extra long laces.

Ladder Laces

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Mr Gear/YouTube

This ladder shoelace tutorial is a new take on a straight lace look.

Basket Weave Laces

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The DIY Girl/YouTube

Two laces in contrasting colors and this basket weave tutorial will take a girl's shoe game to the next level.

Corset Lace

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Professor Shoelace/YouTube

This corset lace tutorial creates a cute double x pattern that ties in the center, rather than the top. It's super fun for a night out.

Sunburst Laces

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5 Minute Crafts Girly/YouTube

Twin mom's take note: this sunburst shoelace tutorial makes an easy way to tell one child's sneakers from the other.

Linked Loops Laces

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5 Minute Crafts Girly/YouTube

Grab two different colored laces to create this eye-catching linked loop laces look.

Zipper Lace

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stuntmotomot/YouTube

This no-bow zipper lace tutorial looks good on kids and adults alike.

'NO' Laces

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Lace Anchors/YouTube

Introverted adults and grumpy teens will both get a thrill from this "NO" shoelace tutorial.

X Marks The Spot

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RG Maker/YouTube

Kids who live for everything dramatic will want t to grab their shoes right away after seeing this X marks the spot shoelace tutorial.

X-Factor Laces

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James Hanson/YouTube

This X-factor shoelace tutorial is easy to do but still different enough to cause a #doubletake effect.

Looped Ladder

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mercedesnavarrobarrera/Instagram

Put an end to shoes flying off on the playground with these looped ladder laces.

Half and Half

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RG Maker/Youtube

One part ladder, one part loops, this half and half shoelace tutorial is all parts cool.