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19 Types of Coatracks

Discover the 19 unique and interesting types of coat racks, where you can put them, and even how to install them!

Image with 7 different style standing tall black coat racks

Unfortunately, not every house has an available closet for shoe storage, coat storage, hats, scarves, or umbrellas. The quickest way to remedy this, other than some sort of messy storage bench, is to get a coat rack!

But before you go out and buy the first one you see, let’s talk about options. There are several different types of coat racks, and separate styles within those categories that you can choose from. While there may not be a designated name for each rack, I have still gathered 19 pictures of the wonderful different types of coat racks to help you find the best one for you!

Wall Racks

Close up of a maple colored wall, black ans silver metal wall hanges on wall, purses and coats on hooks

Wall mounted coat racks are typically seen as hooks attached to wooden or plastic backing like what you see in this picture. It’s a very clean and simple way to hang your items at the door without taking up a lot of space.

Close up of a door with a white with black metal hook door hanger, 3 coats hanging from it

Many people prefer the classic style wall mounted coat rack like this one here. The double hooks allow for a coat and another item, a hat perhaps, to be hung closer together and it allows you more room for your things. There is nothing extra or unique about this design, therefore it will blend well with whatever decorative items you already have in the space.

Wooden wall coat hanger with 5 sections, each having its own black hook and metal label slot above it

Name slots are a really fun way to go. You can give each person in your home their own hook by slipping a name card into the slot above it, or you can decide to label where each item belongs. Your coat here, your scarf there, a hat, or even keys! It’s up to you – and very customizable!

White wall with a black modern geometric shaped metal wall hat or coat hanger, 2 hats on it

If you’re looking for a more modern design, this contemporary rack is the perfect way to go! It may take up wall space but this is more versatile than most wall mounted racks you’ll find. Like with any other, it can be for hanging coats, hats, or other items in a very stylish way. If you’re looking for ornate options to decorate your entryway, this just might be the rack you’ve been waiting for!

Small brown wooden wall coat hanger with 3 rounded end posts, brown ball cap on hook

On the opposite side of the spectrum, many people prefer a simple look that can be put into any style of room and fit in any space. Something simple like this thin wooden plaque and round nobs is more likely to blend in with the existing décor you have, as well as being able to save space better than most coat racks.

Close up of a black metal wall coat hanger with 5 hooks haning on white wall

When you live in a home without a lot of extra space for hanging ornate coat racks but you don’t want it to be too plain like the one you just saw, try out something simple but unique like in this picture or other similar metal racks. These are great for small spaces, as well as very sturdy, and if it has five or six hooks it won’t take up the entire wall while still giving you the storage you want.

Gray stone wall with a home made drift wood wall coat hanger, nails hammered in to be used as hooks, red and white bag, brown basket, and wicker hat hanging on hails

These wooden logs are perfect for rustic environments – and if you live in a cabin or a house with a rustic theme you just might agree with me! Solid wood like you can see here will be one of the most durable materials you can find and will certainly increase how many coats you can hang and how heavy coats can be.

Close up of a slat of wood with bent nails attatched to it used as a coat hanger

Another unique style that can fit in a rustic home is this bent nail coat rack. Lighter coats will do better with coat rack features like this one so that the nail heads don’t end up tearing into the fabric of a heavy coat due to the fact that the weight will pull it down against the nail. That being said, items like keys, lanyards, dog leashes and so on still work perfectly fine here.

Close up of a vintage wooden post with old spoons bent and drilled into wood to be used for hooks

Spoons might seem like a strange option to have on this list but it works really well! Old fashioned bent spoons like these are another great way to incorporate rustic décor in your home and, unlike the nails, you won’t have to worry about tearing holes in your coats! Thanks to the smooth surface of the spoon bowls, nothing will poke through the fabric of your coat. This can definitely be considered one of the best coat rack features for rustic environments!

Close up of a white wainscoating wall, white wooden piece of wood with small black hooks at the bottom and "coat check" in black lettering above them, shelves to the left with plants, framed pictures and red old truck

Cute labels like this are a really fun way to go. “Coat Check” or even just a classic “Welcome Home” are nice personal touches. They really add personality to your house and make it feel like a home.

Standing Racks

White background, black metal standing coat rack

A standing coat rack is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of coat racks in general. Why choose this over a wall rack? Well, some rental properties don’t allow you to drill into the walls and therefore you aren’t able to hang things such as racks, hooks, or even pictures. Standing racks are the next best thing. This one here is probably what you envision but what you might not realize is that there are different styles and types of standalone racks.

Room with white walls, gray wood floors, white wooden bench in corner with pillows on top and shoes underneath, tall mirror and white umbrella leaning against wall, white wooden standing coat rack with red coat, brown bag and hat hanging from it, small potted palm tree next to a white wooden dresser with vases on top

For example, these standing coat racks are known as coat trees for their straight “branches” and multiple levels. Lower rods are great for people with children! Especially ones with stubborn independence who insist on doing everything on their own. Allowing them to hang their coats somewhere they can reach takes a load of your hands!

White wall, large wicker basket with lid, small black metal table, standing black coat rack with long dress on hanger hanging from it, pillow on basket, wood floor with black and white area rug, shoes on the floor, tall mirror leaning against wall

Other styles are a bit more old fashioned but I know many people who love this kind of fancy curved design. There is plenty of space for hats, coats, and scarves. Not to mention the umbrella ring at the bottom! That’s right: the ring that surrounds the base of this coat rack is for you to set your umbrellas in. If they’re wet, just place a cute rug or towel underneath to catch the water and you’re all set!

Room with white wall and door, tile floors, teal rug, black and natural wood table with plant, black and natural wood stand, hangers with jackets hanging from it, shoes on shelf below, unbrella and back pack hanging from top pole

A more modern and stylish standing rack would be this boutique-style long bar rack. While this one is purely standing, you can also find racks like this one with wheels to make it easier to move around your entry. The baseboard at the bottom can be used for shoes, and as you probably already know, hangers are very versatile when it comes to what you can hang with them.

Door Racks

Close up of a door with 2 gold hooks drilled into it, robs and towels hanging from them

For those with little wall floor space, I have a great solution! I know for a fact that you have at least one door in your home, so why not optimize that space to gain the extra storage you need. Installing hooks just like these ones is very simple and doesn’t take up your entire door, so there is still a clean appearance to look forward to.

Room with white door, white brick wall and wooden floor, silver door hanger with hooks holding a purse and sweaters, white wooden crates stacked on top of each other holding shoes, meatal standing coat rack holding coats and hats

And for those struggling with that strict rental rule about drilling holes, don’t worry. You can find racks like this one almost anywhere, such as Walmart or Amazon. This rack doesn’t require any nails or screws, just your door! It hooks over the top of your door, staying even when it is opened and closed, and you kind find almost any style you want. This alternative is a wonderful choice and very adjustable and movable to whatever space you have available.

Shelf Racks

Wooden wall coat rack with cubbies and black hooks

Similar to a wall mounted coat rack, shelf racks are another way to optimize the space you have. In this example, you can see that there are cubbies available to use as well as the shelf on top – not to mention the hooks beneath it all.

Corner of room with yellow couch, umbrellas leanng against white wall, black mat with three pairs of rain boots on it, yellow stool, white wall hooks with raincoats hanging from them, round wooden framed mirror on wall

These can be mounted at any height on the wall, transforming from a shelf to a nice countertop space for your keys and other necessities you grab before leaving the house. It also helps keep floor space free for shoes and floor mats, along with different options for décor.

Coat Cubbies

Home with white corner hall tree with a bench, cubbies and three sections with 2 hooks each, white walls and door with a glass cutout letting sun light in

Last, but certainly not least: coat cubbies! Corners can often be overlooked or difficult to use when in some homes but tucking these cubbies into the room’s corner is a very convenient place to be able to have your coat rack. Cubbies allow you to separate and individualize your items from someone else’s, or to simply organize your things better.

There is additional shelf space on the top, the perfect space for hats, and on the floor of the cubbies, maybe for shoes! The bottom storage space can be for wet boots on towels or rugs, or you can turn it into a cabinet bench to stick winter attire that you don’t need year-round.

No matter what you choose, this design is extremely adaptable to your needs and preferences!

How To Hang A Wall Rack

Woman in jean jacket and clear safety glasses using a hand drill to insert screws into a wall

If strict rental rules aren’t a problem and you’re ready to get going, you might need a little help to hang your wall rack or shelf properly. This is particularly true for heavier pieces or racks that will be weighed down by coats and other items. We don’t want your coat rack falling off the wall!

Gray wall, mans hand holding a yellow stud finder

The first step? Well, do you happen to know what a stud is? If not, don’t worry. Many people don’t! A stud is a long, square pole of wood that was used to nail the drywall in your home up when it was being built. It is important when you are hanging heavy shelving or something that is going to hold heavy items, that you screw it into a spot on the wall where there is a stud on the other side. This allows the screws to dig into the wood and get a firm hold, that way the wall and rack won’t buckle under the weight and fall down.

So, how do you locate the stud? Lucky for us, there is a nifty little tool that will keep us from banging on the walls to find which parts sound hollow and which don’t – being wrong 50% of the time – and it’s called a stud finder. The stud finder does exactly what you’d think: it finds the studs in your walls.

Concrete wall with fresh hole drilled with hand drill, debris left behind

Once you locate and mark the studs where you plan to hang your rack, it’s time to drill! However, you shouldn’t just drill the screw directly through the wall. Want to know why?

There’s an easier way to do it! Do you see that metal drill bit up there? This little guy is going to be your best friend for little projects like this. It takes a lot of force to drive a screw through solid wood and drywall. If you pre-drill holes, which is simply drilling that bit into the wall directly over the spot you marked earlier, it will make putting the screws in easier for you.

You can also do this on the wall rack or shelf itself if there isn’t already a designated hole for your screws to go through.

Now, double check that everything is level and screw your new coat rack in!