4 Expert Tips To Choose Wall Hooks & Coat Racks

Are you tripping over coats, jackets, shoes, and scarves when you walk into your home? You can easily transform your entry way with a simple set of wall hooks or a beautiful coat rack to keep your floors clear of clutter and looking clean and organized. Below, we provide a list of five expert tips to help you choose the right colors and styles that best complement your home.

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Where do you place wall hooks and coat racks?

Wall hooks and coat racks are more than handy, functional items; most are designed with a personality of their own that can add style to any room inside your home. When choosing a wall hook or coat rack, consider the amount of space you have at your disposal as well as the number and type of items it will need to hold.

  • The most obvious location for wall hooks and coat racks is the entry way, as this is where you usually disrobe from winter clothes as you enter to bask in the warmth of your home. Here, it is crucial to remember that the coat rack is likely to hold a lot of weight, so if you choose a wall-mounted option, it will need to be installed properly (see Tip#4).
  • Restrooms tend to be tight spaces, so you could benefit from the use of single wall hooks for towel storage, for instance. Or, you can choose a set of wall hooks that are incorporated into a wall shelf. These fit nicely over toilets or up higher on your bathroom wall and can hold towels, loofahs, clothing, and even necklaces. The shelf offers extra space for you to store toilet paper, toiletries, or decorative items.
  • In the bedroom, you have more space to work with. Here, you can try a corner unit that incorporates hooks for clothing items, shelving toward the bottom for shoe storage, and space on top for additional storage of important items.
  • If you’re working with a large open space, consider a standing coat rack. These can be placed next to your couch and offer guests a convenient place for hats and scarves. Choosing the right material and color makes this practical furniture item a statement piece in and of itself.

How to select the perfect coat rack for your needs?

Consider your coat rack a finishing touch – or an accent piece. If you are currently working with shabby chic décor, for instance, a pastel-colored hook or rack with metal pieces will fit right into this style. If you want your coat rack to hide in the background, so to speak, you may want to choose a color that matches your walls. On the other hand, if you prefer clean walls or only have certain art pieces designated for your walls, you’ll benefit from the use of a standing rack – plus, this style is mobile so if you choose to move it to another room, it’s as easy as picking it up and setting it back down.

Consider how many coats, scarves, and hats will be hung on your rack. Accounting for family members is pretty easy, but also consider how many guests you may host at a time. This way, you have a good idea of the number of hooks you’ll be requiring.

Sometimes space is what limits you – if you have a small hall closet, for example, and want to try adding a coat rack inside it, a great option would be a corner wall-mounted coat rack. This style is quite literally easy to tuck away and offers six hooks on average (along with a little shelf space!). They’re designed to be space savers and fit perfectly into tiny closets.

Which wall hook and coat rack styles best complement your existing décor?

Knowing the different kinds of coat racks helps you when you’re searching for the ideal addition to your home or office space. Below we list seven of the most common styles than fall into two categories:

Standalone

This is the portable type you can move around your home as you please. It’s also the most iconic style. These look great in industrial and traditional environments.

  • Wooden Standalone– These do well in rustic environments, since they
    are available in gorgeous tones, like birch, oak, and mahogany.

  • Metal Standalone – These designs look fantastic in a minimalist environment. They are strong, so they can handle heavy items. They often come in stainless steel or aluminum, but you can find other metals, like brass. Brass would be great if you’re going for an industrial look.

  • Artisan Standalone– These racks will not just be functional; they are designed to add an artistic flair to any room. They may contain a mix of materials that include plastic, metal, and wood. Their appearance is often abstract – they fit well with different interior design styles, particularly eclectic environments.

Antique Black Metal Copper Freestanding Industrial Coat Rack
Chrome Freestanding Metal Coat Rack
Silver Metal Freestanding Coat Rack
French Vanilla Metal Freestanding Coat Rack
Gray Metal Solid Wood Freestanding Coat Rack
Stained And Lacquered Wood Freestanding Coat Tree
Dark Cherry Solid Wood Freestanding Coat Rack
Natural Metal Wood Freestanding Coat Rack

Wall-Mounted

These varieties are ideal for tight spaces, especially if you’ve been wondering what to do with a blank wall in your home. The sizes and shapes of these vary, so you’re sure to find the one that best fits your space. Often, these styles include a shelf, which allows you to add a little extra decoration to the room. Think vases, candles, and books.

  • Wooden Wall-Mounted – These styles not only save space, they’re a great addition to office environments.

  • Plastic Wall-Mounted – This type of rack is extremely budget-friendly. It’s ideal for kids’ rooms and can often be found in bright, bold colors that are attractive to the eye. They’re a very practical option when you are looking for a cost-effective solution. Contemporary and Bohemian styles can benefit from glossy, colorful, plastic accents.

  • Metal Wall-Mounted – This is a very durable coat rack option. When you’re looking for a rack that will last, go for metal. These look great in modern and contemporary styles and can also be used in industrial settings. Even a minimalist environment welcomes this style. It’s not only going to be worth your initial investment, it’s also incredibly versatile so even if you change up your décor in the future, you’ll still be able to use this rack.

  • Corner Wall-Mounted– As mentioned above, these little coat racks save space and fit into tiny rooms, like hall closets. If used in a larger room, however, they add a nice touch and draw your eyes to the corner in a natural way.

Black Solid Manufactured Wood Hanging Wall Hook
Antique Chestnut Birch Solid Wood Wall Mounted Coat Rack
Gold Plastic Metallic Coat Hook
White Plastic Manufactured Wood Wall Mounted Coat Rack
Black Metal Vintage Wall Mounted Coat Rack
White Rustic Metal Wall Mounted Coat Rack
Black Solid Manufactured Wood Metal Hanging Wall Rack
White Solid Manufactured Wood Floating Coat And Hat Wall Mounted Coat Rack

How do you attach a coat rack to the wall?

First, consider how much weight your coat rack will be holding at one time. For heavy winter items, you could be adding 20 lbs. at a time on a coat rack, so it will need to be securely screwed into the wall. To do this:

  • Locate a stud inside the wall wherever you will be hanging the rack. Make sure that when you knock against the wall, the sound is not hollow – if it’s hollow, look for another space on the wall. A stud finder is ideal for this process, but careful listening can also do the trick.
  • Mark the mounting holes on your wall and drill them.
  • Use plastic drywall anchors along with your screws and avoid tightening too much – this could cause the anchors to crack.
  • Once you’re all set up, test it out!

If your coat rack isn’t going to be holding any heavy items and you don’t want to drill holes into your wall, try using adhesive screws. These nifty little items protect your wall against unsightly holes and offer good support for your wall hooks or light coat racks. All you need to do is:

  • Clean the area thoroughly;
  • Remove the film from the adhesive screw;
  • Stick it onto your wall.

You’ll be using some extra adhesive to really secure the screws and you’ll also need to employ a bit of patience, as you’ll need to allow about 12 hours for it to dry. Keep in mind, these items work best on flat surfaces.

With all these options available for purchase and a few important guidelines to consider, you’ll have the perfect coat rack set up in your home in no time. We hope to have helped you along this journey and are excited that you’ll soon be enjoying a new addition to your space!

Jessica started out as an interior photographer, but her love of pretty settings took her to the field of interior design, where she can combine two of her greatest passions, creating and then capturing the beauty of homes.