Are you hearing bells ringing from afar? Is the cold winter breeze starting to make you shiver? It is still a few months away but we all know that Christmas is just around the corner! It is this time of the year that coats are not only a fashion statement but also a necessity. Winter could definitely be punishing especially to those places closer to the north, so keeping warm and toasty is necessary just to survive. The human body needs heat in order to survive. Extreme loss of which may lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and eventually death.

Coats are the next best thing we have to keep us warm when a fireplace or a nice hot cup of coco isn’t around. We still need to go to work or school even when the streets are already covered in fluffy white snow and coats will keep us warm outside (we sure can’t bring fire torches around these days!). Coats can provide exceptional comfort and warmth outside our home, but can surely bring a sloppy disaster inside!

Coats as we know are occasional pieces of clothing – you don’t get to wear one the whole year (unless you live in Northern Canada or Alaska). The biggest question when it comes to wearing coats in the cold season is, where do you put these coats when you’re inside your home? You don’t want to wear them inside the home unless you don’t have a heater at home. Wearing thick coats outside will inevitably absorb moisture from all the damp climate, mush, and snow you can encounter. Snow may be as they are outside, white, flaky, and cold; but they can instantly turn into wet, slippery slush inside the house. Laying coats on to chairs, and various pieces of furniture will only cause a puddle of mess and eventually soak your precious Italian sofas or Persian carpet.

Hiding away damp coats inside your closet or understairs storage can cause molds and other nasty and unwanted growths blossom into a miniature mushroom farm on one of your precious coats. Moisture, darkness, and cold temperature are ideal conditions for mold to grow.

Do you see where this is going? You would want to purchase a nice and sturdy coat rack that efficiently holds all the coats and hats of the family on one convenient space that is airy to prevent growth of molds. Coat trees are easy to tuck away into any corner of the house, as wall coat racks can easy be mounted to any wall, or door.

Though wood racks can easily win this contest if the criteria is classical beauty, metal coat trees or racks are a worthy and sturdy alternative to the more popular wood. Metal coat racks are especially more durable than wood when it comes to moist or wet conditions. Wood tends to “sweat” with the moisture from the cold climate outside and the warmth from inside your home which will eventually cause deterioration of the material. Wood is also susceptible to pests and aging. Metal coat racks, especially stainless steel and chrome coat racks, are essentially weather and rust proof, as most metal coat trees and wall mounted metal racks have specially deoxidizing paint. Plus, whenever your iron or steel coat rack gets stained, you can just easily wipe it off.

There is quite a variety of metal coat racks to choose from based on the material used. Some of the most popular kinds are the iron coat racks, steel coat racks, and chrome coat racks.

Iron coat racks are most commonly made from wrought iron because the art and science of shaping iron by hand adds a more rustic and stylish feel to any coat rack. When it comes to classical beauty and elegance, wrought iron is a worthy adversary to the much preferred wood. Wrought iron coat racks display an intricacy that stiff wood is limited into doing. Intricate scrollwork is exemplified in the Southern Enterprises Umbrella Stand Coat Rack (HP3192). This beautiful coat tree will not only hold your winter coats but your hearts as well. Its classic looks accentuated with masterful scrollwork makes it a beautiful addition to any entryway or living room. The beautiful wrought ironwork is featured on the main coat racks and are repeated through the umbrella basket and broad 4-leg base.

Steel and chrome coat racks commonly have a more contemporary appeal, and is the choice of most modern furniture designers because of the versatility, creativity, and simplicity steel and chrome can bring.

In the vast history of metal, steel cued the eventual disappearance of wrought iron in industrial use because steel is much more durable and weather-proof. Steel, particularly stainless steel, is widely used today in various industries such as kitchens, homes, and even building facades because of its inherent characteristic of being deterrent to corrosion. Not only is steel very sturdy, but is stylish and relatively easy to form as well. One of the most outstanding steel coat racks today is the Born in Sweden Coat Rack that simply welds ingenuity, creativity, and functionality into one minimalist piece. Crafted from a single sheet of powder-coated steel (available in a variety of colors!), this wall mounted steel coat rack features hooks that are seemingly “peeled” from the wall it hangs from. Eccentric and chic, it can hold coats of different sizes and thicknesses without bending itself out of shape.

Lastly, chrome adds an extra luster to any piece of metal furnishing. Chrome plating is a technique where a thin layer of chromium is applied onto a metal surface, in this case is a metal coat rack. Chrome can easily make any metal glimmer more than usual, prevent corrosion better, increase surface hardness, and ease cleaning, as if cleaning steel coat racks isn’t easy enough. The Safco Costumer is one of the leading chrome coat racks out there that exemplifies the luster of chrome, as well as its sturdiness. This beautiful chrome coat rack features a full chrome-plated body, including the hooks and the ball tips that prevent damage to any of your precious garments.

Having a metal coat rack at home not only saves you space from all the clutter from coats, but the versatile material, may it be wrought iron, steel, or chrome, gives a home a nice classic, colorful, simplistic, or lustrous touch.

Autumn is nearing halfway, and we all know what comes next to autumn – winter! Sooner or later, great white and fluffy snow will be falling down from the sky filling up the streets and yards. Sooner and later still, your children will be going out to the yard, building snowmen, creating snow angels, and starting snowball fights with other children. After all the chaos they wreak outside, kids will rush in back home when they feel tired or cold.

Simply put, children + snow = catastrophe inside the house.

It can be tough teaching your kids the proper way of storing their winter clothes. Children would just dump their damp coats, wet boots and gloves right at the entryway, causing lodged snow to melt and cause a puddle of cold water right in your wooden or carpeted entryway that could potentially cause slips and mishaps, mold growth, and flooring damage. To prevent such incidents, you need one coat rack that can accommodate your whole family’s winter coats.

Maybe you do have a coat rack, but unfortunately is too tall for your still growing kid. Luckily there are coat racks appropriate for your children. Children’s coat racks are ideal for growing kids because these racks have heights befitting your child. It is good to invest for a kid coat rack, so he/she can emulate what adults do in his/her own capacity. Having a child’s coat rack at the entryway or at the kid’s own bedroom will teach the child the responsibility of keeping clothes tidy and dry by allowing him to independently arrange his own coats, scarves, or hats. Below are a few suggestions of the best children’s coat racks today.

Kid Kraft offers a rather classical option for a child’s coat rack. The Kid Kraft Clothes Pole feature a traditional coat rack design that teaches the kids the importance of organizing coats in a way that they can emulate what they see from adults. This sturdy kids coat rack is made from MDF and Rubberwood, and features four separate ball-tipped notches that can hold heavy backpacks, hats, and of course, thick winter coats. This kid’s coat rack is also available in 12 fun colors your child can choose from.

Another children’s coat rack that puts the ‘fun’ in functional is the Teamson Kids Animal Stool with Coat Rack. This unique kid’s stool features an integrated coat rack at the seat’s back rest, so it should provide some place your child can take off his/her boots after he/she sets his/her coat firmly on the giraffe’s or zebra’s ears!

Last and not the least, Scratch Europe present a variety of wall mounted coat racks that feature peeping animals such as cows and dogs. Scratch Europe wall mounted kids coat racks are made with a rustic yet colorful touch, made to emanate that warm and ‘farmy’ feeling. Ideal for small spaces and behind doors.

Every children’s coat racks mentioned above are made from childproof material and painted with a non-toxic finish. All hooks are also ball-tipped, so no sharp points can come into contact to the kids’ little hands nor fuzzy coats.

Coats are very seasonal, aren’t they?

It is not all year round one gets to wear a jacket or a coat, as these garments are meant to give us a feeling of warmth and coziness, which makes coats and jackets inherently unnecessary during the hot summer months – unless you live in Alaska or Greenland. For those who live in places otherwise stated, coats are kept hidden in a dark closet somewhere either under the stairwell, behind boxes in the bedroom closet, or even inside a dust covered creaky trunk in the attic.

When we see leaves falling and hear Christmas bells ringing, it only means we should ready our trusty pea coats, fur coats, sweaters, gloves, mitten, and hats for the upcoming cold weeks. Coat racks would miraculously come back to life after months of serving the household as a mere entryway ornament.

But when the season ends, what would happen to your coat rack?

You’d have to store EVERYTHING away again into your dark and creepy closet until that time of the year that you need one again. Sick and tired of the same old routine? Having a coat rack bench would be the essential addition to your home.

A coat rack bench would easily be a more practical and convenient choice especially for homes who have a rather spacious entryway. This piece of furniture combines the sturdy standing coat rack, orderly coat rack shelf, and handy storage trunk, all in one fantastic piece of functional yet stylish piece of entryway furniture.

As stated earlier, coats are very seasonal, and it is not everyday you get to wear one. Coats have to be tucked in crammed closets during those months you don’t need one, but when the time comes, you’d feel like Indian Jones searching for the lost covenant finding your favorite pea coat. Searching for coats you and your family have not used for almost a year could be quite a challenging task.

Having a coat rack bench eliminates the need to enter your bat cave of Halloween costumes, Christmas decorations, swimwear, and scary blinking dolls just to find the other pair of your mitten. Coat rack benches feature a storage trunk where you can simply tuck in coats and other garments whenever not in use. So whenever you forget how the year passes by, or an unprecedented heavy rain struck the town, you know where to find the right garment for the right occasion.

Plus, a coat rack with storage bench also doubles as a bench where you can easily slip into or off your snow shoes. Everyone knows how hard it is to remove those tall ice boots, especially those ones with so many laces. Trying to untie them standing or crouching will be painstakingly difficult, awkwardly unbalancing, and painful for your back. At least a handy storage bench lets you sit down and take a nice warm breather before you decide to remove your boots.

Coat rack benches will simply make your life easier and start the holidays with an ice-melting smile.

An entryway bench coat rack will look best as a classical piece of furniture. Classical pieces naturally emanate a warm atmosphere, because of the intricate wood carvings, styles, and wood finish.

When it comes to classical coat rack benches, nothing could possibly be more classical and rustic than the Powell French Country Hall Tree Storage Bench. This graceful wooden coat rack with storage bench provides a welcoming seat, rack, and shelf for anyone who comes home from punishing rain or icy winds. Lined beadboard pattern accentuate the back panels and bench for a nostalgic look. Furthermore, mirrored panels accentuate the top panel giving a somewhat ‘window’ effect. Antique bronze hooks will hold all your heavy coats, scarves, and hats while a large storage chest hides away all unused garments intact and in style. The coat rack and bench is available in a warm French Maple finish accented with Dark Pewter finish.

A much simpler yet just as beautiful option is the Coat Rack with Storage Bench by Home Styles. This practical entryway bench coat rack features a wood-grill detailing and beveled edge crown that provide a rather unique, rustic, warm, and spacious feel to any foyer. Four brass hooks not only provide aesthetics but also holds thick coats firmly. A coat rack bench is not complete without a bench, of course. This piece features an inset bench complimented with beadboard panels that provide a nice visual character. The solid hardwood construction with a cottage oak finish provides a warm ambiance perfect for the cold season.

Coat racks serve a practical function to every home, especially in the cold months of Autumn and Winter. Coat racks serve as a designated place for your hats, scarves, gloves, umbrellas, jackets, and of course, coats. A humble coat rack is a nice addition to any home, as it can be used as a nice storage rack, and an entryway complimentary piece as well.

Coat racks are best placed in any house’s entryway for convenience, so whenever one enters the home, he/she can immediately place it at the most available coat hook. This especially comes into play during rainy or snowy days. You don’t want anyone walking around the house searching for something or somewhere they can hang or lay their soaking wet coats! Not only will it cause a trickling maze of water droplets, but it can also potentially cause nasty accidents, molds, and/or deterioration on your newly polished hardwood floor. Don’t think that carpeted floor is safe – wet carpeted floors can harbor molds when left untreated!

Coat racks gives you a place to dry your jackets in open air, and if it causes quite a spill, you can easily clean it up because the mess is all in one area. Plus, coat racks let you find and wear the coat you want unlike in a shady dark understair closet. Closets are not a practical storage option whenever it is ‘coat season’. Isn’t it just tiring (and quite scary) opening the creaking closet door, diving into a mess in hopes of finding the jacket you want? If you happen to luckily find the coat you’re looking for, you realize it has that nasty musty closet odor.

Coat racks not only are practical and convenient, but are even pretty enough to be conversational pieces – especially the antique one. Antique coat stands, antique coat racks, or antique coat trees, are the fanciest pieces of furniture one home can ever have in its entrance. Antique coat racks do not come short of intricacy as most antique pieces are carve by hand, or wrought by hand (in case of iron coat racks). Contemporary styled coat racks exemplify minimalism and does not appeal to all ages or demographics, unlike intricate antique ones that leaves anyone speechless, including children. Plus, antique coat racks can easily match any home furnishing, unlike contemporary coat racks where they are only applicable to modern interiors. Lucky for you today, antique styled coat racks are available in the market today. You no longer have to search backroads for unique antique shops to get one coat rack; many manufacturers today produce coat racks with an antique finish such as antique cherry or espresso. But if you plan on buying an authentically antique coat rack, not only will you be buying a unique piece of furniture, but also a piece of history.

There basically are two kinds of antique coat rack styles – the first one is the hallway coat tree, and the coat bench.

Antique coat trees are the more common ones you see at home or at furniture shops. Antique coat trees are characterized by tall and narrow stands with pegs or ‘branches’ that stick out that are capable of holding coats, sweaters, hats, and other garments. Some antique coat stands also feature a lower basket designed to hold items like umbrellas and canes (particularly iron ones). One antique (styled) coat racks available today that beautifully displays a spirit of antiquity is the Powell Barrier Reef Coat Rack in a classic nut brown finish. This antique coat tree is filled with old-world character and charm through beautifully detailed bentwood that warmly welcomes any family member or guest. Iron is another antique material that is still commonly used to reproduce antique styled furnishings today. One of which is the rustic and graceful Southern Enterprises Iron Standing Coat Rack that features intricate scrollwork and an integrated umbrella rack at the lower.

The other type of antique coat stands is the coat bench or valet style coat rack. This coat rack features a bench where one can take a nice seat while taking his/her boots off after a long walk in the snow. It normally features a tall back wall with antique coat rack hooks (commonly made from brass) that can support event he heaviest of winter coats. Plus, antique coat benches have storage spaces under the bench, so you can tuck in or out coats and scarves at arm’s reach whenever you need one. The French Country Hall Tree Storage Bench is a graceful antique coat rack bench that has the size and charm of a china cabinet influenced with rustic French styling. This beautifully antique styled coat bench features antique coat rack hooks made from bronze situated below a series of mirrored panels.

For an entryway with character, sophistication, and organization, an antique coat rack is the perfect crowning jewel.

In the upcoming cold seasons, a coat is the best friend we can rely on to keep us warm all through put the day or night whenever we have to go outside to go to work, go to the grocery, or shop for holiday presents.

In order to keep our precious coats in good condition all through out the season, the coats should always be free from moisture and dirt, and it is necessary to keep these coats somewhere with heat and open air to avoid the build up of nasty mold. Storing coats in closets is a big mistake, and letting coats lie around furniture, floor, or stair handrails will make your home a clutter disaster.

The best option for any homeowner is by using coat racks, wooden coat racks to be exact. Why wood? Wood is sturdy, reliable, durable, and can almost last forever.

Wooden coat racks would beautifully accent homes with traditional and classical styling. Wood furniture on its own adds a detail of warmth and nostalgia to any home. However, wooden coat racks would not have the same aesthetic appeal when it comes to homes with a rather modern and contemporary styling.

Modern homes tend to be simplistic, colorful, and playful as opposed to a more conservative, and composed classic home. Modern styling also are a lot more inclined to rather alternative materials like concrete, plastic, and a lot of steel. But modernist architecture does not limit itself from not utilizing the sheer beauty and durability of wood. Modern styling adds twists to classical wooden coat racks that transcend classical to modern. Listed below are the 5 of the best wooden coat racks for your home, whether it has a rustic and classical, or playful and modern appeal.

1. Powell Wooden English Country Standing Coat Rack

For a classical and elegant touch to any home entryway, living room, or bed room; the Powell Wooden English Country Standing Coat Rack is one of the best additions. The beautifully fluted carved wood emanates class and sophistication only choice skilled craftsmen can ever produce.

Beautifully crafted from Chinese Maple with a vintage Aged English Brown finish, the English Country Standing Coat Rack excels not only in durability but in sheer beauty too. The scrolled iron hooks not only are functional but adds the cherry on top of the proverbial cake. This wooden coat rack can hold at least four coats and four hats too. It is also one of the easiest coat racks to assemble! It only need a few tweaks using common household tools as the Powell Wooden English Country Standing Coat Rack comes partially assembled. No power tools needed! Plus, it can be yours in a very reasonabl price of $100.

2. Adesso Contour Wooden Standing Coat Rack

This particular contoured piece will make you think twice if what you are looking at is actually wood. It actually is wood. The unique contour feature that seemingly can only be done using steel, can be done using treated bentwood. Bentwood is a process that involves steaming wood, bending it to the desired shape, and letting it harden to maintain that shape. This technique has been popularized in the 19th Century and is still a popular furniture style today.

The clean and smooth Scandinavian styled bentwood rods are beautifully contrasted by three satin steel pegs. The bowed wood legs are slightly broader than the top for stability. The sheer simplicity of the Adesso Contour imposes modernist undertones despite its classical styling.

Not only is the Adesso Contour Wooden Standing Coat Rack gorgeous, it is an excellent space saver too. This gorgeous melting pot of modernist and classical design can be yours for only $129.99.

3. Parker Hat and Coat Stand

The Parker Hat and Coat Stand combines the two prominent design features of the former – bentwood and fluted woodwork.

The Parker wooden coat rack is made from rubberwood – a relative new-comer in the wood industry. Rubberwood is considered as an environmentally friendly wood, as it is currently abundant and highly sustainable. Rubberwood is known to be a relatively flexible kind of wood (hence the name, rubberwood), as it can easily warp. This characteristic of the wood is what makes the Parker Hat and Coat Stand stand out, as the beautiful bentwood technique is exemplified in the bowed wood legs that provide superb stability. The bentwood handiwork is accentuated by beautiful fluted carvings and an equally gorgeous walnut finish that adds warmth to any entryway or living space. This wooden hat and coat rack can hold at least four coats and four hats, plus it can also hold your umbrellas too.

The Parker Hat and Coat Stand is priced at $171.

4. Oxford Varsity Coat Rack by Authentic Models

This nautically themed wooden coat rack is one of the most fun pieces to have in any home, especially when there are men who are involved in seafaring, or children in the family. The Oxford Varsity Coat Rack by Authentic Models features three varsity oars joined at the top by an antique bronze accent. The beautiful distressed French finish of this coat rack give it a weathered and authentic look – it looks like the oars have been rowing the seas for years before somebody decided to retire them as coat racks!

The antique brass accents are not only used to join the oars together but also serve as the hooks for your coats, bags, or hats. A beautiful fluted bulb towers the Oxford Varsity Coat Rack that subtly accentuates this unique wooden piece. A rattan key basket that keeps the oars at equal spaces all the time adds a more rustic touch.

Perfect for coastal homes or beach houses, the Oxford Varsity Coat Rack is available for only $284.95.

5. Ligne Rosset Tout Seul Coat Rack

With any rule, of course, there comes an exemption. The French-made Ligne Rosset Tout Seul Coat Rack is a modern rack yet because of its “simplistically sophisticated” design and material, it can easily transcend from modern to classical in a heartbeat.

Probably the most unassuming piece of furniture ever made, this wooden coat rack features a plain standing oak rod carved with 4 prongs at the top which can hold at least 4 coats, and a solid cast-iron base. Created by renowned Belgian furniture designer Vincent Olm, the Tout Seul just emanates artistic functionality. It basically is a a wooden rod impaled on an iron stand, and it exemplifies the wooden coat rack in its simplest form possible, with the least material and room space needed. The Ligne Rosset Tout Seul Coat Rack is the marriage between the past and present, classic and modern.

You can tell that summer is officially over when leaves start to wither and fall; and the cold, COLD, air blows on your skin and gives you goosebumps. Autumn comes in quite abruptly – one day, you were on the beach dipping your toes; the next day you are stuck at home crinkling your nose. Before you know it, snow is falling down from heaven.

In this cold (and wet) weather, thick coats are lifesavers. When it comes to these cold days (especially on those upcoming snowy days), coats are the only things that can keep your body all toasty and warm. Cold and wet weather is such a hassle.

When you arrive home and your coat thaws off from the home heater, snow immediately melts into water and makes your coat soaking wet in different spots. You would not opt to throw it to the washer just yet, because it would be such a waste of a good coat and water.

You just can’t let coats lie around or hang around chairs, sofas, or stair handrails because they just won’t dry up. Putting them inside closets will also just grow molds and ruin your precious coats.

A standing coat rack would be the best option for you. A standing coat rack, or more commonly known as a coat tree, not only is a very convenient and practical addition to your living room, doorway, backdoor, or bedroom, it is also adds a very stylish touch too. Here are top 5 simple coat trees you can see on the market today.

1. Chiasso Curves Coat Rack

Modern furniture has been a choice for homeowners in the recent years because of the simplistic yet very functional design. Modern furniture not only gives out a chic ambiance, but also make any room feel and look more spacious. The Chiasso Curves Coat Rack doesn’t fail to deliver the contemporary look and feel for a standing coat rack.

This sexy coat tree not only has the capability to carry 6 coats simultaneously, but it also has a receptacle for umbrellas, and your shopping bags too. The coat hooks are curved into rings for more coat support and a more stylish look. This contemporary coat tree is made of stainless steel that makes the Chiasso Curves Coat Rack a very lightweight, durable, and weather-proof coat tree. You’ll be sure that this rack can withstand the harshest weather the holidays can ever bring. For a modern standing coat rack, it can be yours at a relatively cheap price of only $78.

2. Harri Korhonen Tripla Coat Rack by Inno

The Harri Korhonen Tripla Coat Rack by Inno is a piece of furniture where design meets innovation. This unique coat tree is actually three coat trees in one, hence the name Tripla. The unique design of this standing coat rack features three individual wood rods that are inclined towards each other, held together by a central console wood. The three rod can be used as individual coat racks by using a separate freestanding base.

The most unique feature of the Tripla is the innovative ‘crown hooks’ which can ideally hold 6 items (therefore, the Tripla can hold up to a minimum of 18 coats!) at once. The polyurethane crown hooks can also be mounted on walls as a freestanding holder for small items like hats, keys, mobile phones, etc. Price for the very stylish and innovative Harri Korhonen Tripla Coat Rack by Inno is available upon request to the manufacturer.

3. Vincent Olm Tout Seul Coat Rack by Ligne Rosset

If it is simplicity, functionality, and eccentric you are looking for; then the Vincent Olm Tout Seul Coat Rack is definitely the standing coat rack that can quench your thirst from simplistic and artistic modernity.

Probably the most ‘unpretentious’ standing coat rack you can ever see, the Tout Seul coat tree could not even be deciphered as a coat rack at first look. The standing coat rack features a plain standing oak baton carved with 4 prongs at the top which can hold at least 4 coats, and a solid cast iron base – it basically is a stick on an iron stand! It is a standing coat rack in its simplest, naked form – no fuss, no thrills, no frills, as simple and plain as a coat rack can be. The oak rod also stands at an angle which adds a touch of sophistication to this very unassuming piece of furniture. Price is available upon request to the manufacturer.

4. Victor Klassen Tree Coat Rack

This particular coat tree takes the word to a more literal level. When Victor Klassen says it is a Tree Coat Rack, well it is a tree coat rack. The Victor Klassen Tree Coat Rack lifts the boredom out of the classic and typical looks of standing coat racks by fashioning a coat tree that looks like a tree with scaled-down branches that reach upward. The branches also feature the Klassen signature flow to make the branches look to wave upward. Interestingly, the branches also look like reindeer antlers – which would also make this piece a nice holiday decoration.

With a natural wood finish, The Victor Klassen Tree Coat Rack is one of the most stylish and modern standing coat racks that can be an essential addition to any home. Among the many eccentric yet simplistic furniture pieces by Victor Klaseen, this standing coat rack is the most beloved and talked about by customers. The Victor Klassen Tree Coat Rack can be yours for $950.

5. Swedese Tree Coat Rack by Huset

As if the Victor Klassen Tree Coat Rack was not too ‘literal’ for you, the Huset Swedese Tree Coat Rack puts on a more literal ‘tree’ facade. This somewhat cartoonish two dimensional wooden standing coat rack looks like more like a simple home ornament, but actually serves as a fully functional yet classy coat tree. Its reindeer antler-like branches can hold coats, hats, and scarves sturdily. And with its wide base, you are sue that the Swedese Tree Coat Rack will never tip over.

This innovative coat tree comes in two versions – freestanding and wall mounted. The freestanding version comes with a steel plated base for stability. The wall mounted version has wall support located near the base so coats can freely cover the ‘branches’, and the tree can remain ‘planted’ on the floor.

The Swedese standing coat rack comes at as a “junior” or as an “adult” tree. The Swedese Tree Coat Rack is available for $630.

Coat racks are essential pieces of furniture to keep your coats dry and mold-free especially during the cold seasons where we virtually can’t leave home without wearing a coat. However, standing coat racks can consume precious space, especially for smaller sized homes or building apartments. Plus, coats are very seasonal – you do not get to wear one all year round, especially during Spring and Summer where the sun will be unforgivably scorching hot.

You want to purchase a nice sturdy coat rack but you just do not have ample space or reason for one. A wall mounted coat rack with shelf could just be the right solution for you. Why choose a wall mounted coat rack? Well, if space is the biggest challenge to your home, then a wall mounted coat rack is the best space saving home accessory for you. It does not use up any valuable floor space, plus it only consumes about 35 inches of any wall or door in your living room, kitchen, entryway, or bed room. Combining the coat rack with the functionality of a shelf allows you to use the coat rack all through out the year without letting this piece of furniture gather dust and cobwebs.

So what would be great shelf and coat rack innovations for your home?

The Prepac Sonoma Entryway Cubbie Shelf and Coat Rack is one of the best looking coat rack with shelf in the market today. Available in four classy finishes (black, espresso, oak, maple) it can virtually fit in any interior arrangement prominently, or otherwise subtly. The Prepac Sonoma shelf and coat rack features three individual storage cubbies where you can hide away hats, gloves, coats, and other items whenever in use or not. Its four large double hooks are sturdy enough to hold the heaviest of coats or bags.

For a more contemporary look, try out the Safco Contempo Wall Coat Rack, which features a simplistic one piece shelf in a warm mahogany finish. The updated design of the Safco Contempo Wall Coat Rack adds style and functionality to any entryway, living room, bed room, or even office. The satin aluminum coat hooks on the Contempo are not pointed, but instead are conical in shape that adds protection to your coats from accidental tearing. They actually look like giant push pins! Let us not forget about the integrated shelf feature. The shelf can hold almost anything which range from your umbrellas, mobile devices, hats, gloves, and can even be used as a book shelf!

Coat Rack Bench

A coat rack bench combines all the style and functionality that a conventional standing coat rack, a coat rack shelf, and a storage trunk all in one fantastic piece of furniture.

As said earlier, coats are very seasonal, and you do not get to wear one all year round. You only get to wear one during cold and wet climate. Coats can easily be tucked away inside closets but whenever you need one, it can be a daunting task. Entering your dark and clunky closet is like entering a cave full of unrequited mystery – it can make you feel like your Mike and Frank from an episode of American Pickers. But you’re not picking, you’re simply getting the right stuff for the right moment.

Coat rack benches eliminates the need to enter your thwarted bat cave and lets you go on through the day warm and dry with a smile on your face. Coat rack benches provide an easy access storage where you can instantly tuck in seasonal clothing such as pea coats, rain coats, scarves, bonnets, gloves, etc. The storage box feature not only serves as containers but as your resting/changing bench as well.

As in the French Country Hall Tree Storage Bench, this graceful wood coat rack bench serves as a coat rack, storage trunk, and a seat, all in one piece of furniture. This coat rack bench or ‘hall tree’ may consume quite some space because of its sheer size (the size of a China cabinet or bedroom dresser), but you can never pass out the sheer welcoming warmth it can bring to any home entryway.

The French Country Hall Tree is embellished with beautiful antique bronze finished hooks where you can hang at least 5 coats, hats, scarves, or bags. For a further sophisticated look, the top panel is accentuated with mirrored panels, and the top ‘crown’ can also serve as an additional shelf. Every French Country Hall Tree Storage Bench is hand-finished too.

For another great welcoming piece to any classical home, the Treasure Hall Tree is yet another contender. Like the French Country Hall Tree, this coat rack doubles as a seat/storage trunk. It also has a mirrored panel above the aluminum hooks that can hold at least five coats, umbrellas, hats, and whatnots. It has a subtle top crown where you can also store various objects or display plants, photographs, or other valuable collectibles.

Modern Coat Rack

Digressing from the typical classical styling of classical coat racks, modern coat racks add a dash of attitude, playfulness, and sophistication to any home.

Modern design commonly upholds the following characteristics:

‘form follows function’,  elimination of unnecessary details; minimalist, ‘truth to materials’,  adoption of industrially produced materials, visual expression of structure; exposure of vertical and horizontal lines

Modernism embodies architectural minimalism, which means that everything should be highly simplistic yet very stylish and functional at the same time. A piece of modern furniture’s form must faithfully follow the function of the piece. For example, if a coat rack is made to look like a coat rack, then it must be a coat rack, etc.

Modern coat racks are extremely visually appealing, and can even serve as independent works of art on their own when not in use. It is already an established fact that coats are seasonal, so in order for coat racks to be efficient, they should serve other purposes other than just hold coats.

Take into consideration the Symbol Coat Rack by Desu Design – not only is it a coat rack during the cold or rainy days, it can hang alone as a purely aesthetic piece during the coatless months of summer. It features a simplistic white horizontal panel that consists of 9 either colorful or monochrome drop down latches that serve as your coat hooks. These vertical lines are not spaced equally just to give it an artistic depth. The latches are made from anodized metal – the same material they use on carabiners suitable for mountain climbing. If full-sized adults rely their lives on anodized metal clips, you can be sure that these anodized hooks can support any coat no matter how heavy it can be.

The Performa Garderobe is yet another modern coat rack that lives a double life. Functional as a coat rack and shelf, aesthetic as an abstract piece of art on its own. The Garderobe wall mounted coat rack features a square back panel accentuated with horizontal lines that run across the board. The horizontal lines not only serve as design but actually are nonrestrictive slots where you can attach adjustable hooks, clothes rails, and shelf, just about anywhere on the linoleum board. The hooks and shelves are made from stainless steel that adorns the linoleum panel no matter what color it is from the available 16 finishes.

Wrought Iron Coat Rack

Wood isn’t the only material that just emanates nostalgia and class – so is wrought iron. Wrought iron is an iron alloy that has a very low carbon content which makes it very fibrous. This fibrous consistency of wrought iron gives it a “grain” that can resemble wood, which can be very visible when the iron is etched or bent to the extent of near breakage. Wrought iron is very tough, and unlike wood, is highly malleable and ductile.

Throughout history, wrought iron is on of the most common iron products to be used commercially. It was mainly used in manufacturing nuts, bolts, wires, chains, rivets, horseshoes, handrails, roof trusses, ornamental ironwork, swords, cutlery, axes, chisels, springs, files, and other edged tools. By the 1860s, wrought iron was also used in the construction of ironclad warships and railways.

What’s the difference between wrought iron and cast iron? Well, the names are a giveaway – cast iron products are created by using casts to mold iron while wrought iron products are created by being worked (wrought) by hand.

Wrought iron is commonly used in classic furniture pieces such as coat racks (standing or wall mounted), but in modern furnishings as well.

One of the most popular wrought iron standing coat racks would be the CBK Limited Casa Cristina Tuscan Wrought Iron Coat Tree, which embodies elegance and simplicity. Inspired by Emmy Award winning television journalist Cristina Saralegui, this standing coat rack emanates the style, charm and sophistication Saralegui shares with his viewers. At first glance, the Tuscan Wrought Iron Coat Tree looks like a lamp post that ideally fits in with some cobbled street somewhere in London. With this wrought iron coat tree, you can bring nostalgia right into your home.

The Southern Enterprises Scroll Hall Tree just emanates sheer elegance through its intricate hand-finished scrollwork design. Rustic and very graceful, this wrought iron standing coat rack is not only beautiful but very functional too. The Southern Enterprises Scroll Hall Tree features 16 intricate decorative scrolls around the top that doubles as coat hooks which can not only hold coats of any size or thickness, but hats, and bags as well.

The lower rack is divided into four sections where you can easily and effortlessly organize umbrellas and other items. The scrolled base is broader to provide stability. The Southern Enterprises coat rack is available in a classy black finish that can suitably complement any home design, interior or exterior.

Metal Coat Rack

Metal is one of the primary materials used in modern furniture because of its flexibility, malleability, and industrial beauty. Metal can also be cheaper than would yet would not fall back when it comes to reliability and durability. With the threat of deforestation due to overlogging and illegal logging at hand, wood is steadily becoming more precious and it would be wasteful in a way to use wood for coat racks when we could use metal instead.

Metal may not be at the same league as wood when it comes to class and sophistication, but metal is beautiful and sophisticated in its own way when shaped, molded, worked, and wielded properly.

The fascinating characteristic of metal is that, it can almost be molded, folded, flexed, bended, or cut into almost any form or shape. The Pulpo Drop just exemplifies the creativity one can exert into making a metal coat rack. This fun wall mounted coat rack appears to be dripping liquid right off your wall! This would be a fun accent to any home that houses residents that want to live a unique and spunky lifestyle.

Each ‘drip’ on the Pulpo Drop features an integrated hook where you can hang your coats, keys, hats, etc. Leaving it empty as it is during the coatless Summer season would just be as fun and perfect! It is also available in different sizes from small ones for gloves or mittens, to extra large ones for coats and just about everything!

Another eccentric, artistic, and minimalist metal coat rack creation is the Born in Sweden Coat Rack which features hooks that are seemingly “peeled” from the wall itself. Crafted from a single sheet of rigid, powder-coated steel, this interesting piece will not only hold coats, scarves, and hats for you, it can also hold your imagination. The clean lines on this coat rack can complement any modern interior. The varied hook sizes and depths also allows you to hang coats of various sizes and thickness. The Born in Sweden Coat Rack is available in 5 sleek finishes – black, white, red, green, and purple.

Suitable for any entryway or children’s bedroom is the Invotis Orange Studio Coat Hanger that takes its inspiration from paper men cut-outs that joined hands to form a human chain. This innovative and fun wall mounted coat rack may seem like a funny joke, but this unassuming metal wall accessory can hold onto almost anything given to the 5 intertwined men – coats, shawls, scarves, hats, bags, etc. It can even hold on to your good day too.

Utilizing Coat Racks in its Max

Bring Your ‘No-Hassle’ Portable Coat Rack

Fall is already in full swing and you may never know by tomorrow it’s already winter! If you have been bearing the chill of autumn wearing sweaters and jackets, you’ll surely be freezing in the cold winter weather. Remember last year’s winter chaos? Tons of snow fell especially on the city of New York – everything was heavily covered in thick white powder, and the streets were laminated with ice. Every automobile was either immobilized in snow like mud, or are either dangerously drifting through the streets like giant metal hockey pucks inside a labyrinthine pinball machine.

Besides the dangers and ruckus caused by the immense snowfall, of course it was cold – very cold. In the UK, it was even stated as the coldest winter they experienced in 30 years. Winter is an icy paradise, but it surely can be a frozen hell in an instant. The worst part with winter is we still need to go out the house to do errands, go to school, or go to work. Nobody wants to spend ten minutes outside in the cold. That’s why we layer in our clothes as thick as possible just to keep ourselves from getting colds, or even frostbite or hypothermia. If you have coats tucked in somewhere in your hall closet or attic, it probably is the right time to rummage the depths of your storage for them.

Coats are obviously seasonal – you can’t wear your fur coat, pea coat, or ‘marshmallow’ coat in the middle of summer – that’s just plain crazy, plus you’ll probably sweat half of your weight off! Coats are bulky and heavy, so they should be at arm’s reach whenever they are called for duty. It is not advisable to hang snow-covered coats on furniture or inside closets – it will just destroy your furniture and coats too. What you need is a coat rack.

Why Not Make Your Own Coat Rack?

Many people are reluctant to purchase a trusty coat rack because coat racks can cost quite much, plus they’re seasonal. For about half a year, they’ll be standing (or hanging) in the same corner of the entryway gathering dust and cobwebs.

Why not instead of buying a coat rack, why not try building one? It will be a great DIY project for you that will be an item for functionality, but an output of your lurking creativity as well. Don’t be intimidated by the idea, you’re only building a coat rack, not a house.

Building a coat rack only needs basic carpentry skills and a few simple tools and materials. Wood is the easiest and probably most readily available material to work with. There are a variety of wood you can choose from, as long as you’re sure they’re sturdy enough to carry heavy coats.

But before heading to the nearest hardware store to purchase slabs of wood, you need to plan everything first. First and foremost, what kind of coat rack do you want? A coat tree or a wall mounted coat rack? Wall mounted coat racks are easier to create because a basic coat rack only involves a piece of wood that can act as the rack back panel, and a few hooks for your coat. Coat trees will need a whole lot more carpentry skills and tremendous craftsmanship in order to produce a functional yet good-looking coat tree.

Coat Tree

Coat trees are the more classical and traditional type of coat racks, as these are more stylish and popular. Coat racks can be conversational pieces on their own – especially hand-carved antique pieces. The coat tree basically has three parts – the post, the legs, and the hooks. The post is the main body of the tree, the ‘trunk’ of the tree. It is the element that gives the height of the coat rack, so your coats won’t be draping down the floor.

The legs are mainly for stability. You can build pegs from wood or simply build a wide base or wooden cross-section. If you feel creative, you can carve out intricate scrollwork or patterns on the legs.

The hooks are of course the devices that holds your coats, and it is the most important part of the tree. What’s a coat tree if it can’t hold coats, right? Hooks are readily available in hardware stores. Hooks meant for doors are perfect for this project as you are working with wood anyway.  Alternatively, you can employ ‘branches’ and play with the concept of your coat tree being a ‘tree’. Instead of installing hooks, why not install extra appendages made from wood to emulate a tree. It doesn’t have to look like an actual tree!

Wall-mounted Coat Racks

As said earlier, wall-mounted coat racks will be a whole lot easier as this doesn’t involve stability – all you need is a heavy duty wall (or door) to hang your coats. A wall-mounted coat rack basically has two simple parts – a back panel, and a hook. The back panel serves as a surface where you can attach all the necessary hooks.

Building one is an easy feat – just attach desired hooks to the wooden panel and attach the panel to the wall then voila! you now have a wall-mounted coat rack!

Building a coat tree or wall-mounted coat rack is relatively easy, so there is always an extra room for creativity. Be creative with using your material. Wood is very flexible in a way that you can virtually cut any shape with it. You can build a coat tree from one thick sheet of wood (less than an inch is enough as long as it won’t break from the weight of the coats), and cut it to look like a dried tree (to increase the number of branches) or even a reindeer!

When using hooks for either a coat tree or wall-mounted coat rack, instead of using ‘traditional’ hooks, why not recycle or upcycle some items you can virtually find around the house. Unused door knobs can be used as hooks, as well as old plastic animal figures and toys. You only need to screw them onto your wood surface or use heavy duty wood or industrial glue. You can also use halved bottles. For a more bizarre yet creative look, why not use doll limbs as hooks? These may look creepy, but if you take the phrase “the coat rack holding your coats” quite literally, wouldn’t that be ‘handy’?