Tackle that household coat mountain! 7 ways to take control
Are you guilty of feeding a coat mountain? It’s an easy habit to pick up – we shed our coat as soon as we walk through the front door and squeeze the hanging loop on to a hook already crammed with many others. As more and more coats get stacked on top of each other, the result is a bulging monster of hoods and sleeves, which can spill out on to the floor.
You’re not alone with this problem. Unless we take the time to sort through our jackets, parkas and raincoats, a coat mountain is inevitable – whether on a hook or over a banister. There are better ways to store your coats, so you can keep your favourites close to hand and still say goodbye to your coat mountain. Here are some of the best ways we’ve found.
Vasagle Wall Mounted Coat Rack
If floor space is precious in your home, a traditional coat rack might be the way to go. This design from Vasagle is our favourite: as well as five hooks, there’s a built-in shelf on top to make space for bags and hats. Plus, it stands out for featuring an extra rail from which you can hang a few items. The hooks are even removable if you just want to use the rail.
This is an ideal design if you need to hang one or two suit jackets near the door, which wouldn’t be suitable for the hooks. It’s also handy for the occasional bulky coat that might struggle to fit on a hook, such as a puffer jacket.
OHIYO 6Pcs Foldable Hooks
Another option is to invest in individual coat hooks, so you can decide exactly how many you want and where you want them to go. These hooks from Ohiyo are unique because they’re foldable when not in use, so they won’t protrude from your walls all the time. That means you won’t have to worry about catching yourself on them as you walk by! It also gives your walls a neater appearance.
When placing your hooks, it can help to set them at different heights to make the most of the wall space. This also gives any children a dedicated hook they can reach, which encourages them to hang their coats once home. Over-the-door hooks are also available, to make use of hidden space behind your doors.
VASAGLE Coat Rack with Stands
An oldie but a goodie, a coat stand is a traditional and often stylish way to store your coats by the front door. They can often hold umbrellas and hats, too, which gives you a one-stop station before leaving home.
This one’s a winner because it comes with a couple of shelves to hold a bag or two. Alternatively, you could put a storage basket at the bottom level to keep your accessories together. There’s even room to slide under a pair of shoes underneath.
This option is both super stylish and extremely practical for grabbing essentials before you go.
Klass Heavy Duty Clothes Rail
Some coats are better stored on a hanger rather than a hook, particularly if they’re structured, such as suit jackets, or feature easily wrinkled material, such as faux fur and suede.
You might prefer to stick to hangers in general; they’re better for air-drying coats if you’re caught in a downpour and can prevent musty smells.
This design from Klass is our favourite clothes rail because it provides two rails’ worth of storage (more than enough space to keep a clothes mountain under control).
There are also several shelves for shoes and bags, plus four dedicated coat hooks at the ends, which work for longer items. It’s an ideal design if you like to keep several coats near the front door.
Jenifer Hall Tree
A hallway unit, or hall tidier as they’re also known, combines coat and shoe storage in one neat package. Plus, it gives you a bench to sit on as you slide your shoes on and off.
We like the Jenifer Hall Tree from Wayfair because it’s practical, affordable and it looks great! There are five hooks at the top, each with two prongs for holding coats and accessories. Plus, there’s a shelf above for hats and bags, and two levels beneath the bench for holding six pairs of shoes. If your hallway is carpeted, the feet are also adjustable to balance it out.
While hallway units are generally quite bulky pieces of furniture, this one is minimal in design and, at just £80, it’s great value for money.
Chester Dove Grey 3 Door Hallway Cupboard
If you want a premium storage solution, this is the one to invest in. The Cotswold Company’s 3 Door Hallway Cupboard offers ample storage space across eight coat hooks and 11 shoe shelves. If that wasn’t enough, you can also insert three shelves beneath the hooks, although that does render four of the hooks useless.
If that’s more space than you need (and more than you’re looking to spend), there’s also a two-door version available, which loses the 11 shoe shelves and four of the hooks – but the three shelves beneath can still hold up to 16 pairs of shoes.
VEDECASA Corner Hall Tree
If you want to make use of a corner, there are coat trees for that, too. This one from Vedecasa features a 90-degree design, giving you four shelves and 10 hooks to hang coats from. The hooks are also movable – handy if you need to shift bulky items away from accessories – and the shelves below provide the perfect space for shoes and bags.
You could even buy a second one and place them side by side to double your storage space against a wall.
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