Choosing a coat rack: wall-mounted or freestanding?

The hallway is the first thing you see when you come home, and often also the place where coats, bags and keys pile up. A good coat rack gives everything a fixed spot, so you no longer need to search for anything when you want to head out. But do you choose a wall coat rack or a coat stand? That depends on your wall, your floor space and how much needs to hang there every day. In this buying guide we set out the differences.

Wall coat rack or coat stand?

You hang a wall coat rack on the wall. The floor stays clear, so your hallway looks spacious and is easy to keep clean. You do need to drill, so first check whether your wall is suitable.

You simply put a coat stand down. Handy if you do not want to or are not allowed to drill, or if you want to move the coat rack later. Many freestanding models combine the coat rack with a shoe rack or a bench, so your entire entrance is organised in one piece of furniture.

Type	Best for	Our models
Compact wall coat rack, 50 to 60 cm	Narrow hallway, small wall or bedroom	8 adjustable hooks, 50 cm, 5 hooks, 60 cm, white marble look, 60 cm
Wide wall coat rack, 80 to 90 cm	A family or a hallway with lots of coats	shelf, 6 hooks and rail, 80 cm, 7 hooks, 90 cm
Coat stand with tray	Narrow corridor, without drilling	Quorin natural, Quorin black
Coat stand with shoe rack	Coats and shoes in one piece of furniture	Qalith black, Mikhail brown with bench

Step 1: measure your hallway

Measure the wall or the floor where the coat rack will go. Leave room for the door to swing open and for coats that stick out. For a coat stand, depth is what matters most. The Qalith and the Mikhail are 33.7 cm deep and therefore also fit in a narrow hallway. The black Quorin stands on a 32.5 cm base and is 184 cm tall, so even long coats hang clear of the floor.

Step 2: count your hanging points

Count how many coats and bags hang there every day and add a few extra for guests.

5 to 6 hooks: enough for one or two people, such as the 60 cm wall coat rack with 5 hooks.
7 to 10 hooks: for a family. The 90 cm wall coat rack has 7 hooks, the Phaedra 10 adjustable hooks on 70 cm of hanging space.
8 hooks at different heights: the freestanding Quorin, with room for coats, bags and scarves.

Step 3: choose your extras

Shelf or tray: for keys, wallet or sunglasses. The Quorin has an integrated tray, many wall coat racks have a shelf.
Rail or rod for hangers: smarter coats stay on a hanger, as with the XL wall coat rack Jasmyra and the Pyrriona wall coat rack panel.
Adjustable hooks: on the Qysera and the Phaedra you slide the hooks to where you want them, or remove them and use the rail for clothes hangers.
Bench: sit down for a moment to put on your shoes. The Mikhail and the Qelith hall stand have a bench that holds up to 90 kg.

Style: black, wood or white?

Black metal looks sleek and industrial. Wood and brown add warmth, such as the Quorin in natural bamboo with its Scandinavian tree-trunk design. White with a marble look is light and elegant in a small entrance. Fancy a playful accent? Then create your own coat rack with a set of 5 wall knobs.

Tips for a tidy entrance

With a coat stand, spread the weight over the hooks all around, so it stands at its sturdiest.
Only hang up the coats for the current season and store the rest. That keeps your coat rack organised.
No shoe rack in your coat rack? Combine it with a shoe bench or a shoe rack.

Read also

View all wall coat racks or all coat stands. Ordered on a working day before 15:00, shipped today, shipping is free and you get free 30-day returns.