How to Build a Wall-Mounted Coatrack

A pileup of coats and jackets near the front door is never a welcoming sight. But if your house lacks a proper foyer or entryway, as many do, finding a spot to store this stuff can be a challenge. Our solution? Build a low-profile, cottage-inspired coatrack that takes up just a few feet of wall space. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva made this one from 1× lumber and embellished it with a couple of strips of decorative, fluted door casing, available in a range of profiles and materials at home centers. Double coat hooks and wire storage baskets for holding mail, gloves, and miscellany maximize storage space, and the board-and-batten-like design protects the underlying wall from dings and dents. Best of all, the price tag won't send you into sticker shock—we dare you to find an off-the-shelf coatrack that's this easy on the eyes for less.

Casing: ⅜-by-2⅜-inch Whitewood Casing, about $8 per 7-foot length. Hooks: Brainerd Decorative Flat Black Garment Hooks, about $4.50 each. Both available at lowes.com