How to Build a Wall-Mounted Coatrack
No room for an entryway closet? No problem. Keep outerwear organized with this simple-to-build piece

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
Overview of How to Build a Wall-Mounted Coatrack

Our piece measures 48 by 24 inches; you can easily change the size to suit the space you have. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva added a French cleat to the back side to make installation simple, so you'll need a circular saw or table saw to make the bevel rip cut. If you don't have one, fasten the piece directly to the wall by driving screws through the upper and lower cleats into wall studs or anchors. CUT LIST
Download a printable cut list here.
1x4: three at 48 inches 1x3: two at 24 inches ⅜-by-2-⅜-inch fluted door casing: two at 48 inches