Small Entryway Organization With No Coat Closet

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You open the front door and the whole family’s outerwear is already waiting for you: coats on the floor, shoes in a heap, one scooter leaning on the wall. When there’s no coat closet, the wall has to do the work. Here are three ways to make it happen.

In this article (7 sections)

1. Setup 1: The 3-Foot Wall
2. Setup 2: The Renter’s No-Drill Wall
3. Setup 3: The Big Family Wall
4. Before You Buy: Measure in 5 Minutes
5. Install Heights at a Glance
6. Safety With Little Kids
7. Frequently Asked Questions

Setup 1: The 3-Foot Wall

Best for: a narrow apartment entry with about 40 inches of free wall beside the door and room for one slim bench.

• Why it works: The 31-inch shoe bench (1) gives you a seat and hidden shoe storage in just 15 inches of depth. The 32-inch adult hook rail (2) and the 15-inch kid hook rail (4) stack two heights of hooks on the same narrow strip. On a 40-inch wall, both rails end up above the bench, which is why the kid rail uses blunt pegs or knobs.
• Hang it: Screw the adult rail (2) into studs at 57 inches to the bottom edge. Put the kid rail (4) at 38 inches. On a 40-inch wall it sits over the bench, so pick a rail with blunt pegs or knobs. Center the 16-inch round mirror (3) above the rails, with its bottom edge at 65 inches, and hang it on a stud or an anchor rated for its weight.
• Heads-up: On this wall, the rails and the mirror all hang above the bench seat. Kid hooks there sit where a seated child’s head goes, so use blunt pegs or knobs only, never pointed or curved hooks. A child standing on the bench is roughly level with the adult rail (2), so pick one with rounded or blunt-tipped hooks too. I’d also make the bench a sit-only spot. Keep the heavy coats on the stud-mounted adult rail (2), and choose a shatter-resistant mirror (3). If your wall is about 50 inches or wider, slide the kid rail (4) beside the bench instead.

Setup 2: The Renter’s No-Drill Wall

Best for: renters who can’t drill into the walls and have about 5 feet of wall with a walkway to keep clear.

• Why it works: Nothing here needs a drill. The 27-inch open shoe rack (1) lets wet shoes dry, and the 15-inch lidded basket (2) swallows hats, gloves and the odd stray sock. If you’re also sorting the rest of a small rental, our apartment living with kids guide has more no-damage ideas.
• Hang it: Stick the four kid hooks (3) at 38 inches to the bottom edge and the three adult hooks (4) at 58 inches. Both rows are small, so space them evenly and leave the middle of the wall clear.
• Heads-up: Adhesive hooks have weight limits, so stick to light jackets and small bags. Wipe the wall first and let the adhesive set as long as the package says before you hang anything.

Setup 3: The Big Family Wall

Best for: a family with three or more kids that needs a cubby per child plus a bench on about 7 feet of open wall.

• Why it works: The 24-inch cubby unit (2) gives every kid a home for bags and shoes, and the 37-inch bench (1) gives everyone a place to sit and lace up. The two hook rails (3 and 4) handle the coats. For more ways to share cubbies between siblings, see our mudroom cubbies for multiple kids guide.
• Hang it: Mount the kid rail (4) at 38 inches and the adult rail (3) at 60 inches, both measured to the bottom edge. The 20-inch round mirror (5) goes above the cubby unit at 60 inches.
• Heads-up: The cubby unit is 35 inches tall, so it needs its anti-tip kit screwed into the wall. The kid rail (4) hangs beside the bench, above the cubby unit, so no kid hook sits over a seated child’s head. The adult rail (3) hangs over the bench, so screw it into studs, and choose rounded or blunt tips, since a child standing on the bench can reach it.

Before You Buy: Measure in 5 Minutes

I like to plan on paper before I buy anything, so grab the Closet-Free Entryway Wall Planner and fill it in as you measure. If shoes are your biggest pile, our shoe storage guide has more ways to corral them.

• Wall width: Measure the free wall from the door trim or corner to the next obstacle.
• Door swing: Open the door all the way and check that nothing you add will block it.
• Walkway: Keep about 36 inches of clear floor between your pieces and the opposite wall.
• Outlets and switches: Mark them so no hook rail or mirror covers them.
• Wall type: Check whether drilling is allowed, and find studs before you hang anything heavy.

Install Heights at a Glance

Safety With Little Kids

• Anchor any floor piece 27 inches or taller with its anti-tip kit. That’s the cubby unit in Setup 3. Our baby-proofing guide has more room-by-room safety steps.
• Choose rounded or blunt hook tips at kid height, and on any adult rail that hangs over a bench.
• Keep kid hooks out of the space right over a seat, where a seated child’s head goes. Hang them beside the seat, or use blunt pegs or knobs if the wall has no room.
• Anything heavy above a seat, like a coat rail or a mirror, should be screwed into studs or anchors rated for its weight. In Setup 1, that’s the adult rail and the mirror.
• Plan for a child standing on the bench, not just sitting. Standing, they’re roughly level with an adult rail at 57 to 60 inches. Where that rail hangs over the bench, use rounded or blunt-tipped hooks, or slide it so it clears the bench if the wall allows.
• Use a shatter-resistant mirror anywhere a child can reach it, including over a bench they might stand on. Our safe wall decor guide has more tips for hanging things around little kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do coats go when there’s no coat closet?

On the wall. A hook rail at adult height and a second one at kid height hold more than a small closet does, and everything stays in sight.

How do I organize a small entryway as a renter?

Use freestanding pieces on the floor and adhesive hooks on the wall, as in Setup 2. Check the weight limit on the package and test one hook before you commit to the whole wall.

How high should kid hooks go?

In these setups, the kid hooks sit at 38 inches to the bottom edge. Lower them a few inches for toddlers, and move them up as your kids grow. Keep them beside a bench when the wall has room, or use blunt pegs or knobs if they have to go above the seat. Our kid-height coat hooks guide has more on setting them up.

How much walkway do I need to leave?

Aim for about 36 inches of clear floor. That leaves room for a stroller or a person carrying groceries to get through.

A wall, a bench and a few well-placed hooks can do the work of a closet. For more ideas on keeping a busy door tidy, see our family entryway organization guide. If your entry is also where school bags land, our back-to-school drop zone guide pairs well with these setups.