Where to hang guest coats?

[expectantsteelerfan]

So I posted in Married Life that I was so excited for our new house to have 2 large coat closets right inside the front door, but that I realized we are not 'here let me hang your coat inside the closet' people, and our guests really aren't either, so while I'm still happy for the closets for our own use, I will need a convenient place to hang guest coats.  

Here is our new entryway: 

cecb36fac3f63311d6fb35c607273f2c-uncropped....webp (45.43 KB)

I'm thinking my options are to put a coat tree thing in the entryway where the round table is, put a coat tree out of sight by nearby in the formal living room (which is to the left of this picture), or to hang over the door coat hooks on the backs of the closet doors when we know we will be having guests. 

What would you pick?

[samanthamkm]

I keep an over the door rack on our front entry way. Between my kids and a puppy having a few extra hooks out of their reach has been nice.

[origami]

I’m not quite understanding because I don’t see a difference (as a guest) between hanging a coat on a tree or in a hall closet. In my area, people who don’t have hall closets just stack coats on a bed or a den or something. But we live in the north so 2 ppl in winter would max out a coat tree.

[aspentosh]

Honestly, I think most people aren't "hang guest coats in a coat closet" people because there isn't enough closet space. But if I had the space, I'd have no qualms hanging them in a closet because it just seems easier than putting out another coat rack or hanging them on the bannister.

We actually have one normal size coat closet by our front door and when we have friends/family over coats go in the coat closet. It's not a huge group of people, so maybe that plays into it?

[simpsongal]

You could put a small decorative coat rack on the wall where the picture is hanging (I have a colonial looking rack in our foyer w/a small ledge on top where I keep a nice photos/seasonal decor.

Hooks inside the closet doors sound like a good idea too. You could also do a "fancy" coat rack if you want extra options. My in laws have an antique one w/a glass mirror & umbrella stand built in. It would look right at home in a formal living room.

I hear your dilemma though. As a guest, I prefer to have open access to my stuff, I've left things at people's homes bc I didn't see them in a closet that had lots of other things in it. Plus, it's nice to have a place to just throw a coat when you walk in.

[lessel]

I would put an over-the-door coat hook thinggie on one of those two closet doors when someone comes over. Otherwise, I'd store it in the closet so it's not there all the time.

[Susie]

I responded with a PIP in your ML post of what we did in our current house -- hooks permanently on the foyer walls.  That foyer is, um, not even deserving of the same word as your foyer though.  Like they're two totally different kinds of rooms. 

IDK what I'd do with your foyer. I feel like there's some tension between "we're super chill/casual, not the 'here let me take your coat' kind of people" and "we have a two story lawyer foyer with a sweeping curved staircase and a glass/crystal chandelier."  Your foyer is very dramatic and formal.  It requests that your coat be placed on a hanger in the closet.  You could change that vibe if you aren't feeling it -- a less formal chandelier, a more functional drop zone than a vase of fresh tulips, that sort of thing, but without knowing what else you're going to do with the space, I'm hard pressed to suggest a solution.  Anything I can come up with feels too informal for the space.

I don't like over the door racks, especially in the kind of foyer you have.  IME they always end up marring the woodwork in practice, plus they remind me of temporary solutions that I used in my college and law school apartments.  I also don't like coat trees in practice, because they're just one more thing for dog hair tumbleweeds to hang up on, and to have to clean around.  

[RockNVoll]

I don't understand why you wouldn't hang them in one of your two coat closets, to be honest. You're not saying you don't have the space in those closets, and all the ideas suggested don't sound like they'd go with the look and feel of your foyer. We have a closet near the front door and use it both for our own storage (a few coats, broom, tool box, shoes, a BBQ tool kit, other random stuff) and keep extra hangers there for guest coats as well. People know that's where their coats go and often just hang them up themselves (family especially).

It seems like you might be trying to avoid a formal, "May I take your coat?" situation, but seems to me you could just as easily say, "Hey, you can hang your coat in this closet," as "Throw your coat on the banister."

[k3am]

Our coat closet is small. As are all coat closets here.. I keep *our* coats, vacuum, kitchen aid mixer, and other random stuff in the coat closet, but I'd never ask a guest to put their's in it because it's a tiny black hole. I've also never put my coat in someone else's closet. We have hooks in the entry way people can use, but more often than not, they just end up draped over a chair.

[mrsukyankee]

If I had coat closets, I'd just tell my guests to hang their coats in there. I WISH we had coat closets, but that is not what happens in older English homes.

[dr.girlfriend]

I can't see the photo, but I'm also confused about why you are not "Here, let me take your coat" people because the alternative seems to be people who make their guests stand around awkwardly wondering where to put their coats?

[lolalolalola]

I responded in the other post that my guests put their coats in our coat closet.I don’t knew what a “here let me take your coat person” is- I can say that I am not formal, my house isn’t formal, etc. It seems odd to me that you would choose not to use the front closets that are meant for the purpose. If you have a big party and the closet is full then there needs to be overflow, so I guess how often are you throwing parties? If it’s often then for sure come up with another option.

[lilac05]

You don't have to be a "here, let me hang your coat in the closet" people. It will only take once for you to say, "You can hang your coats in that closet" for people to just help themselves. My friends know to make themselves at home when they're here.

I kind of get it, though. Our house and neighborhood are "fancier" than we are as people. Sometimes we joke about it with good friends. It's a total first world problem, but sometimes I feel self-conscious about it. Over time, it'll start to feel more like you.

[expectantsteelerfan]

May 10, 2021 9:39:27 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I don't understand why you wouldn't hang them in one of your two coat closets, to be honest. You're not saying you don't have the space in those closets, and all the ideas suggested don't sound like they'd go with the look and feel of your foyer. We have a closet near the front door and use it both for our own storage (a few coats, broom, tool box, shoes, a BBQ tool kit, other random stuff) and keep extra hangers there for guest coats as well. People know that's where their coats go and often just hang them up themselves (family especially).

It seems like you might be trying to avoid a formal, "May I take your coat?" situation, but seems to me you could just as easily say, "Hey, you can hang your coat in this closet," as "Throw your coat on the banister."

I'm trying to think realistically.  The people who come over the most are my bff, dh's parents, my mom, and my book club.  Even with book club, most members just knock then walk right in, or whoever is closest to the door opens it for the next person, etc., so I'd say our comfort level is that people will take off their coats and want to put them somewhere themselves rather than me taking them and hanging them up.  I've never had people open a coat closet and hang up their own coat (and the majority of people who answered my post on ML agreed that people tend to throw their coats where-ever is convenient). When other people come, I'm usually so busy trying to control my crazy dogs that I don't think to take their coats and they put them where-ever.  So I'm just trying to think of somewhere convenient for people to put their coats that won't ruin the look of our entryway.  The table/vase in the picture aren't mine, it's from the listing, so I'm trying to decide what I want to put in that spot.  

Also, immediate family won't be using the front door (mostly because of the dogs).  Kids and dogs will enter the house from the garage and through the basement, where there is also a closet by the door and I will have hooks for my kids because no way will they learn to actually hang up their coats in a closet every time any time soon, or will go out through the mud room that goes out to the back yard (where the dogs will be contained by a fence).  

[expectantsteelerfan]

May 10, 2021 13:44:47 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

I responded in the other post that my guests put their coats in our coat closet.I don’t knew what a “here let me take your coat person” is- I can say that I am not formal, my house isn’t formal, etc. It seems odd to me that you would choose not to use the front closets that are meant for the purpose. If you have a big party and the closet is full then there needs to be overflow, so I guess how often are you throwing parties? If it’s often then for sure come up with another option.

I'm probably just overthinking.  We close on the house in June, so I'm trying to have a plan for most of the things that annoy me about our current house so I can start good habits from the start in the new house so that the new house doesn't end up annoying the heck out of me too.  I'm also trying to make a list of all the furniture we need to buy for the new house and prioritize it.   We have both a closet and a coat tree in our current house, and even though there is room in the closet, I have never once actually hung up a guest's coat in that closet, and no one has ever hung their own coat up either.  But people did hang their coats up on the coat tree.  I don't love the look of our current coat tree for the new foyer, so I'm trying to decide if I should hunt for one that would 'go' in the new foyer or do something else.  Maybe that something else should be to train myself to leave plenty of room and empty hangers in one of the closets, and tell people 'coats go in there.'  But like one of the pp's suggested, personally, if I was visiting a friend and I had the option to hang my stuff somewhere visible vs. away in a closet, I'd chose somewhere visible, and I think a lot of people might feel that way (even if it's not rational).  Hence the overthinking and crowd-sourcing of opinions. 

[ellipses84]

I’m a fan of the shoe rack/bench/coat hook combo furniture pieces if you have the space.

[Susie]

May 10, 2021 15:10:41 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

May 10, 2021 9:39:27 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I don't understand why you wouldn't hang them in one of your two coat closets, to be honest. You're not saying you don't have the space in those closets, and all the ideas suggested don't sound like they'd go with the look and feel of your foyer. We have a closet near the front door and use it both for our own storage (a few coats, broom, tool box, shoes, a BBQ tool kit, other random stuff) and keep extra hangers there for guest coats as well. People know that's where their coats go and often just hang them up themselves (family especially).

It seems like you might be trying to avoid a formal, "May I take your coat?" situation, but seems to me you could just as easily say, "Hey, you can hang your coat in this closet," as "Throw your coat on the banister."

I'm trying to think realistically.  The people who come over the most are my bff, dh's parents, my mom, and my book club.  Even with book club, most members just knock then walk right in, or whoever is closest to the door opens it for the next person, etc., so I'd say our comfort level is that people will take off their coats and want to put them somewhere themselves rather than me taking them and hanging them up.  I've never had people open a coat closet and hang up their own coat (and the majority of people who answered my post on ML agreed that people tend to throw their coats where-ever is convenient). When other people come, I'm usually so busy trying to control my crazy dogs that I don't think to take their coats and they put them where-ever.  So I'm just trying to think of somewhere convenient for people to put their coats that won't ruin the look of our entryway.  The table/vase in the picture aren't mine, it's from the listing, so I'm trying to decide what I want to put in that spot.  

Yes, you're over thinking this!  It's completely realistic, the first night you host a book club in your new house, or have anyone over for the first time (including family), to welcome people by saying Hi! Thanks for coming over to our new place!  Please feel free to hang your coat here (point to closet door), then come on into the blah blah room, and by the way the bathroom is over there.  Please make yourself comfortable, it's great to see you!  You just have to make it a point to SAY those couple things.  

Nobody likes guessing whether this door or that one is the right door to the bathroom/closet/whatever, or opening a closed door that they're not sure they've been invited to open.  Coat trees avoid the problem because most people feel comfortable helping themselves to use one, much more so than opening a door.  But that doesn't make using the closet inherently weird at all.  If you show people the first time they come over where the closet is, invite them to use it, and have plenty of space/hangers for them, you'll probably make them feel comfortable using the closet this time and next time and the time after that too.  It becomes just as easy as any organizer or tree.  

If you have ample closet space, and it sounds like you do, this is a problem you can solve with pretty nominal hosting effort, rather than buying a thing that would mostly clutter your lovely foyer anyway.

[dontlook]

May 10, 2021 19:27:39 GMT -5 Susie said:

May 10, 2021 15:10:41 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I'm trying to think realistically.  The people who come over the most are my bff, dh's parents, my mom, and my book club.  Even with book club, most members just knock then walk right in, or whoever is closest to the door opens it for the next person, etc., so I'd say our comfort level is that people will take off their coats and want to put them somewhere themselves rather than me taking them and hanging them up.  I've never had people open a coat closet and hang up their own coat (and the majority of people who answered my post on ML agreed that people tend to throw their coats where-ever is convenient). When other people come, I'm usually so busy trying to control my crazy dogs that I don't think to take their coats and they put them where-ever.  So I'm just trying to think of somewhere convenient for people to put their coats that won't ruin the look of our entryway.  The table/vase in the picture aren't mine, it's from the listing, so I'm trying to decide what I want to put in that spot.  

Yes, you're over thinking this!  It's completely realistic, the first night you host a book club in your new house, or have anyone over for the first time (including family), to welcome people by saying Hi! Thanks for coming over to our new place!  Please feel free to hang your coat here (point to closet door), then come on into the blah blah room, and by the way the bathroom is over there.  Please make yourself comfortable, it's great to see you!  You just have to make it a point to SAY those couple things.  

Nobody likes guessing whether this door or that one is the right door to the bathroom/closet/whatever, or opening a closed door that they're not sure they've been invited to open.  Coat trees avoid the problem because most people feel comfortable helping themselves to use one, much more so than opening a door.  But that doesn't make using the closet inherently weird at all.  If you show people the first time they come over where the closet is, invite them to use it, and have plenty of space/hangers for them, you'll probably make them feel comfortable using the closet this time and next time and the time after that too.  It becomes just as easy as any organizer or tree.  

If you have ample closet space, and it sounds like you do, this is a problem you can solve with pretty nominal hosting effort, rather than buying a thing that would mostly clutter your lovely foyer anyway.

And to add, it doesn’t look pretty but when I have a group over I just leave the closet door open and people use it. I leave plenty of hangers so no one has to ask. It only takes one or two people doing it to get the whole thing going. I never had to remind people after the first time. Or if you miss someone coming in you can swing by and hang up coats and tell people you put them in the hall closet. They usually catch on the next time.

[RockNVoll]

May 10, 2021 19:27:39 GMT -5 Susie said:

May 10, 2021 15:10:41 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I'm trying to think realistically.  The people who come over the most are my bff, dh's parents, my mom, and my book club.  Even with book club, most members just knock then walk right in, or whoever is closest to the door opens it for the next person, etc., so I'd say our comfort level is that people will take off their coats and want to put them somewhere themselves rather than me taking them and hanging them up.  I've never had people open a coat closet and hang up their own coat (and the majority of people who answered my post on ML agreed that people tend to throw their coats where-ever is convenient). When other people come, I'm usually so busy trying to control my crazy dogs that I don't think to take their coats and they put them where-ever.  So I'm just trying to think of somewhere convenient for people to put their coats that won't ruin the look of our entryway.  The table/vase in the picture aren't mine, it's from the listing, so I'm trying to decide what I want to put in that spot.  

Yes, you're over thinking this!  It's completely realistic, the first night you host a book club in your new house, or have anyone over for the first time (including family), to welcome people by saying Hi! Thanks for coming over to our new place!  Please feel free to hang your coat here (point to closet door), then come on into the blah blah room, and by the way the bathroom is over there.  Please make yourself comfortable, it's great to see you!  You just have to make it a point to SAY those couple things.  

Nobody likes guessing whether this door or that one is the right door to the bathroom/closet/whatever, or opening a closed door that they're not sure they've been invited to open.  Coat trees avoid the problem because most people feel comfortable helping themselves to use one, much more so than opening a door.  But that doesn't make using the closet inherently weird at all.  If you show people the first time they come over where the closet is, invite them to use it, and have plenty of space/hangers for them, you'll probably make them feel comfortable using the closet this time and next time and the time after that too.  It becomes just as easy as any organizer or tree.  

If you have ample closet space, and it sounds like you do, this is a problem you can solve with pretty nominal hosting effort, rather than buying a thing that would mostly clutter your lovely foyer anyway.

What Susie said. People will figure it out after the first time. I suspect people throw coats wherever when they don't know what else to do with them! Just tell them they can help themselves to that closet and they'll do that every time thereafter. You have a coat closet (x2); make use of it and don't clutter that entry with a coat rack!

[deadwing]

Since you have 2 coat closets, I would put something on each door to make it distinct (pictures, wreaths, etc). Then you can tell your guests "Feel free to hang your coat in the closet with the sunflower wreath". Easier to tell apart than left/right, especially if you are facing the closets and the newly entered guest has their back to them.

[circa1978]

May 10, 2021 13:44:47 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

I responded in the other post that my guests put their coats in our coat closet.I don’t knew what a “here let me take your coat person” is.

I feel like this is just basic etiquette. When someone comes over, you offer to take their coat or whatever, offer them a drink and a place to sit down. I don't think it's stuffy or something that involves having a big house. 🤷‍♀️ 

[Deleted]

May 10, 2021 19:27:39 GMT -5 Susie said:

May 10, 2021 15:10:41 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I'm trying to think realistically.  The people who come over the most are my bff, dh's parents, my mom, and my book club.  Even with book club, most members just knock then walk right in, or whoever is closest to the door opens it for the next person, etc., so I'd say our comfort level is that people will take off their coats and want to put them somewhere themselves rather than me taking them and hanging them up.  I've never had people open a coat closet and hang up their own coat (and the majority of people who answered my post on ML agreed that people tend to throw their coats where-ever is convenient). When other people come, I'm usually so busy trying to control my crazy dogs that I don't think to take their coats and they put them where-ever.  So I'm just trying to think of somewhere convenient for people to put their coats that won't ruin the look of our entryway.  The table/vase in the picture aren't mine, it's from the listing, so I'm trying to decide what I want to put in that spot.  

Yes, you're over thinking this!  It's completely realistic, the first night you host a book club in your new house, or have anyone over for the first time (including family), to welcome people by saying Hi! Thanks for coming over to our new place!  Please feel free to hang your coat here (point to closet door), then come on into the blah blah room, and by the way the bathroom is over there.  Please make yourself comfortable, it's great to see you!  You just have to make it a point to SAY those couple things.  

Nobody likes guessing whether this door or that one is the right door to the bathroom/closet/whatever, or opening a closed door that they're not sure they've been invited to open.  Coat trees avoid the problem because most people feel comfortable helping themselves to use one, much more so than opening a door.  But that doesn't make using the closet inherently weird at all.  If you show people the first time they come over where the closet is, invite them to use it, and have plenty of space/hangers for them, you'll probably make them feel comfortable using the closet this time and next time and the time after that too.  It becomes just as easy as any organizer or tree.  

If you have ample closet space, and it sounds like you do, this is a problem you can solve with pretty nominal hosting effort, rather than buying a thing that would mostly clutter your lovely foyer anyway.

I agree 100% with Susie. Simply telling folks the first time they come over that they can hang their coats "here" should be ample. You have two coat closets, I would utilize that space instead of trying to come up with an Option C. You don't have to be formal about it, the fact that it will be a new house and their first time there is the perfect time to set up these types of expectations. Congrats on the new house!

[expectantsteelerfan]

May 11, 2021 10:10:16 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

May 10, 2021 13:44:47 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

I responded in the other post that my guests put their coats in our coat closet.I don’t knew what a “here let me take your coat person” is.

I feel like this is just basic etiquette. When someone comes over, you offer to take their coat or whatever, offer them a drink and a place to sit down. I don't think it's stuffy or something that involves having a big house. 🤷‍♀️ 

I totally agree with you logically.  I just don't know why in practice it never happens, at my house or at any of the houses I've been to that I can remember!

[mrsukyankee]

If I know I'm going to be busy hosting/dog dealing, I ask the first person who comes over (usually a good friend) to direct people to where to hang coats (we don't have anywhere so they take it up to put on a bed, which is normal in London).

[sonrisa]

Since it’s a new house, you can wrangle the dogs while brightly saying ‘hi! Welcome! You can put your coat over there. I’m so excited the new house has enough closet space! So good to see you!’ It won’t feel stiff or formal at all and they’ll likely remember after the first time 😀