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[O376]Over The Door Coat Rack

by Megan Cherry, Meg

There's very little history to be found as to the origins of the coat rack and no one is quite sure who invented it, but it is widely believed that Thomas Jefferson (yes, author of the Constitution and the United States' third President, as well as the person responsible for the Louisiana Purchase) invented the first coat hanger, which the coat rack predates. (It's thought, at least, that the popular wire hanger was invented in 1903 by a Mr. Albert J. Parkhouse because there were too few coat hooks on the coat rack available for his employees' coats.) Considering that Lewis and Clark embarked upon their expedition while Mr. Jefferson was President, it is certain that the coat rack existed as a tool well before they reached the Pacific Ocean.

We don't know who invented the coat rack, but historically, it has been a very handy option, since before the turn of last century, most houses were built with limited closet space. Clothes were usually stored in trunks, and coat racks were made for use of for hanging clothes. Armoires were also often used, but were a much more ornate and heavier option than were easy to move wall model coat racks and freestanding coat racks. They were also much more expensive and took up much more space.

Because of their ease of use and versatility, coat racks are making a comeback. They are ideal for small spaces, such as the studio apartment, and are much more versatile than built-in closets. They are also a much more inexpensive option, since the logistical and financial considerations of installing closets can be many, especially in older houses that traditionally do not have them. It's a relatively simple matter to install a wall coat rack, since all you need is readily available wall space. No additional floor space is required.

Freestanding coat racks offer the option of inexpensive storage with easy mobility, and you can change locations as often as you need to. Although they take up more space than wall coat racks, they do not require that you be handy with tools. However, if you're not handy with tools but you want something that will not take up additional floor space, look for coat racks specifically designed to hang over the backs of doors. This will provide you additional storage without either having to install a wall coat rack or use a valuable floor space to utilize our freestanding coat rack.

Coat racks are boring? Nonsense. A great rack can be a wonderful addition to every home's d'cor, even if you don't live in a cold place. Besides coats, you can use these organizational tools to store umbrellas, damp beach gear, or camping equipment, or you can just leave them artfully in your foyer, a multipurpose set of hooks to do with as you wish.

You can find coat racks in a wide variety of styles and colors, from beautiful antique bench racks to modern faux wrought iron racks. If a plain one's not for you, consider one of the following options.

Finish Your Own Coat Rack: This is for someone with unique d'cor that's hard to match. Purchase an unfinished coat rack (wall-mounted coat racks should not have pegs attached, nor should the wood be treated beyond sanding) and decorate it to suit yourself. Cherry stain, for instance, with classic d'cor works well in most cases, or you can paint your coat rack a light color and decorate with country stencils and appliques to complement a homey d'cor scheme. No matter what your needs are, you can usually match a coat rack to your home perfectly with a little imagination and an afternoon's work.

Custom-Designed Racks: These racks can be anything, from copies of Louis XIV antiques to ornate mirror-backed works of art. The key is looking at the blank place in your foyer and imagining what would look perfect there: something to complement your antique Tiffany chandelier or something that brings your great room here to the entryway?

A custom-designed coat rack can be created by most craftsmen specializing in these items, but for really special pieces you may need to talk to a sculptor. Some ideas: racks created in cut and burnished bronze to complement a koi pond, or racks made of wicker to work with island d'cor. You are limited only by your imagination, the skill of your craftsman, and the strength of your material.

Racks With Mirrors: If you're the sort of person who likes to check how their hair looks just before going out the door, a coat rack with a mirror might be the way to go. These come in a variety of classic styles (or funky styles, if that's the direction your tastes go). For a really unique and useful decorating idea, consider placing another mirror directly across the hall or foyer from your mirrored coat rack. This gives you the unique eternal-mirror look as well as a way to check the back of your hair too.

Antlers, Art Noveau, and Hall Trees, Oh My: Coat racks have been around for a really long time, dating at least back to the pegs next to the door where Romans hung their lacerna, or outdoor cloaks. This gives you a wide variety of antique and faux-antique choices, from the classic hall tree freestanding coat rack to the more barbaric deer-antler coat racks favored by some, from aged oak hallway storage benches attached to high coat racks to art noveau styles mounted on the wall.

Coat racks are prosaic, but they are anything but boring. Unleash your imagination and see what you can come up with.

Article Source : Pg. 89

Megan Cherry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Finances and Painting. Megan Cherry is an author for http://www.pegandrail.com. Pegandrail.com offers a complet line of office and cubicle coat racks and. Megan Cherry's top article generates over 74000 views. Bookmark Megan Cherry to your Favourites.