Christmas Coat Rack Decor: 15 Cheap Entryway Ideas That Welcome Guests the Second They Walk In
Christmas Coat Rack Decor is the easiest way to make your home feel festive the very second someone opens the door. Think about it: the coat rack or row of hooks by the entry is the first thing every guest sees, and it is usually just a tangle of jackets and bags. With a little greenery, a few ribbons and some things you already own, that busy spot can turn into a warm hello. You do not need a big budget or a big entry. A simple wall rail, a thrifted hall tree or a plain standing coat tree all work. These 15 ideas use pine, plaid, mittens, bells and thrift store finds, and most take less than an hour. Pick one or two, or layer several, and watch your guests smile before they even take off their boots..
Christmas Coat Rack Decor That Says Welcome Home
Christmas Coat Rack Decor like this makes your entry feel like the cover of a holiday catalog. Look at all the little layers: a full pine garland across the top shelf, plaid and knit stockings, tiny boxwood wreaths, a red scarf and a pair of vintage white skates. A bench and a small potted pine below finish the scene. None of it is expensive, and most of it can come from the thrift store or your own closet. The secret is to treat the rack like a mantel. Every idea below shows you one layer, so you can mix and match until it feels like yours..
You will need: A wall coat rack with a shelf or a row of hooks, pine garland, two or three stockings, small wreaths, ribbon, and a few cozy extras like a scarf or skates.
How to make it: 1. Take everything off the hooks and wipe the rack clean. 2. Lay the garland on the top shelf or drape it across the hooks first. 3. Hang the bigger pieces on the outer hooks and the small details in the middle, then step back and adjust.
Hang a Mini Wreath on Every Peg
Mini wreaths on every peg look clean, simple and very pretty. A Shaker style peg rail is perfect for this, but any row of hooks will work. Small boxwood wreaths are easy to find at craft stores, and faux ones last for years. Tie each one with a short red velvet ribbon so they all match. The repeating circles look calm and organized, even when coats come and go below them. You can leave one or two pegs open for real everyday use. Would you go all green or mix in a few white wreaths?
You will need: Six to eight small boxwood wreaths (real or faux), red velvet ribbon, and scissors.
How to make it: 1. Cut a 12 inch piece of ribbon for each wreath. 2. Loop the ribbon through the top of the wreath and tie a small bow. 3. Hang one wreath on each peg, keeping the bows at the same height.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor With a Scarf Garland
Christmas Coat Rack Decor can be made from things you already wear. Tie three or four winter scarves end to end and drape them across the hooks in soft swags, just like a garland. Red, cream and green plaid look the most festive, but any cozy knit works. The best part is that it is totally free and you can still grab a scarf on the way out the door. It also brings color and texture to a plain wall without a single nail. Which scarves in your closet would make the cut?
You will need: Three or four long knit or plaid scarves.
How to make it: 1. Tie the scarves together end to end with small, neat knots. 2. Start at one end of the rack and loop the scarf chain over every second hook. 3. Let each swag hang about the same depth and hide the knots behind the hooks.
Hang Vintage Ice Skates by the Laces
Vintage ice skates bring back memories of frozen ponds and hot cocoa. Hang a pair by their laces from one hook and tuck in a sprig of pine and a pair of red mittens. You can often find old white skates at thrift stores and flea markets for just a few dollars. Wrap tape or felt covers over the blades so nobody gets scratched when they reach for a coat. This one small vignette gives the whole entry a nostalgic winter feel. Did you skate outside when you were a kid?
You will need: A pair of old ice skates, blade covers or felt strips, red knit mittens, and a pine sprig.
How to make it: 1. Clean the skates with a damp cloth and cover the blades. 2. Tie the laces together and hang them over one hook. 3. Tuck the mittens and pine sprig into the tops of the skates.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor With an Enamel Bucket
Christmas Coat Rack Decor gets a farmhouse feel with a hanging bucket full of greens. A small white enamel bucket with a red rim looks like it came from grandma’s kitchen. Hang it by its wire handle on the end hook and fill it with pine branches, red berries and a few cones. Faux greens are best here, since they stay fresh all season and do not drip. Keep it light so the hook holds it easily. You can swap the greens for blooms in spring and use the same bucket all year. Where would you find a bucket like this near you?
You will need: A small enamel or tin bucket, faux pine branches, red berry picks, pine cones, and a block of floral foam.
How to make it: 1. Put the foam in the bottom of the bucket. 2. Push in the pine branches first, then the berries and cones. 3. Hang the bucket on a strong hook at the end of the rack.
Add a Strap of Sleigh Bells
A strap of sleigh bells is a cheerful way to say hello. Every time someone grabs a coat, the bells give a little jingle. Old leather straps from horse harness show up at antique malls, but a new leather belt works just as well. Sew or tie brass bells along the strap, then hang it from one hook with a pine sprig and red ribbon at the top. It looks like something from an old country store. Kids will love to give it a shake on the way out to play in the snow. Would you hang yours by the door or on the rack?
You will need: An old leather belt or strap, eight to ten brass jingle bells, strong thread or thin wire, a pine sprig, and red ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Mark even spaces down the strap. 2. Sew or wire a bell at each mark (adult help with a leather punch). 3. Tie the pine sprig and ribbon at the top and hang the strap on a hook.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor Mitten Advent Line
Christmas Coat Rack Decor turns into a countdown with a line of tiny mittens. String twine between two hooks and clip on 24 little felt or knit mittens with wooden clothespins. Tuck a small treat, a joke or a kind note inside each one for the kids to find every morning. Red, white and green mittens look bright and happy against a plain wall. If you knit, this is a great way to use up yarn scraps. Felt mittens are even faster: just cut two shapes and glue the edges. What would you hide inside the first mitten?
You will need: Felt in red, white and green, fabric glue, jute twine, 24 mini wooden clothespins, and small treats or notes.
How to make it: 1. Trace a mitten shape and cut two pieces for each mitten. 2. Glue the edges, leaving the top open, and let them dry. 3. Tie the twine between two hooks and clip the mittens on in a row.
Paint a Thrifted Hall Tree
An old hall tree from the thrift store can be the star of your holidays. These pieces have a mirror, hooks and a bench all in one, and many sell for very little because the finish looks tired. A coat of soft sage green or cream chalk paint makes it look fresh and charming. Then add a pine garland over the mirror, one stocking and a small wreath. Hall trees are a classic kind of coat rack that stood in front halls back in Victorian times. Would you paint yours green, cream or classic red?
You will need: A thrifted hall tree, sandpaper, chalk paint, a wide brush, clear wax, and decor for the top.
How to make it: 1. Clean the hall tree and lightly sand any glossy spots. 2. Paint two thin coats of chalk paint and let each coat dry. 3. Seal with clear wax, then add the garland, stocking and wreath.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor With a Garland on Top
Christmas Coat Rack Decor starts with greenery on top, the same way a mantel does. If your rack has a narrow shelf, lay a full cedar and pine garland along it and let the ends hang down the sides. Tuck in small pine cones and weave a gold ribbon through the branches. Coats can still hang below, so the rack keeps doing its job every day. Faux garland is lighter and safer for a wall shelf. Fluff every branch so it looks full, not flat. Do you like gold ribbon or classic red best?
You will need: One 6 foot garland, small pine cones, gold wired ribbon, and floral wire.
How to make it: 1. Lay the garland on the shelf and fluff each branch. 2. Wire the pine cones in small groups. 3. Weave the ribbon through in loose loops and tuck the ends in.
Tie an Ornament Cluster on a Ribbon
An ornament cluster is one of the fastest ideas in this list. Gather six to ten glass balls in red, green and silver and thread them onto a wide satin ribbon. Tie the ribbon in a big bow and hang the bunch from one hook. Use shatterproof ornaments if little ones or pets will be close by. Different sizes look richer than all the same size, so mix big and small. Old ornaments with a little wear look extra charming. Which colors would you choose for your door?
You will need: Six to ten shatterproof or glass ornaments, wide red satin ribbon, and a bit of floral wire.
How to make it: 1. Thread the ribbon through each ornament cap. 2. Pull them together into a tight cluster and wire the caps. 3. Tie a big bow at the top and hang it from a strong hook.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor: Turn a Coat Tree Into a Christmas Tree
Christmas Coat Rack Decor can even become your second tree. A tall standing coat tree already has a trunk and branches, so it is easy to dress up. Wrap it in pine garland from top to bottom, then add battery fairy lights and red and gold ornaments. A plaid blanket wrapped around the base looks like a tree skirt. This is perfect for small homes and apartments that have no room for a full tree. Just keep one or two hooks free for coats. Would you try this in your entry?
You will need: A standing coat tree, two pine garlands, battery fairy lights, shatterproof ornaments, and a plaid blanket.
How to make it: 1. Wrap the garland in a spiral from the top down, wiring it in a few spots. 2. Wind the battery lights over the garland. 3. Hang the ornaments and wrap the blanket around the base.
Drape a Dried Orange Garland
A dried orange garland smells wonderful and costs almost nothing. Slice oranges thin and dry them low and slow in the oven until they look like stained glass. String them on jute twine with cinnamon sticks and small pine cones in between. Drape the garland between the hooks so the warm colors catch the light from the door. Guests will notice the soft citrus scent the moment they step inside. Kids can help thread the slices once they are cool. Have you ever made dried oranges before?
You will need: Three or four oranges, a sharp knife (adult help), a baking sheet, jute twine, a large needle, cinnamon sticks, and small pine cones.
How to make it: 1. Slice the oranges thin and bake them on low heat for about 3 hours, turning them now and then. 2. Let them cool, then thread them on the twine with cones and cinnamon sticks. 3. Drape the garland between the hooks.
Christmas Coat Rack Decor With a Painted Holly Board
Christmas Coat Rack Decor looks custom when you paint the board behind the hooks. A simple plank with holly leaves and red berries along the edges turns plain hooks into a holiday piece. You do not need to be an artist: holly leaves are just two curved lines and a few points, and berries are dots made with the end of a brush. If you want more welcome ideas for the same space, see our Christmas entryway decor list. Would you paint holly, pine or snowflakes?
You will need: A wood plank or the board of your rack, white or cream paint, green and red acrylic paint, small brushes, and clear sealer.
How to make it: 1. Paint the board a light base color and let it dry. 2. Paint holly leaves along the edges and add red berry dots. 3. Seal it and mount the hooks back on.
Hang a Tote of Little Gifts
A tote full of little wrapped gifts looks sweet and is very practical. Hang a natural jute bag on one hook and fill it with small presents wrapped in brown kraft paper and red and white twine. They can be real gifts for neighbors, teachers and the mail carrier, ready to grab on the way out. Tuck in a few pine sprigs so the bag looks full and festive. It is decor and a gift station at the same time. Who would you hand the first little gift to?
You will need: A jute or canvas tote, small boxes or treats, brown kraft paper, red and white twine, tape, and pine sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Wrap each small gift in kraft paper and tie it with twine. 2. Stand the gifts upright in the tote. 3. Tuck pine sprigs around them and hang the bag on a strong hook.
Swap in Your Coziest Holiday Coats
Sometimes the best decor is what you hang every day. Move the dull black jackets to a closet and put your most festive pieces on the hooks instead. A red buffalo check coat, a cream cable knit hat and a forest green scarf look like Christmas all by themselves. Add a small wreath on the end hook and the whole rack feels styled. This idea is totally free, and you can change it up whenever you like. Take a picture of your finished rack and see how much warmer your entry feels. Is this the year your coat rack becomes the star of Christmas?
You will need: Your coziest red, green or plaid coats, knit hats and scarves, and one small wreath.
How to make it: 1. Clear off the everyday jackets and bags. 2. Hang two or three festive coats, then add a hat and a scarf. 3. Put the small wreath on the end hook to finish.
