Why You'll Want To Add A Coat Rack To Your Bathroom

In 1936, visionary architect Buckminster Fuller invented the Dymaxion Bathroom, a prefabricated room that virtually cleaned itself. Unfortunately, the room never went into production, largely because plumbers worried it would take away their livelihood. Since then, the average American bathroom has become a room 40 to 100 square feet in size, a small but very important multipurpose space that's prone to clutter. Towels hung on doorknobs, terrycloth robes draped across the shower doors, and bathroom slippers kicked into the corner aren't a pleasant sight for you or your overnight guests. That's where reimagining a hallway coat rack as a storage solution in your bathroom comes in.

Unless you do the laundry daily, damp, post-shower towels shouldn't be tossed into a laundry basket where mildew only needs 24 hours to establish itself. Neither should bathrobes nor washcloths. Things left on the floor are trip hazards, and bottles of product stored on the bathroom countertop or perched on top of the toilet tank can spill. All this aside, even if you're okay with an untidy bathroom, your guests may not be. The cleanest bathroom can seem unsanitary if it's cluttered. Luckily, there's a multitude of coat rack designs out there, from simple coat trees with hooks to elaborate pieces of furniture with mirrors and benches. You could even clear up clutter and organize your space with IKEA's versatile coat rack. One can go a long way to solving your bathroom storage problems.

Ideally, the coat rack you add to your bathroom will combine form and function. It will serve its purpose while blending into the room's decor, and it will be large enough to be useful but not so large that it overpowers the space. Consider what the biggest problems you need to solve are. Do you need hooks or rods to hang damp towels on? Hidden storage where you can tuck away extra rolls of toilet paper? Do you keep your cat's litter box in the bathroom, and need a place to hide the litter and the scoop? If you don't have a linen closet, do you need shelves for clean towels and washcloths? Combine your coat tree choice with sink-side bathroom organization options to tame all of the clutter. 

The sturdiness of the coat rack and its ability to stand up to the humidity in the bathroom should also be considered. A metal and glass rack may look lovely by your front door, but it's hazardous to anyone who slips on a wet floor. Sharp edges and corners are dangerous for kids and folks with balance issues. Alternatively, if your coat rack comes with shelves and you plan to use baskets on top, consider a wicker look-alike made from plastic to forestall damage from humidity. Likewise, avoid untreated wood — it will swell and shrink with changes in the humidity. If you prefer a wood rack, manage the humidity in the room with exhaust fans or choose a wood that's tolerant of moisture, such as cedar or teak.