This Ingenious, Super-Slim Clothing Rack Turns Blank Wall Space Into (Stylish!) Extra Storage

With not one, but two generously-sized closets in my bedroom, I’m fully aware that I’m a New York City renter anomaly. That said, I don’t really have any sort of defined entryway; my apartment opens up directly into the kitchen. Essentially, hosting + friends with jackets = awkward every time. Most wall-mounted or freestanding coat or clothing racks would be too bulky for my setup, but I just discovered a solution from Yamazaki that’s surprisingly perfect for both entryway- or closet-less small spaces.

Rather than running parallel to the wall, Yamazaki’s unique, ultra-thin coat rack latches on perpendicularly. The minimalist design, standing at 68 inches tall with a 15.25-inch base, effectively converts unused corners or wall space into instant stylish storage, anywhere in your home.

Here’s how it works: the rack simply leans right against your wall, no drilling or installation needed, and stays put at ground level thanks to two built-in no-slip pads. Yep, it’s really that simple, and reviewers have attested to its surprising stability. The fixture is easily transportable and scratch-free, too, with a silicon grip attached to the wall-adjacent end. You can also adjust its distance from the wall itself, angling the base between 13 and 15 inches away.

Note that Yamazaki’s leaning rack does have an 11-pound weight capacity, plus the top portion can only fit so many hangers, but it works well for lightweight coats, sweaters, dresses, or even robes in the bathroom. If you’re especially short on clothing storage space, consider leaning a pair or trio of these side by side along a blank bedroom wall, too, or just convert one into a weekly outfit organizer. A reviewer even put this to use for hanging laundry, then moved the whole unit — clean clothes and all — to another room afterward.

When set up against a wall, this storage rod arguably occupies about the same amount of space width-wise as most standard freestanding clothing racks, yet with a drastically slimmer footprint and narrower length. If you’re like me and essentially need to DIY your own entryway out of nothing, or want to maximize an empty corner, consider this one of the sleekest, most practical organizing solutions — not to mention fairly well-priced at $45. Coming from Yamazaki, this modern design has definite keep-for-years quality, too, no matter where you style it.

Buy: Yamazaki Leaning Coat Rack (63″ H), $45