This Chic Storage Gem Creates a Closet Out of Thin Air (It’s Great for Small Spaces!)

I love living in my cozy Brooklyn one-bedroom apartment for many reasons: It’s well-maintained, my neighbors are lovely, I’m a stroll away from the park, it has tall ceilings — I could go on! But there’s one thing I don’t love: I have only one closet for the entire place. And I have, let’s just say, more than one closet’s worth of clothing, jackets, shoes, and bags. Not only was my closet stuffed to the gills, but every back-of-door hook was loaded up, and my petite shoe shelf was maxed out. 

Then I had the chance to test the Umbra Bellwood Garment Rack for Apartment Therapy’s 2024 Organization Awards. I had no idea it was possible to conjure a closet out of thin air, but that’s exactly what this powerhouse of a rack does. At $250, here’s why it’s more than worth the splurge and is a great small-space storage find.

When I step into my apartment, I walk right into my living space. I wouldn’t mind the lack of an entryway if not for the aforementioned single closet — there just isn’t anywhere to tuck away all those things you need to drop when you come home, like jackets, bags, and shoes. Well, this rack covertly stashes all of those items at once.

There is a long rod for hanging any coats, scarves, sweaters; a long shelf for shoes, boots, and sandals; and three smaller shelves to place purses or accessories. Need a spot for your key tray? A place for a reed diffuser where the scent will instantly greet you at the front door? You can style these shelves however you’d like, and use them to store whatever you need.

Because it does a bang-up job of storing all those just-walked-in-the-door essentials, the Umbra Bellwood Garment Rack won the best garment rack in the entryway category of Apartment Therapy’s 2024 Organization Awards. But that doesn’t mean that’s the only place in a home it can do wonders. Although mine started in my entryway, I moved it to my bedroom after realizing I could use more help with clothing storage.

Now, I use it to display the jackets I’m putting on most frequently, anything I’m renting from Nuuly that month (it’s so helpful not to mix those pieces into the rest of my wardrobe), and a few other things I want to wear or find myself wearing a lot for easy access. I also love setting my purses on a shelf instead of hanging them in the back of my closet, and the bonus shoe shelf has been so helpful. Now, the small one I keep by the front door is reserved for the few pairs I wear all the time, and there’s even a clear shelf for guests’ shoes — a storage space luxury I simply never had before. 

Before testing this garment rack, I had looked into other clothing racks, aware that they could offer some useful extra storage. While the metal rod structures I scrolled through were low-profile enough to fit in anywhere, I just felt like they were too utilitarian. In a small space, I want everything to bring me joy when I look at it. When I first put together the Umbra Bellwood Garment Rack (which took 45 minutes, all told, and assembly is not my forte), I was instantly smitten. 

Made of eucalyptus wood and ashwood, the shelves are rounded, making the rack feel soft on the eyes and decidedly un-clunky. I love, in particular, the way the piece that divides the hanging rod portion from the shelves curves over top, creating a soft arch. Plus, the steel rod ensures that nothing is buckling under the weight of my excessive jacket collection. Form, meet function. 

Buy: Umbra Bellwood Garment Rack, $250

Want to see more award-winning products? Explore our 2024 Organization Awards for our top picks.