A hall tree does more than catch coats. It gives your family a place to sit, store shoes, hang bags, and keep everyday things ready by the door. This guide explains what a hall tree is, how to measure for one, and how Furniture From The Barn can help you choose (or design) the right piece for your home.
Every hall tree we build is made from solid wood and built one at a time. We work with reclaimed barn wood and premium American hardwoods so your hall tree feels like it truly belongs in your home.
What Is a Hall Tree?
A hall tree is a single, self-contained unit that usually includes:
- A bench seat to sit on while you put on or take off shoes
- A solid wood back panel with coat hooks attached
- Storage for shoes and boots below the bench (open cubbies or enclosed)
- Optional overhead cubbies or a small cabinet for hats, scarves, or seasonal items
- Optional side cabinets for extra storage on the right or left side
Everything is made together as one piece, so the backing, bench, storage, and hooks all work as a single design. That's what makes a hall tree feel like furniture, not just a row of hooks.
Where Hall Trees Are Used
Hall trees are mainly used in high-traffic areas where people are always coming and going:
- Front entryways and foyers
- Side doors and back doors
- Garage entries that come into a laundry room or mudroom
- Long hallways or small foyers in older homes without closets
- Apartment entryways, especially smaller spaces like New York City apartments
They're especially helpful for families and pet owners. Kids can drop backpacks in the same spot every day so they're easy to grab in the morning. Dog leashes and bags live by the door instead of disappearing into a drawer. Keys, hats, and bags have a predictable home.
How to Measure for a Hall Tree
Measuring is simple, and if you're unsure, we're happy to walk you through it.
1. Choose the Wall
Decide exactly where the hall tree will go: next to the front door, in a mudroom, along a hallway, or by a garage entry. Make sure there is a clear, flat stretch of wall.
2. Check Your Ceiling Height
Most homes have ceilings around 8 or 9 feet. Our standard hall tree heights are 72 inches and 84 inches. We do not recommend going taller than 84 inches because it becomes hard to reach overhead storage comfortably.
3. Measure the Width
Measure the available wall space from side to side. Because our hall trees are made to order, we can build to just about any width. If the hall tree will be freestanding, many people like to leave a little "wiggle room" on each side instead of filling the wall from edge to edge.
4. Measure the Depth and Walkway
Depth is often the most important measurement. Our standard bench depth is 19 inches, which is very comfortable to sit on and gives good storage below. We can make hall trees less deep for narrow spaces, but we prefer not to go below 15 inches. At that depth, we strongly recommend attaching the piece to the wall for stability.
In front of the bench, it's ideal to have around 36 inches of walking space. In small entries, you can sometimes work with less—around 30 inches—but it's important to think through how people will pass by the hall tree and open nearby doors.
5. Think About Doors and Trim
If there are doors that open near the hall tree, make sure the bench and any side cabinets won't interfere with the door swing. For semi-built-in installations where you want to fill the entire wall, we often recommend removing the baseboard and attaching the hall tree to the wall so it sits tight and secure.
Hall Tree Sizes & Dimensions We Recommend
At Furniture From The Barn, we've found a few dimensions that work well in most homes:
| Height | 72" or 84" (standard) |
|---|---|
| Bench Height | 18" from floor (true chair height) |
| Bench Depth | 19" standard; min 15" for tight spaces |
| Hook Height | 60"–66" for adults; lower rail available for children |
| Width | Custom to your space |
Because every hall tree is made to order, the exact width is something we can help you choose once we see your room measurements and photos.
Hall Tree Layout Examples
Small-Space Layout
In smaller areas, we keep the hall tree narrower with a single row of coat hooks. If you have the ceiling height for it, we can add cubbies or a small cabinet at the top for extra storage. Depth can be reduced to fit tight spaces, and in very shallow installs we may attach the piece to the wall for extra stability.
Classic Family Layout
For most families of four, a common width is in the mid-50-inch range, which gives everyone their own dedicated coat hook. Some people like to add smaller hooks on the ends for dog leashes. Below the bench, you can choose open cubbies so shoes slip right in, or a flip-up bench seat that hides shoes inside.
Full Mudroom or Larger Entry Layout
For larger spaces, we often add side cabinets on one or both sides of the hall tree. We typically pair this with an 84-inch-tall design so there's room for a cabinet above and another below. Inside these cabinets, we can add adjustable shelves or extra hooks. This layout is perfect for storing vacuums, yoga mats, and bulkier items you'd rather keep out of sight.
Pet-Friendly Layout
Many customers design their hall trees with pets in mind. We can place lower hooks for leashes, plan shallow cubbies for towels and toys, and even build a deeper cabinet with a pull-out bin for pet food or a recycling-style container. It all depends on how you live with your animals and what you want handy by the door.
Solid Wood Construction (Not MDF or Particleboard)
Our hall trees are not to be compared with mass-produced pieces from big-box retailers. Many of those are made from MDF, particleboard, plywood, or thin veneers that don't hold up well in high-traffic areas.
At Furniture From The Barn, every hall tree is made from solid wood. For years we have primarily used reclaimed pine from old barns and structures. More recently, we've added new hardwood options, including:
- Maple
- New oak
- Hickory
These hardwoods allow us to offer a wider range of finishes and more control over color, especially when customers are trying to match existing trim or cabinetry. No matter which wood you choose, we never use particleboard in our hall trees.
Coat Hooks: The Finishing Touch
Coat hooks are a big deal for our customers, and we treat them that way. After building hall trees for many families over the years, we know which hooks hold up well and which ones don't, and we only recommend hardware that we trust.
We often say that the coat hooks are like the jewelry that completes your outfit—they're the finishing touch that makes the whole piece feel special. The right hooks can complement the wood, tie in with your existing hardware, and really bring the design together.
We offer many hook options in different metals, shapes, and finishes, and we can send you links so you can choose the exact style you like. Whether you prefer modern black, classic oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel, antique brass, or something more decorative, we'll work with you to make sure the hooks look right on your hall tree and in your space.
Customizing Your Hall Tree
Because each hall tree is built to order, almost every detail can be customized:
Dimensions Width, depth, and height to fit your space
Wood Species Reclaimed barn wood or new hardwoods
Bench Storage Open cubbies, flip-up seat, or enclosed doors
Upper Storage Overhead cubbies or cabinets
Side Cabinets Shelves or extra hooks
Back Panel Flat, beadboard, or custom designs
Hardware Multiple hook styles and finishes
Finish Painted, stained, or two-tone
We'll look at your room measurements, photos, and how you plan to use the space. From there we can recommend sizes, layouts, and details that make sense for your home.
To get started, you can browse our hall tree collection for inspiration or contact us to talk through your ideas.
Ready-to-Ship and Quick-Ship Hall Trees
If you're working with a tighter timeline, ask us about hall trees that may be available more quickly. Depending on the time of year, we may have:
- Showroom pieces ready for delivery
- Standard-size hall trees that can be finished and shipped faster than fully custom builds
These options are ideal if you're getting ready for the holidays, hosting guests, or moving into a new home and want a solid wood hall tree without waiting through a full custom lead time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall are your hall trees?
Our standard hall tree heights are 72 inches and 84 inches. We find those heights work well in most homes and keep upper storage easy to reach.
What is the proper bench height for a hall tree?
We build bench seats at 18 inches high, which is true chair height. It's comfortable for sitting while you put on shoes and works well for most adults.
How deep should a hall tree be?
Our standard bench depth is 19 inches. We can make hall trees shallower for tight spaces, and have gone down to 15–16 inches when needed, but we'll usually recommend securing those to the wall for extra stability.
How high do you place the coat hooks?
For adults, we typically place hooks between 60 and 66 inches from the floor. For families with children, we can add a lower hook rail so kids can hang their own coats and backpacks.
Can you build a hall tree to fit my exact wall?
Yes. Because everything is made to order, we can size your hall tree to fit your wall width and ceiling height and adjust the depth to work with your room and doorways.
What are your hall trees made from?
All of our hall trees are made from solid wood. We work with reclaimed barn wood and new hardwoods like maple, oak, and hickory. We never use particleboard in our hall trees.
Can you help me choose the right hooks and finish?
Absolutely. We can share photos and links to hook options and finish samples so you can see how different combinations will look. We'll help you choose hardware and colors that complement your home.