Wall Hooks We Love

These modern, minimalist coat dots perfectly capture Dutch industrial designer Hella Jongerius’s quirky yet functional style. The hooks—which you can arrange neatly in a row but also look equally good hung in a more free-form fashion—mount flush against the wall, making them kinder on hats and caps. But you can also pull them out about an inch on their extendable mounting pins to more securely hold coats, bags, towels, and more (each hook can support a maximum of 22 pounds). “I love the feel of the glossy, smooth surface and comforting baoding-like shape of the dot in my hand and the satisfyingly smooth action when I pull on the pin, said Winnie Yang, author of several of our parenting and kitchen guides.“I got my set of white dots for the entryway, but they would work in just about any space, and I look forward to expanding on them with a green set someday.”

The Gatco 4245MX Latitude II cylinder peg is offset from the wall by about an inch and a half, and is about an inch tall. Senior editor Harry Sawyers has these hooks mounted on wide subway tiles in his bathroom, and likes them for both their function and aesthetic. Sawyers found the hooks create a nice geometric contrast against rectangular tile, breaking up the grid-like field, and that the peg is “tall enough to give you a generous mounting point to catch any wet towel or robe collar casually tossed over it.”

The Simple Wood Goods Coat Hook takes full advantage of the natural beauty and strength of wood. Its cantilevered shape supports loads as heavy as 30 pounds when mounted to a stud or to the included drywall anchors—that’s enough to handle a commuter bag with a laptop, jacket, and full water bottle inside. Michael Zhao, author of a number of Wirecutter guides, opted for walnut hooks with brass mounting screws to match his mid-century modern decor, but you can choose any combination of walnut, ash, maple, or oak hooks, and brass, steel, or black screws.

These charming Sir Madam Brass Duck Hooks perfectly hold coats or sweaters without loops, and, at 7 inches tall, there’s ample space between the two hooks to hang a variety of accessories. Alex Arpaia, author of several of Wirecutter’s home and sleep guides, found that both hooks have deep curves that make it easy to stack multiple items—helpful when guests come over and her entry is suddenly working overtime to accommodate the extra coats. This hook is made from solid brass, so it’s heavy, even before you add extra weight. If you can’t find a stud, you may want to use anchors to mount it to your wall.

If you lean toward a contemporary aesthetic and want to hang bulky items, you may want to consider the Wook Wall Hook by Blu Dot— smooth, curved, and available in six finishes. Gregory Han, the author of a number of Wirecutter’s home and furniture articles, says the Wook looks and feels like a piece of modern furniture, especially in its vibrant Marine Blue or Tomato color. At 1 inch wide and 5 inches long, the Wook offers an unusually ample amount of surface area for a single wall peg, making it well-suited for hanging wool overcoats or purses—without ever stressing the fabric or creasing straps—or for full-size headphones and other miscellaneous items that might not fit elsewhere. The Wook’s slight upward angle ensures nothing hung from it will slide off and looks great even when it’s empty. The hook comes with a mounting bracket but no mounting hardware (which you’ll have to pick up from your hardware store).

The Home So Suction Cup Hook Holder is one of the few temporary hooks that actually stays put—no annoying adhesive tape required. Deputy editor Christine Cyr Clisset found the suction cup sticks securely enough to the tile outside her shower that she can hang a towel on it. “My Home So hook has slid off maybe twice in two years, but all I need to do is re-suction it to the tile,” Christine says. Close up, the silver plastic looks a bit cheap, but from a few feet away it’s a dead ringer for chrome.

The KES Solid Metal Swivel Hook gives you three hooks that swivel off a single base—helpful if you have limited wall space, because you can hang a bunch of gear in a single spot and get to the thing you need without having to remove everything. Available in brushed nickel and polished chrome, it’s subtle enough to blend into almost any decor and easy to install anywhere. (You can even adjust the clip left, right, up, or down in case the drilled holes are slightly misaligned, which isn’t doable with most regular three-point hooks.) Senior staff writer Doug Mahoney has the KES installed in his office, where it typically holds his laptop bag, coat, and a hat. One caveat Mahoney noted: since the KES’s three hooks are positioned closely together, it’s best for holding three or four different-sized items. You can’t just pile a couple bulky winter coats on it.

The Amigo Modern Peace Sign Hook is a fun way to jazz up blank wall space, while adding a touch of color. Arpaia found the modern design could look stylish in an entryway, kid’s room, or any otherwise drab part of the house you want to make a little bit more fun. The Peace Sign is rated to hold 10 pounds, so it’s perfect for light and slim items you need to store, but don’t count on it to hold much more than a single coat or some accessories. The Peace Sign hook comes with wall anchors and screws, thoughtfully powder-coated to match.