Hall Trees
A hall tree is a furniture piece used to store coats, umbrellas, hats and other types of common outdoor accessories. Early 19th century hall trees were designed to be placed flat against a foyer wall, and provided a combination of coat hooks, a mirror, an umbrella stand, and a small uncomfortable bench for servants or guests to temporarily wait at. Most modern hall trees are placed in the foyer or mud room of a house, and incorporate a coat rack, a hat stand, a few additional drawers or storage space, and a small wooden bench to sit on while tying shoes.
When a hall was added to the front of the home, pieces of furniture were purposely chosen to give this space function and display the homeowner’s wealth to guests. As such, a hall tree was seen as important to have in the front hall. A hall tree, also known as a hatstand, is a piece of furniture used to hold coats, hats, and umbrellas upon entrance. It often features hooks for hanging, a bench for seating and storage, and upper shelves.
Although a hall tree mainly serves a functional purpose, it can be decorated and elevated by adding cushions, a couple pillows, or even a small plant to the bench. Holiday decorations can be hung on any open hooks and signage or baskets can be an extra touch.
The bench of a hall tree, much like an entranceway standalone bench, has a height of 18 inches (45.7 cm). This height is typically one-fourth of the entire hall tree, although it can come in different sizes.
