Pot Racks: Great Storage Solution for Small Kitchens

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I am big on continually seeking out ways to improve my home as my interests and needs change.

During the holidays, I realized one of the reasons I don't cook as much as I'd like is because it's always such a battle to find the right pot or pan. It usually involves a flashlight and a lots of clanging and banging, which usually elicits the question, "Are you all right in there?" from whoever happens to be within earshot. I think I see a pot rack in my future, and there are some fabulous styles and choices available from which to choose.

Between Naps on the Porch

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How about a hanging system that's almost completely out of sight? This surely beats digging around inside dark cabinets with a flashlight any day!

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Even a corner works well for storing often-used cookware.

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You could display your pans atop a shelf and create a hanging system below for your cooking utensils. A small copper rod makes a great hanging rod.

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These pot racks make great use of what might have ended up as wasted space in this kitchen. Notice they are hung adjacent to the stove, making them easily accessible when needed.

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Wall mounted pot racks are ideal above a sink where the pans can easily be hung once washed.

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If your kitchen is decorated in a casual or country style and you'd like the functionality of a pot rack without the expense, an old ladder just might do the trick. Tip: Choose a pot rack designed to work well for the height of your kitchen. For a standard 8' ceiling, you'll need a pot rack around 18" tall. For a 9' ceiling, a 30" tall pot rack will work best. For 10' ceiling, you'll need a pot rack that's 42" inches in height.

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If you have a large island, you may want to consider having pot racks on either end. Usually, pot racks are hung over an island but they can be hung over any surface you choose. You'll just want to make sure there's enough distance between the edge of the surface below to keep someone from bumping into the items you'll be hanging overhead. Tip: Pot racks are normally hung 42" above the counter surface.

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Some vent hoods have storage for pots built into the design. Notice how great the copper pots look hanging beneath the copper hood.

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If you are a serious cook and own a tremendous amount of cookware, you may need an extra long pot rack. This one makes an impressive display and says, "A real cook lives here!" Notice this pot rack is not mounted hanging from the ceiling. That's probably a good thing due to the weight of that many pots and pans.

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Have you noticed all of the pot racks we've look at so far have been light fixtures, as well? If you're in the market for a pot rack with built in lighting, you'll have many choices from which to choose.

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Pot racks can display or store more than just pots. Sometimes they are used to hold colanders or even spatulas. Some pot racks require four chains to hang them as shown in the previous examples. Some just need two as shown here.

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Pot racks can even present a decorating opportunity. Gotta love that!

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This pot rack is also a light fixture, though the lights are a bit more hidden away in the center. Storing your pots and pans in the open would be a tremendous incentive to keep them in pristine condition, wouldn't it?

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Pot racks are not always just pot racks. Sometimes they are light fixtures, too. Not only does this pot rack keep the pots and pans at the ready, it provides needed lighting for dining and working in this fabulous kitchen.