Store Pots and Pans in 10 Stylish Ways
Whether you like to keep cookware hidden or out on display, there are creative storage solutions
Jennifer Ott
6 December 2017
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
There’s more to designing a kitchen than selecting cabinetry, appliances and surface materials. Numerous smaller details must be taken into consideration, including how and where you store your kitchen tools. Pots and pans pose a particular challenge, due to their size and bulk. You want them stored in a way that makes them easy to grab for cooking, but you may not necessarily want them on full display in your kitchen. And stacking them three or four deep in a closed cabinet is just not optimal, especially if you cook often. Here’s help finding the best storage option for you, your kitchen and the way you cook.
The first thing to decide is whether you want your cookware on view or hidden. This is a personal preference; some people like the look of hanging pots and pans, and others prefer a clean, uncluttered look. If you don’t cook often, I’d recommend storing your pots and pans in a pantry or closed cabinet, so they don’t collect grease and dust.
Pots on view
Suspended pot rack
The obvious on-view storage option is a pot rack suspended over an island or peninsula. Make sure the pot rack is mounted high enough that everyone’s head clears the cookware, but not so high up that you can’t reach everything.
Kitchen islands that work as hard as you
Suspended pot rack
The obvious on-view storage option is a pot rack suspended over an island or peninsula. Make sure the pot rack is mounted high enough that everyone’s head clears the cookware, but not so high up that you can’t reach everything.
Kitchen islands that work as hard as you
I've seen pot racks fashioned from old wooden window frames (without the glass), doors, ladders etc. for a charming, one-of-a-kind storage solution.
Linear wall rack
For a more streamlined look, arrange your pots and pans in a line on the wall using a linear rack.
For a more streamlined look, arrange your pots and pans in a line on the wall using a linear rack.
Linear racks are nice if you want your pots and pants easily accessible yet not necessarily taking centre stage – as they tend to do with a traditional pot rack hung in the middle of the kitchen. This is also a better option in a galley or smaller kitchen, as it takes up much less space.
This gorgeous copper-clad cookware definitely deserves to be seen. But again, in a tighter space you may not be able to suspend a large pot rack from the ceiling. Double up on linear racks and you can store a large number of pots and pans on the wall.
Above-stove shelf
If you use your cookware daily, you may want to store it on a shelf right above the stove. If you opt to store cookware in the open and you cook often, you’ll want to have a vent hood that can pull grease out of the air and exhaust it to the outside, so that your pots and pans don’t end up covered in grease.
10 tips when designing open shelving for your kitchen
If you use your cookware daily, you may want to store it on a shelf right above the stove. If you opt to store cookware in the open and you cook often, you’ll want to have a vent hood that can pull grease out of the air and exhaust it to the outside, so that your pots and pans don’t end up covered in grease.
10 tips when designing open shelving for your kitchen
Window display
Normally I’d be opposed to hanging something in a window that obstructs the view out or light coming in, but there is something so charming about pots and pans hung in a kitchen window. For many this may be the only place to hang cookware, and it could help obscure a less-than-ideal view.
Normally I’d be opposed to hanging something in a window that obstructs the view out or light coming in, but there is something so charming about pots and pans hung in a kitchen window. For many this may be the only place to hang cookware, and it could help obscure a less-than-ideal view.
Pegboard
Try making your own pegboard pot rack. It’s a great DIY project, and you can customise the rack with the exact size, colour and hook configuration you desire.
Try making your own pegboard pot rack. It’s a great DIY project, and you can customise the rack with the exact size, colour and hook configuration you desire.
Hung under the island
Not sure you want pots and pans hanging prominently, but don’t necessarily want to store them away in a cabinet? Here’s a nice hybrid option – hang your cookware underneath the island.
Not sure you want pots and pans hanging prominently, but don’t necessarily want to store them away in a cabinet? Here’s a nice hybrid option – hang your cookware underneath the island.
Pots and pans suspended underneath a countertop don't have to look industrial or utilitarian. This cookware is easy to fetch (and put away) but remains tucked away in a niche under the island for a clean, modern look.
Open-base cabinet shelve
This is another good option for those who want their cookware visible and handy. Again, dust and grease accumulation can be an issue if you don’t use the cookware often and if you don’t have adequate kitchen ventilation.
This is another good option for those who want their cookware visible and handy. Again, dust and grease accumulation can be an issue if you don’t use the cookware often and if you don’t have adequate kitchen ventilation.
Hidden from view
Deep drawers
Deep drawers work well for storing cookware, but if you love to cook, be sure to have enough drawers so you can set your pots and pans in one layer, so they’ll be easier to see and pull out. A separate area for lids also will keep the drawer neat and easy to use.
Deep drawers
Deep drawers work well for storing cookware, but if you love to cook, be sure to have enough drawers so you can set your pots and pans in one layer, so they’ll be easier to see and pull out. A separate area for lids also will keep the drawer neat and easy to use.
If you have a cooktop or stove top, you can use the drawers in the cabinet below for storing your cookware. Make the bottom drawer deep enough to store your pots, with the corresponding lids stored in a shallower drawer above.
Corner cabinets
Corner cabinets can be a great storage spot for cookware, especially if outfitted with a wire-rack lazy Susan. You can clearly see everything stored on both shelves, and then spin the rack to access whatever you need.
Corner cabinets can be a great storage spot for cookware, especially if outfitted with a wire-rack lazy Susan. You can clearly see everything stored on both shelves, and then spin the rack to access whatever you need.
Pantry wall
Here’s my own solution to storing cookware. My pots are stored in deep drawers in a base cabinet, and my pans are hung on a pegboard inside my pantry.
Now I’ll be the first to admit this isn’t very pretty, but I wanted to find a use for this small section of wall inside my pantry and realized it was the perfect spot for skillets and sauté pans.
It was an affordable DIY project using pegboard, some wood and paint. As you can tell from the wear on the outside of my pans, I cook a lot. I wanted them to be accessible without necessarily being on display. This solves the storage challenge nicely – they’re out of sight yet easy to get to, and they make use of an under-utilised wall in the pantry.
TELL US
How do you store your pots and pans? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
Make Your Kitchen Storage Efficient
Here’s my own solution to storing cookware. My pots are stored in deep drawers in a base cabinet, and my pans are hung on a pegboard inside my pantry.
Now I’ll be the first to admit this isn’t very pretty, but I wanted to find a use for this small section of wall inside my pantry and realized it was the perfect spot for skillets and sauté pans.
It was an affordable DIY project using pegboard, some wood and paint. As you can tell from the wear on the outside of my pans, I cook a lot. I wanted them to be accessible without necessarily being on display. This solves the storage challenge nicely – they’re out of sight yet easy to get to, and they make use of an under-utilised wall in the pantry.
TELL US
How do you store your pots and pans? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
Make Your Kitchen Storage Efficient
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I've tried many of these solutions over the years. Downsizing, now that I'm single and "older" has been a challenge because even though I don't cook as much as I did in the days of feeding a lively family, I still have many favorite pots, pans, frying pans, roasting pans, and those decorative pieces that are only used occasionally. My favorite solution being used at the current time is a long open island console with a shelf at the bottom, a butcher block top, and plenty of room to hang all the most frequently used items underneath. It took some lengthy searching to find the right unit. I removed the useless decorative top surface and ordered a butcher block top online cut to fit, which I attached with special hardware from Home Depot. After some trial and error, I finally found a sturdy hanging bar with sliding hooks that fits underneath and holds most of my fry pans and often-used saucepans. The shelf holds fun favorite odds and ends that are used almost daily and are attractive colors. Yes, I would like more spaces for all my stuff, but now that I have two grown daughters and a son who all love to cook, I pass on those items that they covet, but that don't see enough use in my kitchen. Also I have not had an issue with dust and grease as I did with overhead storage solutions or open shelves.
Jennifer,
Thank you so much for featuring our pot & pan drawer. If anyone is looking for more ideas to help solve pot & pan storage here's a few more of my faves...
A 2-Tier Drawer can be used in a few way. The upper roll-out can be used for lids, oven mitts, cookie sheets and pans, utensils, cutting boards, cookie cutters, you name it!
The partition for lids can also be on the sides if you prefer...
This is a classic roll-out and works great for keeping the lids organized.
I love this combo for someone who has a large collection of cookware....
Mandi @ Dura
Hi Judyboots, your island sounds great! Any chance you could post a picture? thanks!