Buy or DIY: Clever Ways to Organize Your Pots and Pans
—Tracy Anderson
No matter how large your kitchen, there never seems to be enough room for all the cookware. Pots are bulky, shapes and sizes vary, and those pesky lids have a mind of their own. But that doesn’t mean we have to sit back and take it. Here are 8 clever ideas to help both buyers and DIYers corral their collections of pots and pans.
1. Go Overboard
Photo: abeautifulmess.com
Sometimes the simplest solutions create the biggest wow factor. With nothing more than a basic pegboard—and a few pegs—you can hang a whole lot of kitchen gear. If you want to jazz it up a bit, playful painted outlines like the ones shown here are a great idea.
Related: 9 Ways to Get on Board with Pegboard
2. Roll Me Away
Photo: cshardware.com
Sometimes a store-bought storage solution is your best bet—and this heavy-gauge sliding wire rack is a great choice. It glides out easily for accessibility and tucks out of sight for a clutter-free kitchen. Check out Custom Service Hardware for several different options.
Related: Get Custom Kitchen Cabinets with 7 Easy Installs
3. A Different Point of View
Photo: thekitchn.com
If you have a small kitchen, you know that every square inch counts. In this modest space, a window is just the right size to accommodate a simple rack—perfect for hanging handled cookware of all shapes and sizes. You may have to sacrifice the view, but you’ll make up for it in convenience.
Related: 11 Inspiring Kitchens That Defy Their Small Size
4. Divide and Conquer
Photo: durahardware.com
This custom Dura Supreme cookware storage solution features a shallow compartment for lid storage that’s installed in the upper section of a deep drawer. Arrange your pots and pans below, and you’ll never again waste time hunting for lids.
Related: 10 Surprisingly Smart Solutions for Junk Drawers
5. Hanging Copper Pipes
Photo: mobilehomeliving.org
Hanging a pot rack over a kitchen island is a great way to save cabinet space while keeping everyday items within reach. You can DIY your own using lengths of copper pipe; evenly spaced S-hooks allow you to display your cookware in style.
Related: Renovate Your Rental: 9 Kitchen Upgrades You Can Make
6. Sliding Into Home
Photo: glideware.com
Another way to buy your way out of cookware clutter is this sliding system from Glideware. You’ll have easy access, stay incredibly organized, and undoubtedly be the envy of your home chef friends.
Related: 10 New Kitchen Products to Make Your Life Better
7. Off the Rack
Photo: instructables.com
Stacked neatly inside one another, pots and pans aren’t the biggest obstacle to a tidy kitchen—it’s the lids! Keep them in line by hanging them inside cabinet doors. The only hardware you’ll need is a handful of plastic adhesive hooks, spaced to fit each lid.
Related: Kitchen Cures: The Perfect Solution for Every Unruly Drawer
8. Climb the Ladder
Photo: oldhousecrazy.com
If you can’t trust your old wooden ladder to support your weight, perhaps a piece of it can be repurposed to support your pots and pans. Cookware is still heavy, though, so be sure to find the joists in your ceiling before closing the deal.
Related: Get Organized: 25 Clever Ideas for Repurposed Storage
