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Do your pans end up looking like this? Try one of these solutions. Shutterstock/Luke SW
task master
Where's the smartest place to put pots and pans?
They’re awkward, they take up loads of space, and you need to get at them all the time. Where should pots go?
PROBABLY THE BULKIEST items to be stored in the kitchen are our saucepans, pots, and pans. But they’re also things that we need to access every day – so clever storage is essential.
There are two basic options here: hidden storage and open storage. The former tends to suit modern, minimal, and formal style kitchens, whereas the latter works well in a more relaxed, rustic, or industrial style kitchen. Let’s explore some of each.
1. Get smart with a pot drawer
If you have ample kitchen cabinets, the obvious answer is to store pots and pans in a dedicated drawer. Ikea sells a range of kitchen cabinets with two-tier drawer inserts – ideal for storing pots underneath and lids on the top tier. Another alternative is to retrofit a sliding drawer to existing kitchen cabinets, making it much easier to access items at the back of the cupboard.
2. Create a display with a wall rack
For an easy-to-reach option, consider mounting a wall rack close to your hob. A rail fixes to the wall, with a row of hooks from which to hang your most commonly-used pots.
Copper pots especially would have been traditionally hung in this way, so that they became part of the kitchen décor as well as a functional item. With modern iterations of the copper pot enjoying renewed popularity, alongside new ranges of more colourful options, a wall rack of pots could become a great feature in your kitchen.
3. Go vertical with ceiling-mounted hooks
For a rustic or industrial look, or if wall space is limited, a ceiling-mounted rack works really well. They come in a range of finishes from iron and wood to sleek stainless steel. Hang it above a kitchen island or peninsular unit to avoid banging your head!
Hanging racks also provide a great space for drying herbs and chillies etc. if you are a keen cook.
4. Make the most of an underused corner
For a budget option, or where cupboard space is limited, a pot stand can turn a tiny corner into an ideal storage space for your pots and pans. It is an ideal way to display a collection of designer kitchenware, or you can alternate the tiers with potted plants to make it more visually appealing.
5. Reorient around a kitchen island
If you don’t have an island unit as part of your fitted kitchen furniture, consider adding a portable version. These can either become a permanent fixture in the room, or be wheeled to one side when not in use. You can store all your pots and pans in the body of the island, and it has the added benefit of also providing extra worktop space.
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