Buy or DIY: 12 Clever Solutions for Storing Pots and Pans

No matter how large your kitchen, there never seems to be enough room for all the cookware. Pots are bulky, their shapes and sizes vary, and those pesky lids seem to have minds of their own. Still, we don’t have to sit back and live with the mess. We love the idea of upcycling materials like ladders and piping into pot storage racks; those less inclined to wield power tools will find plenty of readymade options here for corralling cookware, too.

Sometimes the simplest solutions create the biggest “wow!” factor. With nothing more than a basic pegboard—and a few pegs and hooks—you can hang a whole lot of kitchen gear. If you want to jazz the display it up a bit, paint playful painted outlines around your tools and pots so you can remember what goes where.

Sometimes a store-bought storage solution, like this one from Lynk Professional=, is your best bet for keeping lids in line and sheet pans vertical. This heavy-gauge sliding wire rack glides out easily for accessibility and tucks out of sight for a clutter-free kitchen. 

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Those of us with small kitchens know that every square inch counts. In this modest space, a window is just the right size to accommodate a simple rack that’s 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.

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.

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If you’re a DIYer who has more home improvement scrap material than you know what to do with (and you want to give your kitchen that “too cool for PEX pipe” vibe), use copper plumbing pipes to hang your cookware—or ask Etsy seller Johnnie and Suzie to make a custom rack for you. The copper piping is stunning, sturdy and fits right in with the ever-popular farmhouse-industrial aesthetic.

Another way to buy your way out of cookware clutter is this sliding system from SOYO. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel, the rack has a weight capacity of 150 pounds. Finally, a place we can hang those cast-iron Lodge skillets!

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 adhesive Command hooks, spaced to fit each lid.

If you can’t trust your old, wooden ladder to support your weight, perhaps it can be repurposed to organize your pots and pans. A ladder plus cookware is a lot of weight to bear, so be sure to secure it to the joists in your ceiling before hoisting it up.

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Would you believe us if we told you that your kitchen had storage space that you didn’t even know about? Many kitchen cabinets have unfinished bases with decorative trim affixed to their front panels. Rather than leaving this space unused, consider installing toe-kick drawers, which are perfect for storing sheet pans and other cookware. While this project is doable for an experienced DIYer, it may be necessary to hire a professional in order to achieve a look that blends in with your existing cabinetry.

Many kitchens are designed with blind corner cabinets, which feature valuable storage space that’s tricky to access. Make the most of every inch of your cabinets by installing a pull-out organizer that’s specifically designed for these difficult spaces. They’re perfect for storing pots and pans of varying sizes, and each shelf slides out independently for optimal convenience. 

Many storage solutions for pots and pans are purely functional and don’t focus on aesthetics, but what if you have attractive cookware that you want to display? Enameled Dutch ovens and other bakeware come in fun colors and can be displayed as kitchen decor. If you have unused wall space, consider adding floating shelves that allow you to show off your favorite pieces.

RELATED: How to Install Floating Shelves

If your kitchen lacks cabinet space but you’ve got an empty corner that’s going unused, consider a standing cookware storage rack. These standalone storage solutions feature several tiers, allowing users to stack their most used pots and pans so that they’re easily accessible. This
particular model
features eight tiers, measuring 68 inches high, and takes advantage of your kitchen’s vertical space.