How to Organize Pots and Pans

Turn pots and pans into a decorative statement by installing a curtain rod on a wall in your kitchen and hanging them on it. In this soft blue kitchen, designer Sheila Bridges placed the pots and pans above some wall art for an even more eye-catching display.

This deep drawer storage from Omega Cabinetry has two compartments to keep lids organized and separated from pans. The lids not only stay put in the back, but they're out of the way for when you're only after a pot or pan sans lid.

To break up the reflective mirrored glass tile above the backsplash in this kitchen, designer Whittney Parkinson hung pots and pans on hooks attached to a golden rod. Since they're spread out, they offer a delicate touch instead of an overwhelming effect.

Oversize paned glass cabinets reveal an aesthetically pleasing (yet functional) collection of cookware in this kitchen designed by Caren Rideau. The storage solution is especially great for large pots because you'll know at a glance where to find them.

In a kitchen designed by Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn, pegged drawers stop dishware from shifting. The inserts are equally well suited to pots and pans—plus, you can reconfigure the arrangement whenever your storage needs change.

If you want to make space for many pots and pans, try slanted inserts. The ones in this kitchen, also by Studio Dearborn, keep pans accessible and neatly arranged. The lids fit right in too!

The overhang attached to the island of this pantry kitchen—in a California home designed by Sheldon Harte—puts every pot and pan on display and easily within reach.

For a metallic statement, add an industrial-style hanging rack above the island. In this kitchen designed by Katie Ridder, the rectangular rack allows pots and pans to be displayed from hooks on all four sides for ample storage. It's a quick way to free up cabinet or drawer space for another use.

If an organization option like custom drawers can't become a reality in your kitchen, cover open shelving or doorless cabinetry with a skirt. This way, you can at least hide some of the clutter. In the kitchen of a Florida home, designer Phoebe Howard took the concept one step further by matching the skirt to the ceiling wallpaper.

In Food Network star Molly Yeh's kitchen, a slatted dish rack within a blush pink built-in hutch keeps plates organized. Take inspiration from the concept by using a similar design to corral lids for pots and pans.

The hanging rack in this kitchen by designer Jon de la Cruz is more than a storage option—it's an art piece. The curves of the rack introduce a soft touch to the moody space.

If you have an open table acting as an island in your kitchen or providing extra space in your pantry, consider storing less frequently used pots and pans underneath it in large baskets, like the ones in this kitchen by designer Summer Thornton.

If there's one pot you constantly use that's also chic, consider displaying it on your stove. In this kitchen designed by M. James Design Group, a copper pot sits on the electric stovetop. It'll save you time since it's always ready to cook whenever you are. Plus, it's a last-ditch solution for small kitchens with barely any storage.

While various cutting boards are on display in this kitchen by designer Linda Hayslett, the idea easily translates to cookware. Simply add strong hooks to a blank kitchen wall, and suspend your favorite (and prettiest) pots and pans for a fix that doubles as decor.

If hanging pots above your island feels too in your face and hanging them on the wall isn't ideal, create a dedicated zone. In this kitchen by designer Jim Dove, the pots and pans hang from two rods in between cabinetry and appliances. They're out of the way yet easily accessible.