Pot Racks: Kitchen Form, Function, and Convenience

by Gabby Hyman
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Some people go stir crazy in a disorderly kitchen. They'd rather make a quick trip to a fast-food joint than turn circles in a dizzying space cluttered with too many kitchen accessories. If you're going to install home decor wall accessories like china organizers, knife hangers, or pantry shelves, you'd be happier in the long run if they're functional, as well as attractive. Pot racks can be decorative and handy if you lack cabinet space or simply want to have your cookware at hand's reach. Before installing a pot rack (or any kitchen accessory for that matter), be sure to determine your needs, your kitchen dimensions, and your budget. It may sound simple and obvious, but if you haven't scaled your cookware, the length of your wall accessory, and the height of all potential cooks in the kitchen, you're in for some serious head-banging torture.

First Things First

Most kitchen accessory stores have a wide selection of pot racks. There are attractive wrought iron ones, as well as wooden racks and ones electroplated with copper and brass. Cold-rolled steel offers durability, ease of maintenance, and strength. Hot-rolled hammered steel racks are also tough and reliable.

Racks will vary in size based on the number of dowel rods and the dimensions of the rails. Some racks are designed to hang from the ceiling--perfect for locating above islands or cooking areas. Others can be attached directly to the wall.

Ask for help if you're baffled. While many rack systems can be installed with a few tools, you may choose to bring in a home decor professional with experience in wall accessories if the project is ambitious.

Beware: If there's no easy access to your ceiling joists, call in a pro. Most hanging pot racks fall into one of four shapes: rectangle, oval, crown, or hanging bar. With an oval rack, you may need to install (or have installed) a ceiling plate.

Plan wisely to save money and heartache.

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has written for print and online media for more than 20 years. He has created online content for eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Avaya, and Nissan UK. He has also been a web consultant to the Governor of California. As an author of fiction, journalism, and poetry, Gabby is a former English professor for the University of Illinois, University of Alaska, and Old Dominion University. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Alabama.