HANGING IT UP...5 Tips on Pot Racks in the Kitchen
Whether or not you think hanging pot racks are a design statement or functional attribute, here are some pointers that will render it more successful on both fronts. I have reviewed numerous pictures of kitchens where pots are being hung and several things stand out to me, so I’m passing on these tips.
Determine your purpose. If your reason is for a design statement, the requirements are different than if it is to be functional. If you are hanging pots over a large island, putting the pot rack in the center may be putting some of the pots out of reach for functional use. Also, unused pots will tend to collect dust, so be prepared to give them a good cleaning occasionally. Functional pots should be hung near where they will be needed, especially the most often used ones.
Do not hang the pots over the cook-top or range. While this is ideal as a function since it is where you use them, it is not safe to be reaching over the range to retrieve them. Also, It is possible that they will be hot to the touch if cooking below them for long. Thirdly, they will constantly be coated with splatters and grease from the stove below, just like a backsplash.
Size is important. Watch the scale and proportion of the rack and pots over the island or cabinets below it, as well as the room itself. A small pot rack with lots of pots will look silly over a huge island or in a big kitchen, and vice versa. Likewise, be careful of the height. It is best to determine a height that is reachable, but not so low that it interferes with your vision of the room.
If you don’t like a cluttered look, but like pots hanging for functional use, do not have a lot of other distracting items going on. Racks with simple lines and minimal frills will give function without adding to the clutter. Be aware of the sidewalls and backdrops as you typically view the room. Minimize ornamentation and open shelving with lots of exposed pieces and let the pots take center stage. Or, consider hanging them on a wall instead of the center of the room. Either of these can be done successfully in a contemporary, vintage, transitional or industrial kitchen.
When adding lighting to the mix, be aware that lights above the pots will cast shadows on the surface of the countertop. It is better to incorporate task lighting within the pot rack and keep it minimal in fixture size so as not to compete with the pots and rack. This could be done well with small LED lights incorporated within the frame or hung between the supports of the rack.
Hanging pots is often trendy as a design element but always acceptable as a function of storage and use, and therefore, a personal decision. Keeping these pointers in mind should help you in creating a successful solution when hanging a pot rack.
JST
