7 Reasons to Hang Your Pots and Pans on a Rail
Well-placed utility rails are popping up in stylish kitchens. Here’s why you may want to consider one too
Becky Harris
March 14, 2019
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
As homeowners make the most of efficient lower cabinets in the kitchen, wall space is opening up where upper cabinets used to be. This is wonderful and freeing, and now there are more opportunities to hang utility rails for pots, pans, utensils and other hardworking kitchen items. Here are seven compelling reasons to consider hanging a rail in your kitchen.
1. Your Kitchen Walls Need Something, But You Hate Open Shelves
Open shelves are one of those love-them-or-hate-them design elements since they’re convenient but tend to collect dust. Skinny utility rails, however, don’t have much space for dust to settle and hold everyday items that will be washed often. In this Stockholm kitchen by Lindalsköket, the rails and cookware add a mix of patinas and shapes to the white walls.
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Open shelves are one of those love-them-or-hate-them design elements since they’re convenient but tend to collect dust. Skinny utility rails, however, don’t have much space for dust to settle and hold everyday items that will be washed often. In this Stockholm kitchen by Lindalsköket, the rails and cookware add a mix of patinas and shapes to the white walls.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
This kitchen by LDa Architecture & Interiors uses the rails to store the lids along with the pots and pans in an interesting way.
Browse pot racks and rails in the Houzz Shop
Browse pot racks and rails in the Houzz Shop
Pat Kennedy Interiors
2. You Lack Storage Space
Pots and pans are space hogs, and there’s not always enough room to store them in cabinets and pantries, especially in compact kitchens. Rails are a great solution to this problem.
2. You Lack Storage Space
Pots and pans are space hogs, and there’s not always enough room to store them in cabinets and pantries, especially in compact kitchens. Rails are a great solution to this problem.
3. You Need an Ergonomic Storage Solution
Even if you have ample storage for pots and pans, sometimes their locations require a lot of bending over, squatting and digging around in a cabinet or low drawer to fetch what’s needed. Well-placed pot rails like the ones in this kitchen by Skolnick Architecture and Design Partnership make cookware easy to find and grab.
Even if you have ample storage for pots and pans, sometimes their locations require a lot of bending over, squatting and digging around in a cabinet or low drawer to fetch what’s needed. Well-placed pot rails like the ones in this kitchen by Skolnick Architecture and Design Partnership make cookware easy to find and grab.
4. You Want Easy Access to More Than Just Pots and Pans
Practically anything that can go on a hook can hang on a rail. These Boston homeowners use their copper pot rail for such daily-use items as a cutting board and an oven mitt. Other things that can hang include cooking utensils, coffee mugs and teacups.
Find a local kitchen remodeler
Practically anything that can go on a hook can hang on a rail. These Boston homeowners use their copper pot rail for such daily-use items as a cutting board and an oven mitt. Other things that can hang include cooking utensils, coffee mugs and teacups.
Find a local kitchen remodeler
Rails can keep herbs and other houseplants close at hand but off the countertops. Utility rails are also a good place to dry herbs.
How to Grow Herbs Indoors
How to Grow Herbs Indoors
5. Your Room Needs Another Metal Accent
Pot rails are a great opportunity to make a statement with a metal finish. Wrought iron, brass, stainless steel, copper — whatever metal finish you fancy can be brought in through a utility rail and its hooks. In this kitchen by KitchenLab, the brass rail accentuates the brass on the vent hood and the stove.
Pot rails are a great opportunity to make a statement with a metal finish. Wrought iron, brass, stainless steel, copper — whatever metal finish you fancy can be brought in through a utility rail and its hooks. In this kitchen by KitchenLab, the brass rail accentuates the brass on the vent hood and the stove.
It’s also a chance to inject the kitchen with some beautiful workmanship. Along with the range and the vent hood, this rail was made by La Cornue.
Shop for copper cookware
Shop for copper cookware
6. You Want to Show Off Your Copper Cookware Collection
These homeowners are passionate about their Mauviel cookware collection. So the designers at Chestnut Grove Design Studio designed and crafted these pot rails in-house to turn the beloved collection into a focal point. The couple can enjoy looking at it every day.
Learn more about this kitchen
These homeowners are passionate about their Mauviel cookware collection. So the designers at Chestnut Grove Design Studio designed and crafted these pot rails in-house to turn the beloved collection into a focal point. The couple can enjoy looking at it every day.
Learn more about this kitchen
7. You Want to Intensify an Industrial Design
This Los Angeles loft by Andrea Michaelson Design has sleek industrial style. Cookware finishes like cast iron and stainless steel accentuate the look. And hanging the items at different lengths from long hooks creates a cool composition along the wall.
This Los Angeles loft by Andrea Michaelson Design has sleek industrial style. Cookware finishes like cast iron and stainless steel accentuate the look. And hanging the items at different lengths from long hooks creates a cool composition along the wall.
Sculleries of Stockbridge
Tell us: Have you used utility rails in your kitchen? Please share in the Comments.
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Read more about kitchen storage
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for kitchen and dining products
Tell us: Have you used utility rails in your kitchen? Please share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more about kitchen storage
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for kitchen and dining products
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I had to go look to see what you meant. I was wondering the same thing. My guess this wasn't the original design, but a practical issue. The plan was probably to center it, but then either they added the rightmost window later when they had the chance - after the sink was in, or they couldn't move the plumbing but still wanted the triple window. It would bother me, but then I like my colanders and bowls stacked largest to smallest and it drives me bats when my husband cleans and stacks them any which way. But then I have to be grateful that he cooks and cleans. We do alternate weeks, and the first thing I have to do is restack everything and put the silverware in order. It doesn't take long and I've given up trying to correct him.
For Dotty Settler and Beth, Yes it does seem a bit odd, but I agree it was either the framing, plumbing or both. The person was in love with the window and didn't want to be limited by the plumbing/construction placement. BUT, if he/she had chosen a drop-in or under-mount sink it wouldn't have been as obvious. I bet it's a case of 'I want it all,' to which I can CERTAINLY relate. All-in-all I think it's kind of cute this way. Part of me loves 'unusual' presentations in a decorating/design scheme. This fits the bill exactly! I like it. :)
It looks to me like many if not all of the sinks pictured here under windows aren't centered. Mine isn't either. The very tall faucet we chose doesn't line up with the center of the double window above the sink. We had to go with what was there and I'm just grateful we could put in a larger sink and a tall faucet!