A Pot Rack in Its Proper Place

It's the seeming salvation of every cabinet-space-challenged homeowner: A restaurant-style pot rack to reduce clutter in the kitchen. People are drawn in by a vision of gleaming pans within easy reach, hung from the ceiling by a pot rack in almost any style you can imagine: contemporary stainless steel, colonial-inspired wrought iron, even natural woods and custom-designed combinations of materials. But will it work for you?

"The concept definitely looks good on paper," says Monica Ricci, an organizing expert and owner of Catalyst Solutions in Atlanta. "Pot racks free up space in the cabinets for other items, too — specialty appliances, big pieces you only use for entertaining..."

But not everyone is comfortable with the "visual stress" of having all the cookware in plain view. A pot rack is not a good idea "if you have pots and pans that are... how can we put it...not visually appealing?" says Ricci.