The Old-School Way of Storing Pots and Pans That’s Totally Back in Style

Peek your head into any restaurant cookspace, British countryside kitchen, or Italian cucina, and you’re bound to find something similar: a pot rack. I know, I know … it seems pretty old-school, right?

Well, not exactly — at least — not any more. Pot racks, sometimes also called kitchen rails, are back in a big way, thanks to a slew of modernized shapes and fresh finishes that make them more of a design statement and less of an industrial workhorse (though they’re still that, too — just cuter). Not only are they a great way to put your favorite cookware on display (and have it handy any time inspiration for a late-night omelette strikes), but they’re also just the classic solution your kitchen might need if you’re short on storage space or boast a backsplash that could use a little fancying up.

The best part? You don’t have to use pot racks just for pots and pans. I’ve seen them put to work hanging everything from vintage copper cooking utensils and grain sack linens to corralling a wood cutting board collection and stringing up bulbs for some ambient lighting. They’re true workhorses, and I think everyone’s kitchen could benefit from some kind of a rail or rack-like storage solution.

Whatever you choose to use your pot rack for or wherever you find the space to put it, I promise you won’t regret investing in this kitchen trend. They say what goes around eventually comes around, but I think we’re in it for the long haul here with this functional decor. Interested in getting in on the action? Try one of these modern stunners on for size.

The perfect way for petite apartment dwellers to get in on the trend, this leather and wood combo is as cool as it is compact. It’s probably not going to be strong enough to hold your favorite Le Creuset sauce pan, but it can house that 3.5-inch cast iron Lodge skillet.

Buy: Hanging Storage Kit, $36.99 at Etsy

Equal parts modern and timeless, this brass utility rod from Schoolhouse Electric is almost too pretty for words. It comes with six “S” hooks to make it easy to hang and display whatever your heart desires, plus a coordinating shelf if you’re really looking to create a whole Insta moment.

Buy: Nicolai Utility Rail, $199 from Schoolhouse Electric

This inexpensive pick from Wayfair has all the tough industrial kitchen vibes you’ve come to associate with pot racks. The sleek black finish would be the perfect modern accent to any space, and at 33-inches, this baby can fit all your goodies.

Buy: Gracie Oaks Pot Rack, $26.99 from Wayfair

Another Etsy find, this gilded rail feels the most to me like it just hopped out of Julia Child’s kitchen. The sophisticated shape has just the right vintage touch and is slim enough to go above your stove, if you don’t boast a ton of extra wall space in your kitchen for a pot rack.

Buy: Brass Pot and Pan Rail, from $125.30 at Etsy

For a product that does double-duty, you’re going to want to add this World Market pot rack to your cart ASAP. The steel grid makes it easy to attach any number of kitchen gadgets, and it doubles as a bookshelf, meaning you now have the perfect spot for your Ina Garten shrine — err, I mean — cookbooks.

Buy: Bookshelf Pot Rack, $99.99 at World Market

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: If You’re Not Storing Your Cookware This Old School Way, You’re Missing Out