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8 Pots & Pans Storage Ideas for Small Kitchens

Valerie Albarda

By Valerie Albarda
Updated December 9, 2024

Storing pots and pans in a small kitchen can be challenging. However, just because your space is limited doesn’t mean storage has to be an uphill battle. We’ll show you 8 pots and pans organization ideas to work with the space.

A kitchen with a Kichler Barrington iron pot rack over an island with a built-in range.

Get Organized by Storing Your Pots and Pans

Storing pots and pans can be a source of frustration in any kitchen, but when you have a small kitchen, it makes it even more daunting. With pots, pans and lids of assorted sizes, it’s difficult to find a place where everything fits nicely and they’re easily accessible. With just a little ingenuity, you can store pots and pans with ease in a small kitchen.

Wall-Mounted Racks

Cuisinart stainless steel 5-hook pot rack mounted on a wall next to an upper cabinet.

Put that blank wall space to clever use by hanging a pot rack with hooks. If you don’t want your pots and pans on display in your kitchen, try hanging them in the pantry. Hang two or three vertically to create a pots and pans wall.

Look Towards the Ceiling

Elegant Designs brushed nickel 10-hook pot rack in a white kitchen.

If wall, cabinet or counter space is difficult to come by, look up. The ceiling is a wonderful place to hang a pot rack. It keeps your cooking essentials within easy reach. Hang it over the range, an island or wherever you do food prep. Look for designs that complement or enhance your existing kitchen décor. Some hanging pot racks have integrated lighting.

Vertical is the Direction to Go

A kitchen countertop corner with a red pan in a freestanding pot holder.

Go vertical with a freestanding metal rack. Stack pans of varied sizes within the metal frame. This freestanding rack can be installed inside a cabinet or tucked away in the corner of a countertop.

Maximize Cabinet Space

Rev-A- Shelf two-tier pull-out basket with mixing bowls and pots inside an open cabinet.

It’s easy to maximize the efficiency of your cabinets. When you’re in need of a cabinet organizer for pots and pans, a two-tier pull-out basket mounted inside a cabinet makes accessing them a breeze. With this pots and pans organizer it’s easy to also store bulky items like mixing bowls and slow cookers. The basket tracks mount to the cabinet floor, sides and rear for stability.

Take the Corners Like a Pro

A white corner kitchen cabinet with various pots inside.

Even a small kitchen can take advantage of adjoining cabinets. The space provided where two cabinets join at 90 degrees doesn’t need to be wasted space. The advantage is you’re able to see your pots and pans at a glance, making it easier for you to grab the one you need.

Roll It In As You Need It

A Style Selections two-tiered rolling cart with plants and pans in a kitchen with white cabinets.

A rolling kitchen cart with a work surface comes in handy when you need a little extra space to work. Store pans on the top tier and pots on the bottom, deeper tier. When you’ve finished cooking, roll the cart out of the way and store it in your pantry or laundry room.

Lid Holders for Pots

A cabinet door-mounted Hastings Home chrome iron shelf filled with glass lids.

You can never find a pot, pan or skillet lid when you need it. Solve that problem with a vertical cooking pot lid organizer that helps you make the most of the space you have. Mount it on the inside of a cabinet door, on the wall or in the pantry to organize pot lids so they’re always handy.

A Stand-Up Solution

Lynk Professional cabinet mount organizer with pans, bakeware and a cutting board.

A cabinet mounted bakeware organizer plays a dual role. While it organizes your sheet pans, cutting boards and springform pans, it’s also ideal for pans. The slide-out organizes brings the pans to you. When not in use, slide the organizer back into the cabinet.

Other Cookware Storage Ideas for a Small Kitchen

A yellow pegboard with a variety of pots, pans and other kitchen utensils.

When it comes to storage of pots and pans, you have lots of opportunities to get creative.

  • Make use of wall space with a pegboard. Customize it to your liking.
  • Mount a towel or tension rod. Towel rods work great for hanging pots and pans. That, with added heavy-duty S-rings, helps avoid clutter and creates a dedicated space for cookware.
  • If your cabinetry has toe-kick drawers, use that space for pans.
  • Instead of placing the lids on pots and pans when they’re stored, choose a dedicated drawer or two to organize them.
  • If you have a pantry and the space, store pots there.
  • Store pans in the bottom drawer of your oven. While the space under the oven may not be deep enough for pots, pans should work fine. Be sure to read the instruction manual for your oven’s model to determine whether the drawer is a warming drawer or broiler. If not, store away.
  • Stack pots and pans. To avoid scratches, place a tea towel or paper towels between each pot or pan.
  • Store pots in the deep drawers of your cabinets.
  • If your cabinets don’t go all the way up to the ceiling, store large pots on top. Since they’ll be seen, choose your best-looking pots and space them out evenly across the cabinet tops for a gorgeous and balanced aesthetic.
  • Invest in a baker’s rack or kitchen hutch. If your kitchen is too small for either, you might be able to store it in the dining room.