When designing, redesigning or simply upgrading a kitchen, ceiling pot racks can be a great way to save space on counters and in cupboards. They also relieve stress from trying to find what you need when cooking since pots and pans would be hanging, literally, at your fingertips.

Until recently ceiling pot racks were probably found more often in industrial kitchens than in homes where wall mounted racks, a similar type of contraption, took precedence. This is probably because mounting something to a wall as opposed to a ceiling is generally easier for most people.

However, wall racks have their drawbacks:

• On some racks hanging pot bodies can take up rack space limiting use.
• Pots may make contact with the wall causing marks or scratches on paint or wood.
• Pot bodies can overlap each other limiting accessibility from one pot to the other.
• Wall racks take up wall space. Regardless of the size of a kitchen this can often take away from the aesthetic feel of the room. It also means less space on the wall for other things like a knife magnet or spice rack.

Ceiling racks provide the following:

• Better storage when there is little space.
• Breathing room between pots and pans.
• Good accessibility.
• An opportunity to free up space elsewhere.
• Character to a kitchen.

One of the most important benefits of ceiling pot racks: With wall racks the home chef will never have to empty out a cabinet in culinary frustration again.

Factors to consider when choosing racks:

There are many different factors to consider when choosing a ceiling pot rack. Some of the most important points to check are the following:

1. Kitchen placement:

• It may seem smart to put a ceiling pot rack over a stove-top because the stove is where you use pots and pans but it’s a dangerous situation that could lead to burns from heat generated by the stove below. Also, steam rising from boiling water, food droplets, or other residue may affect the rack and its contents. That’s why for both of these reasons a popular place to hang the ceiling pot rack is over an island counter or a counter by the wall where the cooking prep process usually begins.
• When deciding on where to hang the rack don’t block light fixtures. Some ceiling pot racks come with their own light fixtures or fixtures can be bought as accessories.
• The rack cannot be hung from just anywhere. Once a ceiling spot is found ceiling joints need to be located. Joints are the most secure areas to install the rack bolts and its support chain, which will be holding the weight of the actual rack and all the pots. If you are not sure of how to go about this hire a professional.

2. Size:

• The width and length of your ceiling rack depends on the placement decision. This is important because it needs to fit in the space you have selected and pots and pans need to be able to hang and be accessed easily without hitting walls or cabinets.
• If the ceiling rack is too close to a cabinet, shelf, or wall this may create a problem with pots denting woodwork or chipping paint.
• The expectation of how many pots and pans need to be stored on the rack will also affect the choice of size.

3. Shape:

• Ceiling racks can be rectangular, square, oval, semi oval and other shapes.
• Aesthetically, the shape of a rack may depend on other shapes in the kitchen such as if the room has a squarer or rounder feel.

4. Composition:

• Kitchen ceiling racks are made from any number of materials including stainless steel, metal, wood, or iron. Although some are seemingly stronger than others, if the one you choose is professionally made and installed correctly it will be strong enough to withstand the weight of your cookware.

5. Style:

• When it comes to style what’s most appropriate usually depends on the kind of kitchen and needs of the homeowner. Ceiling pot rack designs can be very traditional and grid-like or vary greatly in presentation. In essence, there is no right or wrong but personal preference without losing sight of getting the most out of the rack you choose is the key.

Conclusion:

Ceiling pot racks are one of the most useful upgrades a kitchen can receive. They will make life in the culinary environment easier and free up space for other items elsewhere. Choosing the right one for you is not difficult and will be the perfect display for top of the line pots and pans. Just remember, if you decide on purchasing one it’s a good idea to make sure it is professionally installed since an improper installation may lead to other problems down the road.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about practical kitchen topics for pros across the U.S. like Salt Lake City, Utah tile contractors.

Trash cans in the kitchen can be divided into two basic types…

• free-standing trash cans.
• mounted trash cans (or pull-out waste containers).

Free-standing kitchen trash cans

Free-standing kitchen trash can with lid

It’s best to place this kind of trash can in open places in your kitchen to reach them easily. If you don’t have enough space, there are trash cans whose design allows you to stick them to the wall, thus saving space.

Some of trash can lids open inwards, which is good if you want to put your trash can in a covered place, such as under the sink, where it is not feasible to put a trash can with a lid that opens upwards.

Other free-standing trash cans have a foot pedal for quick and easy hand-free opening.

A third type of free-standing trash can even has a built-in sensor chip, by means of which the lid will open automatically when your arm approaches and will close when you take your arm away.

Some trash cans don’t have a lid. With these, it is easy to deposit garbage, but you run a great risk of attracting unwanted insects. However, if you often put your garbage out without leaving it to stand for a long time and don’t worry that it will be visible, a trash can without a lid is no problem.

Free-standing trash cans are available in various colors, shapes and finishes, and you may use the availability of different styles to add value to the kitchen decor. For example, a glossy stainless steel trash can is very convenient if you have furnished your kitchen in a contemporary style. For the casual look, there are other styles of trash can, including baskets made of woven straw.

Factors to consider when selecting free-standing kitchen trash cans

1. A good trash can will open wide at the top, so that you can throw in a large amount of garbage, such as a full dustpan, at one time. This is not a feature of trash cans whose lids open inwards.

2. If the lid is an integral part of the trash can, you will want to be able to leave it open until you decide to close it, so that you can use it over a period of time without having to keep opening the lid. The lid must move smoothly, open and close quietly, and close firmly to prevent odors. The last refers to all trash cans with lids.

3. If the trash can has a pedal to open the lid, it has to have a rough surface to stop it from slipping when you step on it and it has to be fairly wide so that you can step on it easily from different angles.

4. It is a good idea for the trash can to have a handle, so that you can move it easily. The inner liner (if there are any available), must also have a kind of a handle so that you can take it out and empty it easily.

5. It is a good idea for the trash can to have a rubber bottom or something similar, both for stability and to prevent it from damaging the floor.

6. If you have pets in the house, it’s a good idea to look for a trash can with a lid that can be locked to prevent spillage in case the pets overturn it.

Mounted kitchen trash cans

Trash container mounted in a kitchen cabinet

These trash cans are most often containers, mounted either in the cabinet under the sink, or in other cabinets in the kitchen. When you open the door of the corresponding cabinet, the container slides out on guides and some containers have a lid that opens automatically.

With this kind of trash cans you will save space and given the fact that they remain out of sight, you won’t need to bother about what they look like.

You may have a container with several compartments in which you can put different kinds of garbage. For example, you might put the main garbage in one compartment, paper in a second and plastic in a third.

Another type of mounted kitchen trash can just consists of a wire frame with a lid, which may be used with grocery or continuous roll bags. This variant is simple, economical and practical.

Wire frame with lid and grocery bag

Other helpful hints

1. The trash can you choose will depend mostly on the available space in your kitchen and the amount of garbage you have. Nevertheless, for, say, a family of four, an 11-gallon (50 l) trash can would be more convenient than a 7-gallon trash can (32 l), which would be good for a family of two.

2. No matter whether the trash can has an inner liner or not, it’s a great idea to use the trash can with garbage (or grocery) bags, because it’s practical and you will need to clean it less frequently. For this purpose…

• the trash can must be tapered, with its upper part being wider, to prevent a vacuum from forming when taking out a full garbage bag. Some kitchen trash cans have holes in their inner liner to prevent such a vacuum.
• the trash can must have a smooth inner surface, so that there are no edges or mechanical parts to prevent the garbage bag from catching and tearing when it is removed.
• the bottom of the trash can must be tightly sealed to prevent dirt from spilling out of the trash can, in case the garbage bag spills.
• the garbage bag must be fixed securely to the upper part of the trash can to prevent it from slipping off and spilling the litter when it is full.

3. Kitchen trash cans may be…

• plastic.
• stainless or enameled steel.
• aluminum…

Metal trash cans are strong, durable, stable and won’t retain odors, as may happen with a plastic trash can. In addition, they are very easy to clean, especially if they are made of stainless steel.

4. If you want to put the trash can under the sink, make sure the place is usually dry because if it is wet, there will be a mess if garbage spills from the trash can.

5. The trash can must be fire-resistant.

6. The inner liner (if any are available) must be treated with an antibacterial substance. Click here for the best deals on kitchen trash cans.