HANGING POT RACKS: ART OR EYESORE
Hanging pot racks are a common fixture in many "gourmet" kitchens. You see them in many style homes where they may not even belong. They can make run of the mill kitchens look a little more upscale, adding contrast and interest to an otherwise boring space.
Hanging such a fixture must be thought out carefully as much for style as function. The most common mistake made when hanging these is the location. They will most often close in a kitchen with low ceilings and outdated lighting. Another common error is hanging racks in spots that actually block overhead lighting and so low that heads hit the pots.
Placement should make sense, like over an island prep area or next to a cooking surface, again not blocking lighting or chopping up walking around space. It's not fun hitting your head on a pot when walking around the room getting to things.
When hanging a rack, consider how it will be used and how often. Some like hanging racks as decor, others like the function aspect. When staging a home for sale that thought process will tell you if you should take it down. In small homes, where kitchen storage is at a premium, it can be an attractive selling feature if presented neatly and in a location that makes sense.
It must be totally spotless with the minimum number of clean, colorful items hanging from them. The items should appear functional and complement the kitchen and it's surroundings. No fake chili peppers or garlic bulbs please!
It should look sturdy and stylish. There is nothing uglier than a homemade rack that looks homemade. I have seen many that are barely hanging on by a thread. It must be securely mounted or a nice smack in the head could be on the horizon.
Probably the above left could be considered art, but what about below?
An exaggerated example? Yes but as a Stager, the most common problem I see is that many who have hanging pot racks use them as a catch all for everything that won't fit in cabinet or drawer storage. They gather dust and grease if not cleaned on a regular basis and so do the items hanging from them.
Nothing says yuk! better than greasy dusty pots hanging from the ceiling. It most certainly gets potential buyers thinking there is not enough storage in the kitchen.
If you have a pot rack hanging in your kitchen, step back and really look hard. If you use it and can't do without it, pare it down and spiff it up. Many buyers like them.
If you are not sure about it, take it down. You can always take it with you to the next place!
AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online. We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.
Gosh - this rack completely absorbs the space in this kitchen. I would greatly reduce the items on this, if not the entire thing altogether. It really ruins the room totally. I hope this isn't a staging client!
Mel
That last picture is scary. I'd be worried it would pull the whole ceiling down. Personally I'm not a big fan of pot racks. Just another thing to clean. Good tips, though, on having a pot rack, if you are so inclined.
If it were up to me, I would remove the pot rack all together. Nothings screams "there's not enough cupboard space" like a pot rack. Just my opinion...
Too often I see hanging pot racks in small kitchens, making the kitchen feel even smaller and indicate there is not enough cabinet space.
Hi Ana, It's never a question in my mind, they come down. They block the view of the kitchen cabinets which is what the buyer gets to keep in the transaction. Hanging pot racks are a distraction in online photos as well.
Great post! I almost always recommend removing them because it is do distracting and I think gets the buyers thinking the cabinets are not big enough for the pots.
Melody, you said it, racks can really be distracting and I usually recommend they be removed.
Michelle, I have seen some racks that make me wonder how they were still hanging!
Sally, very true. Sometimes though they can look nice and compliment a space but that is very rare.
Michelle, I agree that most small kitchens are bad spots for them, especially when staging to sell.
Michelle F, exactly, as you see in the above photos, they mostly dominate an overall view to the negative.
Hi Cathy, Thanks, me too but you know how some sellers are stubbornly attached to features they think are really great:)
The first two racks look great. That third one is way to busy and like you said the counter top further detracts form the whole look. It is clear that the kitchen could look nice, but right now attention is drawn to the eye sore.
In a small kitchen, definitely not, a large kitchen may be ok. An avid cook actually uses them,because they are so handy.
Ana,
I think they are eyesores. Large or small kitchens they alter the line of the space. IMHO
Hi Charles, you are right and one would be left wondering when it will all come crashing down!
Hi Cindy, they are handy but you are right most kitchens are too small to handle them attractively.
Hi Brenda, I agree most times they do break up sight lines and ruin visual appeal, that's why I mostly recommend taking them down. Thanks for commenting:)
Ana, great post. Staging is about opening up the space and avoiding destructions. Leaving a pot rack in I would consider as one of the staging mistakes.
Hi Anna, great name by the way LOL. Thanks for commenting and you are right:)
Hey Anna, I could not convince a client to take hers down...sigh. She was very into cooking and didn't understand how it makes the space appear smaller. I guess it all depends if one is willing to disconnect from the property and move on!
I despise hanging pot racks, absolutely despise them. The only kitchens where I think they look good are the kitchens that are about 10,000 square feet. Otherwise it just looks cluttered. Now if you hang a historic pot on the wall, that would be okay. Say grandma's cast iron skillet that was made in 1776 by Paul Revere's Foundry and handed down through the years.