Jennifer Lopez Will Convince You to Try This Small Space Kitchen Storage Idea
While celebrity lifestyles may seem largely out of reach, I’m sometimes surprised by the inspiration I find in their lives — especially in their kitchens. Last year, Drew Barrymore’s kitchen drew the internet’s attention for how normal it is, and now, Jennifer Lopez is providing the kitchen inspo you need for the new year.
A few weeks ago, the “Jenny from the Block” singer took to Instagram to post a picture of her casually cooking in a plunging sequin gown. But while her dramatic ensemble commands attention, many decorating enthusiasts were quick to notice the pot rack hiding in plain sight.
According to designer Beth McMillan, the storage solution creates a layered, old-world vibe akin to a Nancy Meyers’s movie. “We have seen a lot of very modern kitchens in the past few years, which by nature are more sterile and colder,” she tells Apartment Therapy.. “I love the blend of modern elements with the old-world antique vibe.”
Lopez isn’t the only one who’s embraced this trend — a teaser for Meghan Markle’s brand American Riviera Orchard featured a ceiling-mounted rack, and Joanna Gaines has a similar rod above her countertop to hold smaller cooking tools. While McMillan says the cookware on Lopez’s rack is more decorative, she thinks the copper adds a gorgeous color and depth.
Lopez’s pot rack delivers on the style front, and designer Cyndy Cantley says it can also be a great practical option for smaller spaces.
“It is so handy to just be able to grab what you need — especially the tiny copper pot I use to melt butter,” she says. “Even in an apartment, you could hang a pot rack on the wall and free up an entire cabinet by having everything within arm’s reach.”
But just because a pot rack can be a great storage solution doesn’t mean that this setup will always look good.
“The key to pulling off the mounted rack look is to either not use the main pots on display, or be very careful to keep them clean and not banging up the wall,” McMillan adds. “The rack does need to have some type of bump guard or [be] far enough off the wall that it doesn’t create a scarred mess quickly.”
You’ll also want to be careful about how many pots and pans you place on your rack. In fact, Cantley shares that she recently purged her skillet collection from six down to three — and recommends you do the same.
“If you have not used something in your kitchen for a year, give it away or at least store it somewhere else,” she recommends. “A kitchen should be efficient for daily use, [so don’t display] the twice-a-year turkey roaster.”
If a pot rack isn’t going to cut it in your home, Cantley has a smart storage solution for pots and lids. “A deep roll-out drawer with a not-so-deep rollout above it for lids seems to work the best in my opinion,” she says.
Psst… looking for more smart kitchen storage solutions? Check out these design-forward ideas that are downright delicious.
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