Make a DIY pan rack for less than $10
Debunking the "getting organized costs a lot of money" myth
When I first got started with organizing I was shocked by the price tags on some of the organizing products. It's so funny, I remember before I got myself organized I would laugh, thinking "Who would ever spend money on that?"
Now, I look at some products and think "That would work perfectly, maybe I'll ask for it for my birthday!" Yes, I'm that much obsessed with organizing, that now I ask for organizing products as gifts. However, sometimes I don't have time to wait to save up or wait hoping someone will eventually gift it to me.
Getting organized doesn't have to be expensive. I'm going to show you how I spent less than $10.00 CAD to make a beautiful and functional pan rack. Before that, I want to highlight this point: Organizing is not about perfection.
If I were to have waited to get the pan rack I wanted my pan situation would still look something like this:
Progress over perfection
Yikes! How did that mess happen? Well, I moved into a new house, in a new city, new job, no time to take off work and didn't take the time to set up a new system for my pots and pans! More pressing matters took priority. Sometimes all you can do is what you can and be okay with good enough.
I'm not embarrassed to show you that, in fact, I'm proud. It shows how far I've come from being a perfectionist. Perfection can be paralyzing. In extreme cases, it paralyzes you, those pots and pans could have been still in the moving boxes had I waited for the perfect solution.
The point is, organizing is a process. It's not something you do and it's done and over with. As life changes so will your organizing systems. I'll talk more about that in another post, as for now...here's what you've been waiting for:
How to make a pan rack for less than $10.00
Items needed:
1 Ikea Spice Rack - $7
1 pack Ikea S-hooks - $2
Paint - $0
Note: Use any paint you have have on hand. I was lucky enough to have had some from a previous project. If you don't, you can get some wood paint from your local dollar store for $2.
Instructions
Step 1
Before putting the spice rack together, paint it and let it dry.
Step 2
Once the paint is dry, put the spice rack together.
Step 3
Hang the spice rack near your oven or in a free wall in your kitchen
Step 4
Take the S-Hooks out of the package and place onto the spice rack.
Step 5
Place your small pans on the top and hang bigger pans from the hooks
Step 6
Top it all off with some oven mitts for easy access!
Here's the end result
Not too bad for 10 bucks, especially compared to these products ranging from $60.00 to $150!
There you have it, a double duty: functional and stylish pan rack that speeds up efficiency when cooking.
If you take anything from this post, I hope you take this: Don't break the bank on organizing products. The best investment you can make if you want to get organized is in education around the psychology of organization and solutions that will work for you.
Education comes in the form of books, online courses and finding a mentor like a pro organizer. Save for the organizing products you really want and buy when they are on sale, in the meantime head to the dollar store or get creative and come up with a DIY solution.
As always, you can download a copy of my free home organizing e-book for more tips and tricks. 
What are some DIY organizing products you've made or want to make? Let me know in the comments.
Kathleen MacAinsh, Professional Organizer
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17 comments
I applaud you for letting go of perfectionism to make way for progress. And by doing so, look how creative you got. Love the pot rack and your step-by-step description of how to make one. When I’m working with clients, I always try to work with what they have first before investing in organizing products. Very often there are containers and bins already available, but not necessarily being used effectively or at all. It’s fun to get creative about using what already exists. However, if needed, we’ll purchase products to make the space function at its best.
I’m very impressed with your creativity and resourcefulness! I would never have thought of doing that.