Created out of necessity, like most accessories we use today, the dish drying rack has much evolved lately and is no longer regarded as just a simple basic item for the kitchen. The designs have evolved to incorporate other functions as well and they’ve been embellished while being simplified at the same time. The next 12 examples were selected to reflect these ideas.

Compact yet very efficient, the Arena dishrack features a concentric design with a sloping base that channels the water away, allowing the dishes to dry quickly, and with an integrated spout that drains the water directly into the sink. The flexible ribs hold the dishes securely in place and the design overall is flexible enough to accommodate plates, bowls, cups, glasses and utensils all at the same time.Available for€49.

Named Fluidity, this accessory serves a double function. It can be used as any other dish drying rack but it also lets you grow small plants and herbs. The base has a fluid form that directs the water away into the sections where the plants are placed. These contains have perforated bases.

Thisorange dish drying rack also takes advantage of the water that drips from the plates and allows you to use it to grow a mini garden in your kitchen. This is actually a DIY design which can be adapted and transformed according to one’s preferences and possibilities.{found on inhabitat}.

And speaking of mini gardens and plants in the kitchen, this is a really chic dish drying rack designed by Erdem Selek. It’s compact and has a small planter where the water gathers while the dishes stand on branch-like structures. This is just a concept for now.

Some more modern options let you integrate the dish drying rack into the kitchen countertop. Here, for example, the rack occupied the back portion of the countertop, behind the sink and close to the wall. The design is long and narrow, with a sleek look. The only remaining mystery is drainage.

Other designs focus more on functionality, like this beautiful avocado-colored dishrack. It has easy grip handles and a self-draining spout as well as a built-in utensil holder. Its design is simple and straight-forward but without lacking style.Available for€20.

A little bit of vintage flair can really put a kitchen over the top. This double dish rack reflects this idea perfectly. Simple but elegant and charming, the design is space-saving and the materials used give it its vintage appearance. The tray is made of mango wood complemented by an iron stand with a blackened finish.Available for $109.

Featuring a solid steel frame, this dishrack is designed to match modern and contemporary kitchens. It has a drip tray and a swivel spout which can be positioned in order to drain the water directly into the sink. It also includes a wine glass holder and a knife holder. The fingerprint-proof coating keeps it nice and clean at all times.Available for $80.

Designed to be compact and versatile, this low-profile drying rack can fit in just about any kitchen. It’s able to hold items of all shapes thanks to its ingenious structure. The water collects in a bottom tray underneath the grass-like vertical pieces.Available for $15.

Modern and practical, this one features a sunny yellow ridged base and a built-in spout that drains the water collecting at the bottom. The steel wire inserts hold the dishes upright. There’s a special area for glasses and cups as well as a round utensil holder.Available for$39.

A lot of modern designs take functionality to a whole new level, giving it an artistic, chic twist, like in the case of this eye-catching dishrack. It packs flat and unfolds to reveal its true form. Although apparently simple, the design is really practical.Available on site.

It’s a bit strange to call this a dish drying rack given its design and structure. It’s designed around a drain and has a series of pegs of different heights arranged in rows. It’s a minimalistic yet not unpractical.{found on dtile}.