What Is a Butler’s Pantry? 5 Gorgeous Ideas That Add Storage and Style

Do you ever wish your kitchen had just a little (or a lot) more space? Ditto. Smaller kitchens have their perks, but it’s always nice to have more storage and bonus space for your entertaining needs — especially if you’re trying to keep your kitchen counters clean and organized. Rather than diving headfirst into full-blown kitchen remodels, homeowners are getting creative with their space solutions and finding inspiration from a room of the past: the butler’s pantry. 

“Butler’s pantries have an increasing appeal because more and more people want clean-looking kitchens without things on the countertops,” says Erin Bergant Harrod, an interior designer and feng shui expert at Heartfelt Homespace. “The butler’s pantry also gives additional storage to the kitchen beyond the basic shelving you’d find in a traditional pantry.” 

But what exactly is a butler’s pantry, and how is it supposed to be used? I asked three interior design pros to share the scoop on this blast from the past, and it turns out, it makes a supersmart addition to the modern home. 

A butler’s pantry is a small space between a kitchen and dining room that’s primarily used for small-scale food prep and additional storage. “It isn’t as complete as a normal kitchen, but it usually has countertops, cabinetry, and sometimes additional items like a dishwasher or wine cooler,” says Courtney Cole, interior designer at TileCloud and its sister company Yabby. 

Butler’s pantries became popular in larger homes that had waitstaff back in the 19th and 20th centuries. Waitstaff, including butlers, used them to store essentials for serving meals along with fine dinnerware and silverware. Some butlers even took up residence in these rooms to protect the fine assets! 

Over time, people shifted to giving these rooms more contemporary uses. Butler’s pantries have evolved into dedicated spaces for: 

• Minor food prep: Many people use the area to prepare smaller dishes, like a plate of snacks, to reduce trips to the kitchen. 
• Storage: A butler’s pantry is a great spot to store dry goods, pots and pans, and dinnerware. This helps free up coveted kitchen space and keep everything organized. 
• Entertainment needs: Entertaining is great, but dashing back to the kitchen to grab things can take up valuable mingling time. Butler’s pantries can help by providing more convenient spaces for items like plates and silverware, as well as wine refrigerators or wine racks for quick drink replenishment. 

A butler’s pantry and a scullery may seem similar in setup, but they have different functions. A butler’s pantry is primarily used for storage and preparing smaller food dishes for entertaining, while a scullery is mainly used for heavy-duty cleanup. 

“In a butler’s pantry, you might store your nice dishes or set up appetizers before a party,” says Malak Bellajde, interior design expert at Interior Moderna. “A scullery is where you’d do the big, messy jobs like scrubbing pots or preparing large quantities of food.” Another difference between these two areas are their locations in the home. According to Cole, a butler’s pantry is usually closer to the kitchen than a scullery is.

All the pros say butler’s pantries are becoming more popular in modern homes, especially for homeowners looking for versatile extra space. “The butler’s pantry gives additional storage to the kitchen beyond the basic shelving you’d find in a traditional pantry,” Harrod says. “It also allows you to customize storage for the individual items you may have.” 

People are doing really cool things with these spaces, too. Some butler’s pantries trends that are on the rise include: 

• Creating coffee bars: People are building chic coffee bars in this space to create their own slice of java paradise, complete with coffee machines, mugs, and more. 
• Incorporating wine storage: No more storing wine on the kitchen counter — people are using butler’s pantries to store their favorite blends by installing wine refrigerators and wine racks. 
• Building custom storage solutions: Bellajde says custom storage solutions, like pull-out pantry shelves and specialized cabinets for appliances, are also gaining popularity in these areas. 
• Installing cabinet displays: People who are short on space for their finer dinnerware are using butler’s pantries for handy display. “This pantry can almost act as a curio cabinet for display of your favorite china, as I’ve been seeing less and less formal dining rooms allowing for this option,” Harrod says. 

The pros of having a butler’s pantry include: 

• Having a versatile area in the home: This space can be used for a number of reasons and customized to one’s needs pretty easily. 
• More storage space: Goodbye, kitchen counter clutter — a butler’s pantry is a goldmine for extra storage, especially for countertop appliances. You can free up cabinet space as well by storing plates and glasses reserved for entertaining there. 
• Easier entertaining: No more rushing back and forth between your dining room and kitchen when hosting a dinner party. Simply pop into the butler’s pantry to get your guests refills and plate up more appetizers. 
• Boosted home value: According to Cole, a bonus area like this can help you make more cash if you sell your house, as it gives your home more of a luxurious touch. 

I get it — it’s super tempting to start planning your perfect butler’s pantry space after hearing all you can do with it. However, it’s important to consider all the aspects of a project like this before taking it on. If you’re looking to add this space to your home, make sure you do the following: 

• Evaluate your home layout: Before you start measuring walls and picking out cabinets, take stock of your home’s layout and determine if a project like this will actually work. “​​If you are renovating your house and have a small room close to the kitchen, go for it!,” says Cole. “Otherwise, adding them into a preexisting build can get really tricky.” It’s also important to plan how exactly things will look and flow in this new area. “Hire an expert to help you lay things out and consider all options,” Harrod suggests. “A good layout is imperative to a well-functioning butler’s pantry.”
• Define its purpose: There are so many things you can do with a butler’s pantry, which is why it’s important to have a vision for it before you start building. “Think about what you need most,” Bellajdel says. “Is it extra storage? A place to stage meals for parties? A specialized coffee or wine station? Once you know that, you can design the space to really enhance your lifestyle and the flow of your home.”
• Account for electrical needs: This space isn’t like a typical pantry; it’s meant for more robust use and, therefore, needs electricity. “Outlets are needed for all your appliances to be functional within that space,” Harrod says. “You also want to be sure you have adequate lighting, as most butler’s pantries are fairly small and under-lighting them would be a disservice.” 

A great thing about this small-but-mighty room is how much can be done with it. These five butler’s pantry design ideas should help you get the creative juices flowing.

Pullout drawers are great because they provide easy access to essentials. Place extra silverware and linen napkins in them for seamless dinner table setting before your next big dinner. Your guests (and your sanity) will thank you!  

A darker shade of cabinetry adds a more elegant look to a butler’s pantry, especially when paired with gold fixtures. Incorporate this color scheme into the space, along with some warm lighting, to boost the luxurious feel. 

White cabinetry provides a classic look for a butler’s pantry and suits several styles. Go for a more modern look with a marble-like backsplash and black countertops. 

Don’t forget about the higher areas of the space! Add shelving above the counters to store things like sugar and coffee cups and leave more space on the counters for larger appliances. 

If you don’t want your appliances to take up all that valuable counter space in the butler’s pantry, consider building vertical cubby shelves to store them. They’re still easy to access and have designated spots in the area, making organization a breeze.