What Is a Butler's Pantry?

Sometimes known as a serving pantry or a scullery, a butler's pantry is a transitional space between a kitchen and a dining area that's often used for pantry storage, food prep, or staging. Butler's pantries historically served as secure storage spaces for fine china, crystal, silverware, and other valuable heirlooms. Today, butler's pantries are used for food staging spaces, a coffee or wet bar, or extra storage.

A butler's pantry can be a considerable perk for modern homeowners and add resale value when selling a home. Learn more about the history of butler's pantries, their modern uses, and the must-have features and accessories for a functional, efficient, and beautiful modern butler's pantry.

The History of Butler's Pantries

Butler's pantries were historically used as spaces for the home's butler to store, count, and polish valuable heirlooms, such as fine serving ware, silver, china, crystal, and serving platters, among other dining and entertaining accessories. These spaces were often locked up to prevent theft, and some butlers slept in their pantries as another level of protection.

Modern Uses for a Butler's Pantry

Thanks to different architectural trends and homeowners' shifting perceptions and priorities, today's butler's pantries can be much more than a simple storage space—although they still make excellent storage spaces. Here are some favorite uses for a modern-day butler's pantry.

• A food prep space. If you love to entertain, a butler's pantry can make prepping and staging large meals much easier—and free up tons of counter space so you can keep cooking. Because the butler's pantry is typically located between a home's kitchen and dining area, it's the perfect place to store ready-to-eat dishes, plate food, or even stack dirty dishes until the party is over.
• Extra storage space. Most everyone wishes to have extra storage for the kitchen. Whether you need to store extra cookware, glassware, and dishware, large platters or serving dishes for entertaining, or your beloved collection of coffee mugs, a butler's pantry can provide some much-needed storage space in a jam-packed kitchen.

• Storage for snacks. A butler's pantry provides extra storage space for your favorite treats and makes them easier for children to access. Consider placing their favorite foods and snacks in lower cabinets or drawers for easy access. Put single-serve snacks in baskets or trays, and multi-serving items can go in airtight glass jars or containers. Keep your adults-only snacks in higher cabinets. The additional space in a butler's pantry gives you better organization options.
• A tricked-out coffee bar. Your daily cup of joe can take up a ton of counter space between coffee beans, a coffee bean grinder, a coffee maker or French press, and mugs. Putting your coffee prep station in a butler's pantry can clear your counters and organize your gear.

• A simple wine cellar. Only a lucky few have an entire wine cellar in the home. Store your wine and glassware or install a small refrigerator to keep your wine at the perfect, cellar-like temperature. Fortunately, many mini wine cooler options are available at kitchen and home retailers.

Types of Butler's Pantries

A butler's pantry floor plan can look a little different depending on your home's layout.

Doors

A butler's pantry may have various types of doors:

• A pocket door to conserve space
• Swinging doors for easy entry and exit
• A sliding panel for a one-wall "closet style" butler's pantry to hide it when it is not in use

Shape

A butler's pantry comes in a few shapes:

• A small hallway between the dining area and outfitted with built-in cabinetry and shelving
• A small unused room between the kitchen and dining area turned into a U-shaped butler's pantry without a pass-through to the dining room.
• A one-walled butler's pantry integrated into the dining area with built-in shelving, counters, and cabinetry hidden from view with a closing panel.

How to Build a Butler's Pantry

If you have a small enclave or closet near your kitchen, you're lucky: Adding some cabinets and counters can turn this unused space into an awesome butler's pantry.

Whether you work with a builder or DIY the cabinets and counters, it's essential to consider the space and your family's needs. How will your family use the butler's pantry? Do you need to add a small refrigerator, sink, or dishwasher, and need a plumber or electrician? Would you prefer cabinets or open shelving for easy access?

If you don't have this space already, you must build a space from scratch. Building a butler's pantry will require a lot of work. Check your area's permitting and building requirements, and work with a fully licensed and insured contractor to complete the job.

When designing your butler's pantry, consider matching the cabinetry and counters with the kitchen cabinets and counters, or break away from that design scheme. Don't be afraid to experiment with different decorating styles.

Lauren Lowe of Lauren Elaine Interiors recommends getting creative: "When considering the design, remember that the butler's pantry doesn't have to be an extension of your kitchen. It's a great opportunity to be bold with color and pattern!"

Butler Pantry Must-Haves

The must-have elements and accessories will depend on how you use your butler's pantry. Still, Lauren Lowe recommends "A beautiful tray to house favorite cocktail necessities, lots of storage for serving ware and barware, ample countertop space for serving, and a petite lamp to add charm. We love glass upper cabinets to display beautiful entertaining pieces."

Some other must-haves for your butler's pantry include:

• Ample counter space and cabinets for storing glassware, dishes, platters, and special-use kitchen accessories
• Decorative trays, baskets, or containers to store your favorite snacks, cocktail mixers and accessories, coffee beans, or glassware
• Adequate lighting for food prep or access
• Decorative accents that bring you joy, whether it's a bold wallpaper, bright paint color, or exciting knickknack