Prep Kitchen Vs Butler's Pantry: Here's How Each Can Declutter Your Kitchen

Even if you were positive your kitchen had plenty of cupboards, cabinets, drawers, and other storage spaces when you first moved in, it's almost certain they are now filled to the brim. When cupboards are overfilled, organization systems tend to fly out the window, leading to messy, cluttered, overwhelming kitchen spaces. You might want to put a bandage on it with an extra storage hutch or two, but you may be best off building an extension off the kitchen with either a butler's pantry or a prep kitchen. These are bonus spaces that not only make a home feel grand, but can turn even the most crowded kitchen into a minimalist paradise. 

Historically, these rooms were meant for cooks and butlers to do their work out of sight, as well as provide extra storage. A butler's pantry is basically a souped-up walk-in pantry, usually including additional cabinets and storage space, as well as countertop space to do small tasks like mix drinks, decant wine, or prepare hors d'oeuvres — butler's pantries often include a sink as well. Prep kitchens (often called caterer or cook's kitchens) are private kitchens that are built off the main kitchen or dining room. If you've ever hosted a dinner party and haven't been able to clean the kitchen before guests arrive, you'll see the immediate value here. Here's how both of these rooms can help you remove clutter and give you the perfectly organized pantry of your dreams. 

Unlike regular food pantries, butler's pantries are typically outfitted with large cabinets and shelves. That makes them ideal spots to put large, clunky appliances like countertop toasters, air fryers, stand mixers, and so on. Basically, consider a butler's pantry if your countertop appliances are currently awkwardly stuffed into your regular kitchen cabinets or taking up precious countertop space. Install outlets and a wide enough countertop in the butler's pantry, and you won't even have to move the appliances back into the main kitchen. In addition to extra storage for your various appliances, you can use butler's pantries for their historical purpose, which was storing fine serving ware like crystal glasses and pure silverware away from dishes for daily use. After all, there's no reason your wedding china should be in the same cupboard as your toddler's favorite Paw Patrol bowl. 

Because prep kitchens are outfitted for actual cooking, this is the ideal place to put heavy, bulky cookware like large stock pots and heavy baking trays. Basically, put anything you'd only need to use when cooking for a large party of people, including large serving dishes and seasonal table decor. As well as large cabinets, make sure these prep kitchens are outfitted with deep drawers to store these heavy items so they can be easily accessed by you or your catering staff. Of course, you can also store appliances there, just as you would the butler's pantry. 

Both butler's pantries and prep kitchens are wonderful bonus spaces that make a home feel truly luxurious. So which is best for your home? That really depends on the budget and space available in your plans. Butler's pantries do not require a great deal of room, requiring only a small walk-in room or closet, shelves, and a countertop. That means you can DIY a stunning butler pantry in a standard walk-in pantry with minimal additions and possibly a sink to turn it into a wet bar area. You can add more appliances like a stove top or fridge, of course, but these would all be bonus features. If you want an extra area to store food reserves, extra dishes, and appliances that can double as a small food prep area for appetizers and drinks without breaking the bank, the butler's pantry is perfect. 

Because prep kitchens need to have basic cooking appliances such as an oven, stove, fridge, and sink to qualify as a functional private kitchen, they are necessarily larger and more expensive. Basically, you're budgeting for a galley kitchen both money and space-wise. With that being said, prep kitchens have all of the benefits of the butler's pantry and then some, so if money and space aren't an issue, the prep kitchen is a wonderful choice and especially appealing if you host dinner parties or events often, as they conceal all the mess and fuss of food prep.