What is a scullery in a kitchen?

A scullery is a small kitchen or room at the back of the house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work . Until recently, sculleries were most often associated with the Victorian period and turn of the 20th century in larger homes where the kitchen was not a place to be seen.

What is the difference between a back kitchen and a scullery?

A scullery is an area usually off the main kitchen sometimes called a “back kitchen” that is used for cleaning and storage . It's typically a tucked away or concealed space and for a good reason – it's purpose is to hide the kitchen mess!

What is the scullery next to the kitchen?

The scullery was a back kitchen located adjacent to the main kitchen , frequently to the rear of the house nearest the water supply, such as a public fountain or a well, or near a barrel that collected rain water, which was the preferred water for washing dishes.

Why was it called a scullery?

The root of the word is in doubt, but it probably comes from the Latin word for wooden platter, scutra, or the Old Norse skola, "to wash." "Scullery." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/scullery. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

What is a modern scullery?

'We have often had utility rooms but a scullery is a much more appealing term to use. Like pantries and laundry rooms, a scullery is a practical place for storage of larger items and nowadays even appliances small or large .

What makes a scullery?

A scullery is a small, additional kitchen that's used to store and clean dishes. A scullery can provide more workspace, and it may be used to conceal cooking and cleaning activities from the main kitchen. The essential elements of a scullery include ample storage space, counter space, and a sink .

Do you put a fridge in a scullery?

Sculleries are also a great way to maximise your storage. We recommend using your extra drawers, cupboards and open shelves for food and kitchen items. You can also store all your larger appliances like your microwave, second oven, fridge or even a second 'drinks' fridge in your scullery .

Why do old houses have 2 kitchens?

Older houses, particularly in the American south, would have a kitchen separate from the house proper. This would keep the smells of the kitchen outside the house . It would also reduce the fire hazards. If there were a kitchen fire, it wouldn't take out the house.

What does a scullery look like?

A scullery is a room adjoining the kitchen where pots and pans are cleaned and stored . Sometimes the laundering of clothes is also done here. In Great Britain and the United States, houses built before 1920 often had sculleries located in the rear of a house.

What is the difference between a pantry and a scullery?

No, a scullery and pantry are not the same thing. A scullery is a separate room or area dedicated to cleaning and washing dishes, pots, and pans, while a pantry is a storage space for food, ingredients, and sometimes kitchenware . Both serve different purposes in a home's organization and functionality.

What's the difference between a scullery and butlers pantry?

Unlike a butler's pantry that primarily serves as a storage space, a scullery is intended to function as a full working kitchen . Typically, a scullery will feature doors to shut it off from the rest of the home.

What is the difference between a galley and a scullery?

“Galley” (referring to the kitchen) is a term used to name a particular space onboard the ship, along with “mess” (the dining area), and “scullery” (the area devoted to cleaning dishes and disposing of food scraps.

What Is a Scullery Kitchen? This Historic Home Layout Is Making a Comeback (2024)

For those who love to entertain, a scullery kitchen can be a huge help. When space allows, this smaller, fully functional secondary kitchen helps keep kitchen messes out of sight. What was once an outdated design element has made a major comeback over the last few years, and scullery kitchens are on the rise again.

According to a recent kitchen trends study by Houzz, searches for “scullery kitchen” grew 38% over the last year, and many homeowners are implementing the historic layout into their kitchen renovations. “Nearly 3 in 5 homeowners use their kitchen for entertaining following a renovation,” says Mitchell Parker, senior editor at Houzz. “That motivation may be influencing the rise we’ve seen in searches for ‘scullery kitchen,’ which provides a room for cleaning and doing messy kitchen work away from guests.”

To inspire your next kitchen refresh, learn what a scullery kitchen is and how it can make your space more functional.

What Is a Scullery Kitchen?

A scullery kitchen is essentially a smaller, secondary kitchen space that can help handle the extra dirty kitchen tasks or the overflow from your main kitchen. A scullery often has plenty of storage for appliances or fancy dishes that don't fit in your main kitchen cabinets, but don't necessarily belong in the pantry.

If the function of a scullery sounds an awful lot like your primary kitchen, you’re not far off. The term is a holdover from a time when well-to-do homeowners had hired help to do the kitchen work. As such, traditional scullery kitchens were small but highly efficient spaces, frequently tucked away towards the rear of the home.

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What's the Difference Between a Scullery Kitchen and a Butler's Pantry?

A butler's pantry is another small but functional space adjacent to the kitchen or dining area. While a scullery kitchen and a butler's pantry do sound similar (and some folks use the two terms interchangeably), the two spaces serve different purposes.

“The original distinctions were based on the roles of both butler's and scullery maids as well as concerns with sanitation and household management in wealthy homes starting in the Victorian era,” says Mindy O’Connor of Melinda Kelson O'Connor Architecture & Interiors. “While these concerns are no longer prevalent, any home with the luxury of the space and budget to consider these can adapt the ideas for a very useful and beautiful way to organize kitchen spaces.”

Think of a scullery kitchen as a space ideal for food preparation and cleanup, and a butler's pantry as a space better suited for entertaining and serving. If you’re trying to decide what type of supplemental kitchen space would be most helpful in your home, designer Ginger Curtis, president of Urbanology Designs, suggests evaluating your specific needs and lifestyle preferences. Think about what purpose you want the room to serve, how much space is available, and what your entertaining habits are.

Scullery Kitchen Design Elements to Consider

If you're planning a full kitchen remodel or building a home, it's easy to add a small space for a scullery kitchen. If a large-scale project isn't in your budget, you can still incorporate some of the more helpful design elements into another space, such as a walk-in pantry or hall closet off the kitchen. If you like the idea of adding a scullery kitchen into your space, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Storage Solutions

Some homeowners may choose to keep bulky countertop appliances like toasters and mixers in the scullery. “First and foremost, prioritize storage,” recommends designer Victoria Holly of Victoria Holly Interiors. “We like to install a good amount of cabinets in a scullery kitchen to accommodate all necessary kitchenware, appliances, and pantry items.”

Practical Features

Another must-have? Ample counter space for prepping. Beyond that, other items that can be useful in a scullery can include anything the primary kitchen has, including a sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, or freezer. It may also be helpful to include more entertaining-focused features like a warming drawer, beverage cooler, or coffee station.

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Consider Function

How the small space functions is an important consideration as well. “Design the scullery kitchen with an efficient layout that promotes smooth workflow," Curtis suggests. “Ensure that the workstations, appliances, and storage areas are well-organized and easily accessible, minimizing unnecessary steps and maximizing efficiency.”

Have Fun with Design

O’Connor, who likes to refer to the space as a working pantry, recommends the scullery be directly connected to the kitchen. Since it's no longer taboo to see the inner workings of a kitchen, you can choose to keep the space partially or entirely closed off, or even completely open to the primary kitchen.

Depending on how open the scullery is to your main kitchen, you may choose to have the look and feel of the primary space carry over, or perhaps choose to be more playful and imaginative to give the small space a distinct look. “Think of either the scullery as a great design opportunity to add color, another finish material, unexpected decorative lighting, hardware or partially glazed doors that can elevate the overall design to include a more layered and interesting look, while still focusing on function,” she says.