It sounds fancy, but it’s really about the functionality.
When you hear the term butler, do you think of stuffy, lace collars and polished accents? Or maybe your favorite BBC show? Our modern lives don’t seem to mesh with the need for a butler’s pantry…or do they?
While other features of historic homes, like the maid’s staircase, have definitely been put to rest, the butler’s pantry has made a comeback, and you’re going to love how it will support your daily life. Let’s dive into all things butler’s pantry and why they aren’t just for fancy, historic homes anymore.

1 | All Things Butler’s Pantry
Regardless of square footage, a butler’s pantry often sits adjacent to the kitchen or dining space. In some homes, you actually need to walk through this pantry to access the kitchen, which means the butler’s pantry is a great place to put things that need to be accessed often, such as wine glasses, a liquor cabinet, coffee accessories, and dinnerware.
You might have heard this space labeled as the “coffee bar” or “mini bar,” but no, it is actually a modern take on an old concept. Plus, the tiled backsplash, glass upper cabinets, and solid lower cabinets make such an attractive statement that you won’t want to put a door on this space.

2 | For Large Spaces
Depending on your long-term storage needs, you might want to have your designer include a walk-through butler’s pantry, especially if your main living areas see a lot of foot traffic. This space would include upper and lower cabinets, a wow-worthy backsplash, a countertop (or two!), and perhaps even a small sink and refrigerator.
The natural flow of that floor plan would be living room > dining room or area > butler’s pantry > kitchen. However, some homeowners opt for building this pantry into the dining room wall, often splitting the distance between the kitchen and living room. As long as the layout suits your needs, there is no wrong way to do it.

3 | For Small Spaces
If you are remodeling or building a smaller home and want to incorporate a useful butler’s pantry into your space, you can repurpose any closet very near to your kitchen or dining space. If square footage doesn’t allow, you can nix the sink and fridge components and focus solely on the beautiful storage aspects.
However, don’t forget to ask your designer about under-cabinet and toe-kick lighting, as well as backsplash tile with reflective or metallic finishes. Those little details go a long way in making your butler’s pantry absolutely stellar.
Design Trend #1
Call it what you will.
A mini bar, a coffee bar, a butler’s pantry…the terms are flexible, and so is the function. As more homeowners seek to use their home in new ways, butler’s pantries will continue to grow in popularity.
Design Trend #2
Light it up.
Don’t let your butler’s pantry feel like a closet. Can lights, accent lights, and even correctly-sized chandelier are completely appropriate. Your designer can spec these products accordingly.