Expert Eye: How to Arrange a Highly Functional Butler's Pantry
You are lucky enough to have the space, now use it well! Here's how to create a clutter-free, organised butler's pantry
Tanya Selever
13 May 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Founder and director of Tansel Stainless Steel Wireware, I love all things storage, home and interiors. I have 13 years' experience in product design and our home is a continuous renovation project. I'm a busy mother of two young boys and am delighted to be contributing to Houzz. My B. Econ, M. Mgt and Dip. Financial Service, as well as an earlier corporate career, continue to come in handy to this day.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Founder and director of Tansel Stainless Steel Wireware,... More
Despite the best intentions, most butler’s pantries eventually become a place to hide the mess of cooking. Whether you have an existing pantry or are working with a blank canvas, here are some ideas to help you keep things tidy for years to come.
If you are lucky enough to have the space (and budget) to use custom cabinetry that flows from the kitchen to the butler’s pantry, doors and drawers are a beautiful way to keep things concealed. But, if your butler’s pantry is more of a ‘work horse’ space, the following practical storage ideas should be of great use.
Shelves and more shelves
Most butler’s pantries are full of shelves; they are easy to use, economical, and they do the job. But on the down side, deep shelves create visibility and access problems. If you are using deep shelves, store large items (such as juicers, appliances and slow cookers) at the back and smaller items toward the front, as you don’t want to dig at the back for anything small (or lose sight of it, forget you have it and buy more). Shallow or cut-out shelves allow you to overcome these problems, but you inevitably lose storage space (more on that later).
How open shelving can solve your kitchen woes
Most butler’s pantries are full of shelves; they are easy to use, economical, and they do the job. But on the down side, deep shelves create visibility and access problems. If you are using deep shelves, store large items (such as juicers, appliances and slow cookers) at the back and smaller items toward the front, as you don’t want to dig at the back for anything small (or lose sight of it, forget you have it and buy more). Shallow or cut-out shelves allow you to overcome these problems, but you inevitably lose storage space (more on that later).
How open shelving can solve your kitchen woes
Tip: Here, the upper shelves are glass, which is a clever idea as you can see items from below. There are various rack systems, which are less expensive and made of wire, that will give you transparency and light flow. Good access and visibility are important when it comes to keeping the space uncluttered.
Let there be light!
Whether you have a dream butler’s pantry or a DIY shelf/rack system, good lighting is important, especially if you have no natural light and the space is small. Directional spotlights, downlights or strip LEDs are great for maximum visibility. If your butler’s pantry has bench space or a food preparation area, good lighting is invaluable.
Whether you have a dream butler’s pantry or a DIY shelf/rack system, good lighting is important, especially if you have no natural light and the space is small. Directional spotlights, downlights or strip LEDs are great for maximum visibility. If your butler’s pantry has bench space or a food preparation area, good lighting is invaluable.
This small space comes to life with good lighting and plenty of well-organised storage.
Tip: Using sensor lights is also useful if you’re carrying things in and out all the time.
Light up your kitchen with LEDS
Tip: Using sensor lights is also useful if you’re carrying things in and out all the time.
Light up your kitchen with LEDS
Adding pull-outs
Pull-out storage gives you superior access, visibility and space, all of which reduce the clutter. The space between shelves needs to be higher so you can (theoretically) reach to the back, but pull-outs can be spaced much closer together, which is great if your butler’s pantry is small and every centimetre counts. Drawers are good if you are working with a blank canvas and the cabinetry is being professionally installed. For existing pantries that need some ‘problem solving’, pull-out baskets are economical and DIY-suitable. Just watch for warranties and quality if you need something that will last.
Pull-out storage gives you superior access, visibility and space, all of which reduce the clutter. The space between shelves needs to be higher so you can (theoretically) reach to the back, but pull-outs can be spaced much closer together, which is great if your butler’s pantry is small and every centimetre counts. Drawers are good if you are working with a blank canvas and the cabinetry is being professionally installed. For existing pantries that need some ‘problem solving’, pull-out baskets are economical and DIY-suitable. Just watch for warranties and quality if you need something that will last.
Tip: Slide-out systems are also highly useful if you are working with narrow and deep cabinetry.
Using cabinet dividers
Vertical partitions and other joinery divisions are a great way to organise space. Large platters and baking trays that are not used often can be stored in a space-efficient way using vertical divisions.
Vertical partitions and other joinery divisions are a great way to organise space. Large platters and baking trays that are not used often can be stored in a space-efficient way using vertical divisions.
Storing wine or bottles in the butler’s pantry using the joinery gives this space a decorative touch.
Working with corners
As with the kitchen, corner cabinets in a butler’s pantry can be tricky. But the upside is you generally don’t have to worry about a door, and there are there are many mechanisms on the market, such as ‘lazy Susans’ and ‘moving corners’ that make access easier. Most of these can also be adapted to suit tall cabinets if necessary. If corner shelves work best for your space and budget, use them to store items that you rarely use.
As with the kitchen, corner cabinets in a butler’s pantry can be tricky. But the upside is you generally don’t have to worry about a door, and there are there are many mechanisms on the market, such as ‘lazy Susans’ and ‘moving corners’ that make access easier. Most of these can also be adapted to suit tall cabinets if necessary. If corner shelves work best for your space and budget, use them to store items that you rarely use.
Go up
Adding a sliding ladder, or just using a humble step ladder, allows you to store things up high. Wire baskets can also be good if storing things higher than comfortable reaching height, because you can not only slide things out, but a quick look from below shows you everything that’s there.
See more modern kitchens
Adding a sliding ladder, or just using a humble step ladder, allows you to store things up high. Wire baskets can also be good if storing things higher than comfortable reaching height, because you can not only slide things out, but a quick look from below shows you everything that’s there.
See more modern kitchens
Containers galore
There is definitely merit in organising common items into storage tubs, especially if you are storing them on shelves. Yes, it takes time (and money) to set up, but the benefit of better access, visibility and organisation is worth it. And let’s not forget about those dreaded bugs being kept at bay when everything is tightly sealed. Needless to say, I give this the thumbs-up for a clutter-free butler’s pantry.
There is definitely merit in organising common items into storage tubs, especially if you are storing them on shelves. Yes, it takes time (and money) to set up, but the benefit of better access, visibility and organisation is worth it. And let’s not forget about those dreaded bugs being kept at bay when everything is tightly sealed. Needless to say, I give this the thumbs-up for a clutter-free butler’s pantry.
Wall-mount storage
Adding spice racks to an empty wall (or the back of a door) is a simple and easy way of creating additional storage. If you need something customised to fit a particular space, a trip to the local hardware shop and some weekend DIYing can also do the trick.
Tell us
How organised is your butler’s pantry? Tell us – or better still, show us – in the Comments below.
Browse
See more beautiful pantries
Adding spice racks to an empty wall (or the back of a door) is a simple and easy way of creating additional storage. If you need something customised to fit a particular space, a trip to the local hardware shop and some weekend DIYing can also do the trick.
Tell us
How organised is your butler’s pantry? Tell us – or better still, show us – in the Comments below.
Browse
See more beautiful pantries
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4 months ago we finished renovating our home. We made space for a butlers pantry which is positioned opposite the galley style kitchen and I love it. It works really well. There is nothing I would change.