4 Kitchen Scullery Design Ideas

Most homeowners might be unfamiliar with the term “scullery,” so you might be surprised to find that you actually have a designated spot in your kitchen that can be called one. Once you recognise your kitchen scullery, you can incorporate it into your overall kitchen design. 

A kitchen scullery is an extension of your main kitchen, providing storage, organisation, and additional workspace. Keep the messy side of cooking away from your guests’ view while keeping your main kitchen (or at least a section) clean and free for entertaining. 

While it’s best kept out of sight, the scullery kitchen design ties the space to your main kitchen and helps with the overall aesthetic. Let’s dig deeper into the kitchen scullery design ideas and some ways to design an efficient but visually stunning kitchen space. 

What Exactly Is a Scullery Kitchen Design?

A scullery is a small room or section of a kitchen primarily used for washing dishes, cutlery, and other kitchenware. It is also called a mess kitchen, caterer’s kitchen, or butler’s pantry. Larger, luxurious, or older homes tend to have a scullery as a second section connected to the main kitchen. In contrast, smaller and more modern kitchens often have a designated side or area. 

In older or larger households, sculleries may have been a separate room dedicated to cleaning and storing kitchen utensils and serving dishes. The scullery often had a sink, shelves for storing dishes, and possibly a countertop or work surface for prepping food. 

In modern kitchens, the scullery may be incorporated into the main kitchen space as a designated dishwashing and cleanup area. It may also hide the messier cooking and cleaning tasks from the main kitchen. Most kitchen scullery designs have plenty of storage, countertop space, and a sink large enough to clean dishes. 

4 Kitchen Scullery Design Ideas For Modern Spaces

Here are some scullery kitchen design ideas you can use to have an authentic scullery kitchen space:

1. Give Your Scullery Calm Colours and Designs

Give your scullery kitchen a design that exudes calmness. When it comes to calm spaces, you can never go wrong with an all-white theme. Opt for white cabinetry, quartz countertops, and light wooden flooring. Not only does it make your kitchen scullery look more modern, but it adds a calmness to your spaces. Our 5121 Layalite is as white as snow and features faint grey veins to add some movement and character. 

2. Add Storage and Space to Your Scullery Area

Modern designs opt for functional aesthetics rather than styles that are purely decorative. With plenty of work done in the scullery, having plenty of storage and space to organise your scullery can prevent the space from looking messy easily. 

For instance, having overhead shelves or cabinets above the sink provides plenty of counter space for dishes, cutlery, and other items that require quick and easy access. Additionally, pairing your shelves with high-quality quartz countertops gives it a more refined appearance. Sticking with our earlier white theme, Caesarstone’s 1003 Raindream can be your contrasting pop of colour against the white shelves.

3.   Ensure Sufficient Lighting Fixtures

You might say “scullery” and think of the dark and dreary area of an 18th-century kitchen where Cinderella liked to hang out. However, this isn’t the case if you live in a modern home. Although most sculleries are situated away from any window and natural lighting, you can maintain the same level of lighting throughout your kitchen with enough lighting fixtures. 

Ensure you have enough lighting fixtures to make your scullery area bright. If you prefer a darker theme with more lighting, opt for dark-shade countertops, such as our 5820 Darcrest. This can enhance the lightning around the scullery.

4. Hide Your Scullery

If you don’t have a separate scullery away from the main kitchen but want to keep your mess out of plain sight, use scullery ideas that hide the mess and dirty dishes. Install a second sink with a deep bowl to keep your dirty dishes out of sight. Alternatively, install a dishwasher in the scullery to free up space on your countertops. Install it around a corner out of sight, or opt for dishwasher models that blend with the rest of your counters. 

How To Design the Perfect Scullery Kitchen

Here are a few scullery kitchen design ideas that transform kitchen areas into lovely modern spaces:

Consider Purpose and Use

Consider the following questions before designing your kitchen and its scullery area:

• Will it be used exclusively for kitchen and pantry storage? 
• Should there be a breakfast nook? An island for quick meals? A place where guests can stay for a quick bite?
• Do you plan on doing meal prep, school lunches, or other kitchen tasks requiring more countertop space? 
• What are the limitations to renovating your kitchen? Discuss aspects like plumbing, electrical, and lighting with your contractor. 

Choose the Appliances

Consider the appliances you want in your kitchen if you plan on using the scullery as a general kitchen workspace. For example, your scullery can be a good place for a microwave, second oven, or stove. You could also consider adding a refrigerator or a second “drinks fridge” if the scullery is conveniently connected to the kitchen.

Should You Add a Sink to Your Kitchen Scullery?

Modern kitchens frequently have two sinks: one in the main area and one in the scullery. However, some homeowners may often only use one of those sinks. It ultimately depends on your cooking process and whether you don’t mind your main kitchen getting dirty. 

If you don’t want a separate scullery, you could have the designated scullery in your kitchen. This should typically be where your dishwasher and trash can is. 

Smart Storage Solutions 

Consider the most efficient way of storing your pantry items, ingredients, cutlery, and everything else in your kitchen. Most modern storage solutions keep almost everything out of sight. Ideally, only those almost always used should be out in the open. Heavier items can be placed out in the open, but lighter items that are rarely used should be put away. 

In addition, using the space above your countertops for open shelves or cupboards can provide you with more working space on your countertops. This can leave you with more than enough countertop space for food prep and cooking. 

Position

Carefully consider where your scullery is located. Sometimes, a scullery can become a second kitchen rather than additional storage space, especially if there’s an awkward flow between your main kitchen and scullery. 

To make the two areas function as one, position the scullery as an extension of your kitchen. When visitors drop by, a hinged door or sliding can easily hide the mess from them. This position makes it a separate section of your kitchen, allowing you to maintain a cleaner appearance. 

Add Caesarstone To Your Kitchen Scullery Designs 

These kitchen scullery design ideas are perfect for modern and luxurious kitchen spaces that are easy to organise and keep the unsightly mess of the kitchen away from guests’ eyes.

Paying attention to details like lighting fixtures, shelves, and quartz countertops in spaces like your scullery can transform your spaces and make them look more spacious and organised. Cheque out our Caesarstone catalogue to find the right countertops for your kitchen scullery that match your vision.