If youve ever read a kitchen design guide or walked through the halls of an old manor home, theres a good chance youve come across the term scullery. If youre like me, it might even conjure images of Downton Abbey or Gilded Age (Im team Russell, in case you were wondering!). And theres a reason for that. Sculleries, once reserved for the working members of grand houses, have now become the latest must-have addition to modern kitchens. Below, youll learn exactly what a scullery is, how it differs from spaces like the mudroom or butlers pantry, and how you can incorporate one into your own home. RELATED STORIES:Brie Williams for Country LivingThis North Carolina mountain homes scullery includes a small drink refrigerator. What is a modern day scullery? Historically, sculleries were spaces used by staff for cleaning up after elaborate meals. However, modern sculleries function much more like hardworking butlers pantries or dirty kitchens, a term popularized in recent years to identify a space off the kitchen where prep work and clean up can be done out of the view of guests. Design purists might argue that sculleries should still only be used as cleanup spaces. In reality, though, most contemporary homes dont have three separate spaces for prep, storage, and clean-up, so current iterations of the scullery are a versatile combination of all three. Additionally, todays sculleries are typically larger than traditional pantries. The Three Key Elements of a Scullery:Ample storage, either with open shelving or closed-door cabinetryA sink, and sometimes a dishwasherPrep space, often with butcher block countertopsAli Harper for Country LivingThis river cottages scullery was drenched in the dreamy shade of French Gray by Farrow & Ball.Why is it called a scullery? Scullery is the Anglicized version of escuelerie, an old Old French term for office of the servant in charge of plates. The earliest English usage of the word dates back to around 1440, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, which published its first definition for scullery in 1911. Today, the term is heavily linked to British kitchen design; on this side of the Atlantic, this space is more commonly referred to as a butlers pantry, or even just a walk-in pantry.Kitchen vs. SculleryThe main difference between a kitchen and scullery lies in their cooking capabilities. While a scullery might have a few small appliances and a sink (and maybe even a dishwasher), you wont find a range or oven. Any cooking done here is quick and simple, as sculleries are not equipped to make full meals. Additionally, sculleries are generally smaller than kitchens and not used for gathering. Even large sculleries are often only spacious enough to fit one or two people at a time. Laurey W. GlennThis scullery space designed by Lizzie Cox Interiors is often used for arranging florals. Mudroom vs. ScullerySculleries and mudrooms, though seemingly similar, are actually very different. A mudroom is typically located off the rear of the house, near a garage or back door and functions as a family dumping ground and pass-through area. Its the place where the kids store their sports gear and backpacks and where you might keep all your winter coats, not the place for washing up dishes or storing dry goods. In contrast, a scullery is devoted to general kitchen and housekeeping tasks. RELATED STORIES:Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything youve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When shes not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.