Dirty Kitchens Are a Home Must-Have—Here’s What You Need To Build Your Own
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The past few years have seen the rise of the second kitchen. Whether it’s a duplicate, a dirty kitchen, a butler’s pantry, or a scullery, prep spaces are back in a way we haven’t seen since the Gilded Age. Often used to house small appliances, prepare food, and keep the primary kitchen clutter-free, dirty kitchens are just that—dirty. But because they’re not meant to be identical to your main cooking area, figuring out how to outfit a dirty kitchen can be challenging. The key question when you’re planning a dirty kitchen is the same one you’d ask before starting any major design project: What does it need to function well? Whether that means a wall of outlets to power your coffee routine or double dishwashers to ease your chores is up to you. The best dirty kitchen essentials are the ones that make your space more functional.
Whether you’re looking for more dirty kitchen inspiration or want a checklist to get your renovation started, we have you covered. Read on for House Beautiful’s dirty kitchen essentials, from wall ovens and fridge drawers to open shelving and heavy-duty countertops.
Expert Non-Negotiables
These are the pieces our kitchen experts consider essential for a well-functioning dirty kitchen. While many of these elements may seem self-explanatory, we promise there’s good reason to double-check you include them in your secondary kitchen’s design.
Fridge Drawers
Most people grew up with one refrigerator—or an extra one in the garage or basement for overflow. The 2025 version of this is a secondary cooling unit in the back kitchen. Our Director of Special Projects and resident dirty kitchen expert, Carisha Swanson, recommends fridge drawers in place of a full-sized appliance for a back-of-house kitchen. Drawers can integrate into the cabinetry more seamlessly and take up less space than a full refrigerator.
Wall Oven
A wall oven gives a dirty kitchen a purpose distinct from that of your primary cooktop. If you’ve ever had to time multiple cookie batches or shove a few appetizers in with your Thanksgiving turkey, you can imagine how a second oven can be a game changer. Stack a wall unit with a microwave for ultimate functionality.
Plenty of Outlets
A primary function of a dirty kitchen is to have a place where all your small appliances can live without taking up valuable counter or storage space in your primary kitchen. When you’re in the middle of the recipe, the last thing you need is to have to unplug something else to use the blender. Ensuring there’s at least one more outlet than you need for everyday makes for a more seamless cooking routine.
Task Lighting
Whether you’re chopping, sauteeing, or doing the dishes, it’s essential to see what you’re doing. Task lighting, as opposed to ambient lighting, can help. Place sconces or ceiling lights above high-traffic zones like the sink and island to illuminate your entire dirty kitchen.
Ample Counter Space
A prep kitchen is no good without prep space. Plenty of free and clear counter space is crucial for an efficient culinary experience. In a primary kitchen, an island is usually the prep zone, but there’s not room for one of those in a dirty kitchen. You need ample, well-planned storage to keep the counters clear. We recommend designating one side for small appliances and one side for work.
Open Shelf Storage
Closed storage is sleek and can keep visual clutter to a minimum, but when you’re moving quickly, being able to see what you have can be helpful. Whether you use open shelving for dishware, dry goods, or serveware, we recommend a few shelves for the items you reach for most often.
Nice-to-Have Features
Every person is different, and so are their kitchen needs. If you have a little extra space (and budget!) we recommend incorporating one or a few of these elements to take your dirty kitchen to the next level.
Dry Goods Storage
While a dirty kitchen isn’t technically a pantry, many use the space to store food as well. Alloting cabinet or shelf space for your most-used dry goods, baking ingredients, and spices helps keep the space functional for more than just cleanup.
Beverage Fridge
Refrigerator space is valuable, and a separate drinks station can free up essential real estate for leftovers or dinner party fare. Whether you opt for a wine-specific unit or one that can adjust its temperature to any beverage, this useful addition can boost your home’s value.
Large Sink
While not essential, a large sink can make cleaning up after meals easier when you’re doing multiple dishwasher loads. A big sink can also allow you to do food preparation, handwashing, and cleaning in one place.
Appliance Garage
A dirty kitchen is meant to be function first, so hiding your small appliances is not necessary. However, if you prefer clean countertops, an appliance garage can be useful for keeping cords hidden and clutter at bay.
Paneled Freezer
In addition to your fridge drawers, a freezer unit can offer overflow storage. Great for stocking with meal prep containers, meat, and extra ice, a freezer with a paneled front that blends into the cabinets is ideal for avid hosts.
Ice Maker
Ice preferences can get really specific, so whether you prefer nugget, crushed, or cube, a countertop or built-in ice maker can level up your dirty kitchen. There are even models that can freeze fancy cocktail ice.
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