The dining room is one of the more refined and sophisticated areas of your home. It’s the designated place for sharing family dinners or hosting guests and holiday gatherings. Unfortunately, most dining rooms aren’t equipped with the same storage options as a breakfast room or kitchen. If you’re searching for a way to keep formal dishware, glasses, or serving accessories close at hand, then a sideboard — also referred to as a buffet or cabinet — may be what you’re looking for. Read on to learn more.
A sideboard is a long, narrow piece of furniture, typically placed along the wall, that offers an elegant way to store dining essentials and linens. Sideboards usually feature a combination of cabinets and drawers, with a flat top that can be used as a serving space for platters or trays of food. When not dining, you can also use the top of your sideboard as a shelf for displaying keepsakes and other decor.
What’s the Difference Between Sideboards, Buffets & Cabinets
Sideboards, buffets, and cabinets are often used interchangeably, but each piece of furniture has subtle differences. Understand how each piece of furniture functions before you start your search.
Sideboard
A sideboard is a piece of furniture featuring a flat top for serving and cabinets and drawers for storage. They typically sit lower to the ground and have shorter legs.
Buffet
A buffet table usually has similar storage features and comes in the same size as a sideboard. The main difference between the two is that buffet tables have taller legs.
Cabinet
A dining cabinet is a tall, narrow piece of furniture that is used for storage and not serving. They’re ideal for dining rooms with less square footage and more storage needs.
Considerations Before You Buy
As always, take proper measurements to ensure your new dining storage piece fits seamlessly into your dining room.
How Much Wall Space Is Available?
A sideboard that takes up too much wall space makes the room appear small and cramped. If you have less room to work with, consider a compact size.
How Long Is Your Dining Table?
Proportion is key when deciding the length of your sideboard or buffet. A piece that extends too much longer than your table overpowers the room and makes it feel off balance.
How Much Clearance Do You Have Between the Wall & Your Dining Table?
Make sure that there is enough space for people to walk between the table and the sideboard comfortably. Measure from the wall to your dining chairs to calculate which depth you should choose.
How Tall Are Your Dining Table & Chairs?
The height of your sideboard should be no more than three inches lower than the top of your dining table. You should be able to comfortably reach the drawers and tabletop of the sideboard while you’re sitting around the dining table.
Common Sideboard Materials
Sideboards are typically made of wood, metal, plastic, stone, or glass. The best choice for you comes down to personal preference and the existing aesthetic of your interior decor. Are you looking to match the rest of the room’s theme, or do you want to create contrast? The option to mix and match will create a unique look that’s all your own.
Add Extra Storage & Style into Your Dining Room
Sideboards, buffets, and cabinets are functional and stylish storage options that work in almost every dining room size and design. Browse through our selection of dining room storage options to find a piece that works best in your home.