The Kitchn
thekitchn.com › do-you-know-the-difference-between-a-buffet-sideboard-server-or-credenza-201394
Yes, There Is a Difference Between a Buffet, Sideboard, Server, and Credenza | The Kitchn
March 26, 2014 - Buffet: There is no defining difference ... referred to as a buffet instead of a sideboard. Server: A server is smaller, shorter, and more formal than a buffet or sideboard....
Ethan Allen
ethanallen.com › home
Buffets, Sideboards & Servers for Dining Room | Ethan Allen
A buffet is also convenient for serving meals or snacks buffet style, rather than plating food in another room or passing dishes around family style. It depends on whom you ask! Some sources it has to do with the style of the cabinet; others say sideboards belong in the living room, and buffet cabinets belong in the dining room.
Coleman Furniture
colemanfurniture.com › dining room furniture › sideboards & buffet cabinets
Sideboards & Buffet Cabinets | Coleman Furniture
A console table is generally narrow and decorative, while a sideboard or buffet cabinet offers enclosed storage and is designed to be more functional. Sideboards are deeper and often feature drawers or cupboards, making them more suitable for dining rooms. ... Other common names include buffet, ...
Home Zone Furniture
blog.homezonefurniture.com › decor › difference-between-servers-buffets-and-hutches
The Difference Between Buffets, Servers and Hutches
September 9, 2022 - Buffets are a piece of storage furniture on higher legs and are often used in the dining room, while sideboards have low or no legs and are found in living rooms or entryways.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/interiordesign › what’s the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
r/InteriorDesign on Reddit: What’s the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
May 26, 2018 -
Are they the same thing? What are they for? And is a “buffet” just a credenza that’s in a dining room?
Thanks!
Top answer 1 of 3
3
A credenza, in my mind, is usually a piece of furniture in an office setting. It sits behind or to the side of the matching executive desk. A sideboard is a taller piece of furniture used in a dining room as a storage space and buffet spot.
2 of 3
2
Buffet, sideboard, server, credenza: Do you find yourself using these terms interchangeably? I sure do! After all, there's so much overlap between these furniture types that a piece's classification is often determined solely by its location in your home. Here's four storage pieces: Sideboard: The distinguishing feature of sideboards, according to Houzz, are the short legs. The cabinets may also reach all the way to the floor. Buffet: There is no defining difference between a buffet and sideboard, but if the piece has relatively high legs, it may be referred to as a buffet instead of a sideboard. Server: A server is smaller, shorter, and more formal than a buffet or sideboard. Credenza: Historically a credenza referred to a piece of furniture with no legs and cabinets that reached to the floor, but many modern credenzas have legs. They're likely to have sliding doors as well. There is no difference between a sideboard and a buffet in terms of definition. A sideboard used in the dining room may be called a buffet, and when placed in the living room, called a sideboard. Historically speaking, buffets were first used in Sweden to lay out big spreads of food and drink, known as smorgasbords. The concept of buffet tables caught on in France and then throughout the rest of Europe. In practice, I have noticed that shops and manufacturers seem to call long, low storage pieces on higher legs buffets, and those on shorter (or no) legs sideboards. The word “credenza” comes from the English word “credence” and the Italian word for “belief” – which makes sense, considering the first credenzas were used as a place for food that needed to be tasted to test for poison before being served to a VIP. Early credenzas had no legs, just cabinets reaching to the floor. During the mid-20th century, credenzas enjoyed a renewed popularity among the modern design crowd – but the “new” credenzas tended to be long, low cabinets on slender legs, often with sliding doors.
Rustic Red Door
rusticreddoor.com › blogs › rrd › plain-talk-about-buffets-sideboards-servers-credenzas-and-huntboards
Buffets, Sideboards, Servers & Credenzas | Rustic Red Door
Usually found in a living room or entryway; when used in a dining room it is generally referred to as a buffet · *"An antique variation of the sideboard is a hunt board which is taller, smaller, with a simpler design than a typical sideboard; it was designed to be stood around by hungry folks as they ate after finishing a hunt" - Laura Gaskil, Houzz contributor
The Room Place
theroomplace.com › buffet-and-servers › c › 200
Living Room Buffets, Servers and Sideboards - Harlem Furniture
Sideboards and Buffets: Although both use a similar design, sideboards tend to be a hutch-style fixture placed in the living room. Buffets, meanwhile, are reserved for the dining room.
Castlery
castlery.com › us › blog › sideboard-vs-buffet-vs-credenza
Sideboard vs. Buffet vs. Credenza: What's The Difference? | Castlery US
October 14, 2025 - Sideboards are the masters of compact living. They’re generally shorter and more compact. Designed to fit neatly against a wall, they offer a handy surface for your everyday essentials without taking up too much visual or physical space. This makes them especially suitable for entryways, hallways, or even cozy dining areas. ... Buffets and credenzas, on the other hand, bring a sense of grandeur and spaciousness with their extended length.