The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
Just about any sizedining roomcan use a sideboard or buffet.
But what’s this piece of furniture used for and how large should it be?
Once you read more, you’ll wonder how you lived without this useful piece for so long.
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
What Is It?
It’s also used as an extra surface for serving food.
Tips
It’s safe to use the terms sideboard, buffet, and credenza interchangeably when shopping.
The subtle differences between them have to do with the legs.
Asideboardhas short, stubby legs and may include a hutch for display.
Abuffethas higher legs and no hutch.
Acredenzahas low or no legs, and will typically have sliding cabinet doors.
What Is It Used For?
It also serves as a surface area for placing dishes or trays of food.
What Style Should It Be?
A sideboard with open shelving or glass cabinet doors can be a good fit for a smaller dining room.
The piece will look lighter and give the space an airy feel.
A buffet with closed cabinetry looks heavy, and fits best into a larger dining space.
What Size Should It Be?
Scoping out the right size for a buffet is a little tricky.
Here are a couple of guidelines to consider:
What Height Should It Be?
Think of the standard height of your kitchen counter, which is 36 inches.
That’s just about the right height for your dining room buffet.
However, some buffets are 34 inches to 38 inches tall.
