A credenza, buffet, or even a hutch by any other name would be a sideboard. A sideboard is a piece of furniture that is typically placed next to the dining room table and used to store extra items. A hutch may or may not be perched atop it. Most likely, when referring to the entire piece of furniture, your grandparents called it a china hutch. In terms of furniture, a hutch is a group of cabinets or shelves positioned on top of a sideboard.
Table of Contents
Sideboards Defined
In the Middle Ages, a sideboard was simply a board placed close to the table, occasionally fastened to the wall or perched on a support. It contained additional food as well as extra cups and plates.
It eventually changed into a cabinet with doors, shelves, and drawers for holding tablecloths and other serving ware. Common features include:
- Plenty of storage. Ornate cutlery is kept in fabric-lined boxes, along with tablecloths with exquisitely embroidered edges. Many of the items required to set the ideal dinner table are present in the majority.
- Short, stubby legs. Some people have no legs at all.
- A hutch on top. This includes shelves for storing fine china and glass doors.
- Room for decorations. The top is adorned with candles, unique serving platters, pictures, and possibly a lamp when it isn’t being used for food service. These things are simple to move so that the sideboard can once again be used for dining.
Sizing
Despite the fact that it might seem simple to guess how big you want a sideboard or buffet to be, it’s always safer to take accurate measurements now rather than later to avoid problems.
Step 1: Measure Other Furniture
Examine the current arrangement of the room’s other furniture. You don’t want your sideboard’s dimensions to be out of proportion with everything else. Sideboards and buffet tables should be at least as tall as the dining table, but ideally they should be a few inches taller. The most common height for sideboards or buffet tables is 30″ – 36″ tall. Don’t be afraid to make the width different from your dining table’s. (No rules apply here!)
Step 2: Measure the Space
The space where it will be placed should be measured for height, width, and depth. Verify that it won’t run into anything. If the area where the table will go has a window, make sure there is enough room between the top of the sideboard and the bottom of the window. A heating or cooling vent should not be covered by your sideboard (this is more typical in older homes).
Step 3: Ensure a Seamless Layout
Make sure there is enough space to easily navigate the sideboard, even with the cabinets and drawers open. We recommend having at least 36″ of room between the edge of any furniture and the front of the sideboard. In rooms that are smaller, have at least 18″ – 24″ of clear space.
Step 4: Measure Doorways & Hallways
Any doorways and hallways leading to the location of the buffet table should be measured. Make sure the table’s dimensions are compact enough to pass through these openings before making your selection.
What Height Is Appropriate?
In order to comfortably serve food from the top, a buffet should also be the ideal height. Consider the 36-inch standard height of your kitchen counter. Your dining room buffet can be placed at roughly that height. Some buffets, however, stand 34 to 38 inches tall. A sideboard that is taller than your dining room table, which will typically be between 28 and 30 inches in height, will look well-proportioned in your dining room.
Credenzas And Buffets
A buffet is a long, narrow table with tall legs for extra serving utensils. It doesn’t necessarily have any cabinetry, but it might have one small drawer under the top. When not in use, it is frequently embellished with little things. Buffets are typically only used in the dining room.
A buffet’s versatility is the primary distinction between it and a sideboard.
A credenza is smaller than a buffet or sideboard and typically has sliding doors rather than drawers. As office storage solutions, credenzas now have a more contemporary appearance.
What Is It Used For?
The formal and special occasion dishes, flatware, and linens that you typically use in a dining room are intended to be stored in abundance on a buffet or sideboard. As a surface, it can also be used to set food trays or dishes. When it isn’t being used for serving, the top surface is typically used to arrange a symmetrical array of decorative accents, including candles, lamps, and artwork.
Modern Sideboards
They can be located anywhere. They can be utilized as accent tables in an entranceway, behind a couch, or down a hallway. You can display them as an eclectic side piece or match them to your current furniture.
Sideboards are taller than dining room tables because they typically house serving ware. A sideboard is typically between 34 and 38 inches tall, while a dining room table is typically about 28 inches tall. You eat at a table while standing at a higher sideboard to serve yourself.
Although many dining room tables can be 48 inches long, the average length of a sideboard is about 60 inches.
A sideboard, buffet, or credenza should be placed at least 24 inches away from the dining room table. Sideboards are typically between 22 and 24 inches deep. Check your dimensions if you believe you need that extra piece.
Remember to allow space for opening the cabinet doors since a sideboard has upper and lower cabinetry.
Common Materials
Wood: The most common sideboards are usually made of wood because they are excellent for adding a touch of nature to any space. A wood table can be found in a variety of styles, from sleek white wood to rustic weathered wood.
Tip!
Especially in textured woods with deep nooks, use an old toothbrush to clean any difficult-to-reach areas.
Metal: Metal sideboards and buffet tables can give your room texture and an industrial feel. Dust the metal frequently to keep it looking its best, and clean any stains with a solution of mild soap and water.
Marble/Granite: Marble and granite are always showstoppers if you have extra money to spend. To prevent damage to your marble during cleaning, use gentle cleaning agents.
Plastic/Acrylic: Acrylic and plastic sideboards have a sleek, contemporary design. These will give any space a modern, straightforward touch. When cleaning, use a microfiber cloth because paper towels can actually make acrylic more prone to scratches. Acrylic is also particularly delicate to scratches.
Are Sideboards Necessary?
A sideboard is a nice storage choice if you have both a formal dining service and a regular dining service. Do you frequently tell guests to help themselves after stacking serving dishes on the counter or in the kitchen during dinner parties for family and friends? The better choice would be a sideboard because you can reach over, pass a dish, and then put it back.
Consider a sideboard if you’re looking for a narrow, beautiful piece of furniture that you can use for storage. They are excellent options for storage and display in the living room or family room. You can display items on top, they sit flush against the wall, and the lower cabinets are hidden.
Are you looking for something more breathable? There are sideboards that have drawers and lower, unlocked shelves instead of doors. The absence of the cabinet doors will make the sideboard look lighter, which may go more smoothly with your design goals.
The appeal of a sideboard, buffet, or credenza is that they increase storage while taking up the least amount of room. Although they are quite adaptable, this does limit their storage options.