Buffet or Sideboard: Understanding the Key Differences

By George House/18,Oct,2025

A buffet or sideboard, what do you need? These two furniture pieces look almost identical, serve similar purposes, and even share overlapping styles. But there is also a critical difference, and it’s in how you actually use them.

Let’s break down what makes a buffet different and, at the same time, makes it similar to a sideboard. And which furniture should make your area more functional and put-together?

What is a Buffet?

A buffet is a long, low-lying storage cabinet typically placed in the dining room. It’s meant to serve food on, place dishes in, and or set the plates/cutlery out for a buffet meal. It got its name from. The top surface is flat and wide with cabinets or drawers underneath.

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Pros of Buffet

• Great for Parties: When hosting parties or dinners, a buffet gives you a ready serving space. You can set up a food station or a drink fountain without filling up the dining space with guests.
• Ample Storage: Buffets have deeper drawers and shelves perfect for storing tablecloths, silverware, and additional plates.
• Visually Stabilizes the Room: Due to its relatively longer, organic form, a buffet provides stability to a dining area, particularly when combined with a mirror or piece of artwork above.

Cons of Buffet

• Takes Up Space: Buffets are wider and deeper, thus occupying precious floor space in smaller dining rooms.
• Formal and Occasionally “Heavy” Decoration: Their customary roots render them a little outdated or less attractive to a contemporary, minimalist, or bohemian home.

Buffet is Best For

You should lean towards a buffet if:

• You serve big, traditional feasts regularly
• Your dining room is medium to large and needs a substantial furniture anchor.
• You have a great deal of dining-specific items (fine China, big serving pieces) that must be stored in a dedicated, organized space.
• Your home’s style is classic, farmhouse, or traditional.

What is a Sideboard?

A sideboard is a close cousin of the buffet, though a tad bit more formal in shape and purpose. It used to be traditionally intended for dining rooms only, but these days it’s just as likely to turn up in living rooms or entryways, or wherever you’ll serve food.

It shares the same basic form as a buffet—a long, low storage cabinet—but tends to wear cleaner lines, thinner build, minimalist hardware, and a greater range of materials such as metal, glass, and smooth woods.

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Pros of Sideboard

• Lighter Design: Sideboards are often designed to be less deep and cumbersome than buffets, making them a genius move for smaller apartments or open-plan living spaces.
• Decor-Friendly Surface: Ideal for placing vases, lamps, or art, the type of surface that brings a room together.
• Multi-Purpose Storage: You can place anything from books to tableware or even electronics accessories, depending on where you put the cabinet.

Cons of Sideboard

• Less Space: Because of its thinner top, a sideboard will not fit as many dishes or serving trays as a buffet. Plus, it’s inside tends to be more open, which is convenient but less perfect when you need to stack fine China and dining accessories.
• A Less “Formal” Presence: If you want a piece that shouts “elegant dining room,” a minimalist sideboard may be a tad too laid-back for that exact traditional look.

Sideboard is Best For

You should lean towards a sideboard if:

• You have a modern, minimalist, or eclectically designed house.
• You want a useful piece that might fill multiple roles in several rooms.
• You have a smaller space, and you require a furniture piece with less of a visual impact.
• You require more general home storage (board games, media gadgets, bar tools) than formal dinner-specific sets.

Buffet vs. Sideboard: Quick Comparison

Feature	Buffet	Sideboard
Primary Vibe	Traditional, formal, anchored	Modern, versatile, flexible
Best Location	Dining Room	Any Room (Living, Entry, Hall, Dining)
Typical Storage	Dedicated (drawers for silverware, cabinets for China)	Adaptable (open shelves, general cabinets)
Style Aesthetic	Farmhouse, Traditional, Classic	Mid-Century, Scandinavian, Contemporary
Footprint	Substantial and often deeper	Sleeker and often more space-efficient
Ideal For	The frequent host with formal dinnerware	The urban dweller or modern home needs multi-purpose storage

Expert Advice: How to Decide Between a Buffet or a Sideboard for Your Space

Still in doubt? Don’t over complicate. Ask yourself these three questions:

1. What’s its primary function? If it is for serving and storage in the dining room, go for a buffet. However, if your room is small, a sideboard will be less imposing and more suitable, even just for serving purposes.
2. What is your home’s style? A buffet will look built-in with a traditional, classic, or farmhouse type of feel. For a contemporary, minimalist, or eclectic room, a sideboard will likely be the better option.
3. How much space do you have? Take measurements of your wall and walkway areas. A large buffet in a small room will be stifling, but the same space can be organized and open with a sleek sideboard.

The Alternative: Credenza

A credenza is another close cousin in this clan of storage furniture—a buffet, sort of, but even more functional. It’s generally lower in height with sliding doors rather than drawers.

You can opt for a credenza instead if you adore the mid-century style or require one for a narrow area. Its sliding doors are ideal for tight areas where a swinging door would interrupt a path. It’s the best option for a minimalist dining room setup or a sleek media console. It now also tends to make an appearance in offices or contemporary living areas.

Credenza vs. Buffet vs. Sideboard

Feature	Buffet	Sideboard	Credenza
Design	Traditional, Substantial	Versatile, Modern	Sleek, Mid-Century
Best For	Formal Dining Storage	Multi-Room Flexibility	Narrow Spaces, Media
Doors	Swinging Cabinet Doors	Mixed (Doors/Drawers)	Sliding Doors

Conclusion

The ideal piece of storage furniture is the one that fits your lifestyle, room, and aesthetic. Let this guide assist you in discovering whether your living/dining room requires a Buffet or sideboard, or its second cousin credenza.

Ready to make it happen? Select George Group as your supplier of custom furniture, cabinetry, doors, windows, and other types of building materials. Our professional staff at George Group is ready to assist.