Sideboards

A buffet is typically dining-room storage, a sideboard is similar but often longer and raised on legs, and a credenza is low with sliding or flush doors, at home in living rooms and offices. In practice the names overlap heavily, so compare height, depth and door style rather than relying on the label.

Most sideboards are 30–36 inches tall and 16–20 inches deep. In a dining room, leave at least 36 inches between sideboard and table for pulling out chairs, and allow about a foot of open wall at each end so it doesn't look squeezed in. A piece about two-thirds the width of its wall usually looks best.

It works if the sideboard is at least as wide as the TV and about 20–24 inches tall, keeping the screen near seated eye level. Taller pieces put the TV too high for comfortable viewing. Make sure cables can pass through the back and that doors are vented if they will hide a streaming box or game console.

Look for solid hardwood or real-wood veneer over plywood rather than laminate-wrapped particleboard, metal drawer glides and soft-close hinges. Adjustable shelves make the interior much more useful. Check the back panel as well: it should be screwed or set into the frame, not thin fiberboard stapled on. Doors should sit evenly with consistent gaps when closed.

It depends on what you'll store. Drawers suit flatware, table linens and small items you want to find quickly, while cabinets with adjustable shelves hold tall serving pieces, glassware and games. Many designs combine both. In a dining room, a shallow top drawer for flatware and napkins is especially handy.

Hang art or a mirror above, about two-thirds of the sideboard's width, and place one tall element such as a lamp or vase at one end. Balance it with a lower grouping at the other end and leave some surface clear. In a dining room, keep part of the top free for setting out food when you entertain.