Plain Talk About Buffets, Sideboards, Servers & Credenzas...and Huntboards

When shopping around for furniture whose primary function is to hold items for table service, the differences between a buffet, sideboard, server, or credenza can be a bit confusing. Below are some important distinctions of each that should help you in your choice. (Visit our selection of handcrafted buffets that includes a wide variety of woods, stains, and design styles.)

Sideboard (also known as a Buffet)

• Long, waist-high (or lower) furniture piece with short or no legs, used also for storage

• May or may not have cabinets that extend to the floor

• Has compartments or shelves in/on which to hold table service items

• May include a hutch (like our Barnwood Hutches) with open shelving or with glass front cabinets intended for displaying fine tableware

• 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

Buffet (also known as a Sideboard)

• Same characteristics as a sideboard but are generally found in a dining room

Server

• Smaller, more formal, lighter in scale than Sideboards or Buffets

• May have drawers or cabinets

• May have an open bottom with taller legs

Credenza

• Today’s credenzas, like the modern walnut Crawford Credenza pictured above, are usually long, low cabinets with a streamlined appearance that lend to a more contemporary vibe.

Shop Buffets, Sideboards, and Servers

You’ll find an excellent selection of rustic buffet cabinets on our website. Here, you'll see an assortment of buffets, servers, kitchen islands, hutches, and a credenza made of reclaimed wood, cherry, and more!