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.

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 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, and more simple 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