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

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 are usually long, low cabinets (with sliding doors) on slender legs.

Shop Buffets, Sideboards, and Servers

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