Sideboards & Credenzas

The History of the Credenza

The credenza is a modern sideboard buffet with a rich history. The term "credenza" originally referred to an Italian sideboard that served food and often featured intricate wood carvings and designs.

Over time, the credenza evolved into a multi-functional piece of furniture. In the 20th century, it became popular in offices and conference rooms as a means of storing files and other office supplies. Today, the credenza is still widely used in both residential and commercial settings.

Modern credenzas have a sleek and minimalistic design, featuring clean lines that can fit into a variety of interior styles such as contemporary, traditional, and mid-century modern. Although sideboard, buffet, and credenza are used interchangeably, there are differences between the types of furniture.

Dining credenzas are often used in dining rooms as a beautiful storage solution for dishes, linens, and decorative accessories. They provide ample space for storing and displaying items while also serving as a stylish statement piece. In living rooms, sideboard buffets can be used to house electronics, books, and other items that need to be hidden away.

In the office, the credenza is a versatile piece of furniture that can be used as a storage solution for files, supplies, and equipment. It can also serve as a functional desk extension, providing extra workspace and storage for office essentials.

Despite its evolution over time, the credenza remains a versatile and functional piece of furniture that can be used in various settings and for different purposes. Its ability to blend seamlessly into any interior design style while also providing ample storage and workspace makes it an essential piece for any home or office.

The Different Types of Credenzas

Credenza is a term that encompasses various types of storage furniture. However, it is important to highlight the differences between the three most common types - credenzas, sideboards, and buffets. Although the term 'dining credenza' is often used as a catch-all term, it is crucial to understand the distinctions between these styles to accurately identify them.

Traditional Credenza

When considering the features of a traditional credenza, several aspects come to mind. These furnishings typically have a lower profile than counter height and lack legs. They commonly include cabinets and doors to store plates, cutlery, and dishware, although a more conventional credenza may have less visible doors and handles. This type of furniture is characterized by its sleek design, setting it apart from many sideboards and buffets.

Sideboard

It is worth noting that while credenzas are designed to sit flush to the floor, sideboards are typically elevated with shorter legs. In fact, sideboards are generally positioned at waist height due to their raised stature. Additionally, it is not uncommon for sideboards to feature hutches on their upper section, which can be used to display various items. It is important to note, however, that this feature is not standard across all sideboards.

Buffet

A buffet is another subset of the credenza, though it shares more of the same features of a sideboard than a traditional credenza. Like sideboards and credenzas, buffets are long tables designed to be used just as the name suggests - like a buffet to serve food. Buffets tend to have taller legs than a sideboard and are almost exclusively found in dining rooms, unlike a sideboard or credenza.

Credenza and Sideboard Functionality

The dining credenza has become a staple in many households over the centuries, and that is for a very good reason. Whether traditional or modern, the sideboard, buffet, or credenza has proven its usefulness time and time again to add extra functionality to your dining room space. In the more modern era, these functional pieces of furniture have even shifted to serve purposes in living rooms and family rooms.

When you picture a credenza or sideboard, you immediately think of its purpose in the dining room. Sideboards are amazing for adding extra space to your dining room that you might not otherwise have. You can use the countertop space of a sideboard to display various interesting dishware pieces, or if you're hosting a dinner, the top of a sideboard makes for an excellent buffet or appetizer table.

Sideboards or credenzas are also perfect for storage. Depending on what style you choose for a sideboard, you'll have plenty of room to store extra dishware, cutlery, appliances, or even linens. Drawers make for excellent cutlery storage, and adding a couple of baskets in the cabinets can help you keep everything organized.

It's become increasingly popular as well for dining credenza's or sideboards to be used in the living room. Typically, you find sideboards in living room spaces more than credenzas for the simple fact that they tend to be a bit longer and a little higher up due to the addition of legs. A sideboard makes for an incredible entertainment stand, and longer sideboards can easily hold a large television with room on either side. Because of the storage underneath as well, you're able to store DVDs, game systems, board games, and other items that you might want to keep close at hand.

If you are looking for a way to add extra functionality and style to your living room, consider placing a sideboard behind your couch. This is particularly useful if you have an open-concept floor plan or if your couch is placed in the middle of the room.

Using a sideboard as an extra table and storage is a trend that is gaining popularity in modern interior design. Not only does it provide ample storage and display space for your living room essentials, but it can also serve as an elegant decor piece.

Choosing the Right Piece for Your Space

The selection of furniture for your living space is multifaceted to include the intended function of the furniture, the size of the room, and your personal aesthetic preference. Home decoration is a matter of personal taste, and the perfect furniture choice is determined by individual preferences. Nonetheless, there are essential principles to consider when selecting the ideal furniture style for your home.

When it comes to selecting furniture, it's important to choose pieces that complement your current furniture style. While it's not necessary for all of your furniture to match precisely or come from the same set, selecting furniture that compliments your current collection ensures that you'll be able to continue using it for years to come.

One popular approach is to match your dining credenza with either the wood of your dining table or the same color scheme or wood of your living room furniture. This decision should be based on where you plan to place the piece and how you plan to use it.

If you aren't able to find a sideboard that matches your furniture exactly, try choosing either a complementary design or dare to be different and choose something bold that still fits in with your décor. For example, if you have a darker wood dining table and enjoy a more industrial vibe with your furniture, you might enjoy a Warren 100-inch sideboard.

With the rustic wood finish and the black metal, cast iron-like hardware, this sideboard is the perfect fit to match a darker dining set. Additionally, because this is a sideboard, it's a beautiful place to display some of your valuable or decorative kitchen furnishings due to the large amount of space along the top of the piece. Because of its length, this piece would also make a great television stand and storage piece if you chose to use it in the living room instead.

Choosing a bold color that still fits in with your theme is another option. If you enjoy a more rustic or farmhouse style, the Emery 84-inch sideboard may be exactly what you want. The robin's egg blue color makes for a nice, gentle pop of color that can complement your otherwise neutral-toned dining room furniture. Plus, this sideboard's glass cabinet doors allow you to easily display some of your more memorable pieces in a safe location. Pairing this with a light furniture color or a more rustic dining room set would make for an amazing farmhouse ambience in your dining room!

LOOMLAN

Since 2018, LOOMLAN has made classy, luxurious furniture accessible to clients across the United States. We appreciate the finer things in life, and all of our clients deserve to have a chance to experience that same luxury for themselves.

Whether you experience that taste of luxury through purchasing a credenza or sideboard or choosing another one of our incredible pieces of furniture, we hope that shopping with LOOMLAN gives you a sense of the luxury you've always wanted.

If you're interested in purchasing one of our stylish, classic pieces, browse our Sideboards & Credenza collection today!