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What Is a Sideboard? The Ultimate Dining Room Addition

Hosting made easy.

brown wood sideboard with black and white tapered candles on top and gray vases

Sideboards: the best kept secret for hidden storage in homes everywhere. Below, we’ll walk you through what is a sideboard and how to find the perfect one to enhance your space.

What Is a Sideboard?

modern dining room with a wood sideboard

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A sideboard, also known as a buffet table, is a piece of furniture common in dining rooms that provides extra storage. It typically has cabinets and drawers for dining-related items like glassware, cutlery, fine china, candles, napkins, and tablecloths. The top surface of a sideboard is often used as a shelf for decorative items you want displayed or as an extra surface to place food platters for hosting and get-togethers.

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How To Choose the Right Sideboard for Your Dining Room

1. Choose a Design Type

what is a sideboard

Sideboard/Credenza: This design features plenty of storage for linens, dishes, and serveware. They usually feature short legs to maximize storage space. Sideboards and credenzas frequently have sliding doors.

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Buffet Table: Buffet tables and sideboards are very similar in design, but traditional buffet tables are taller, longer, and narrower and designed for putting food on top when hosting.

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Server: Servers are less wide than both sideboards and buffet tables. They are also considered more formal than the other designs, and their small size makes them perfect for compact rooms.

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2. Compare Common Materials

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Wood: Wood sideboards are typically the most popular, as they are perfect for bringing a natural element into any room. With options ranging from rustic weathered wood to sleek white wood, a wood table will fit any style.

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Metal: Sideboards and buffet tables made of metal can add texture and an industrial feel to your space. To keep the metal looking its best, dust routinely and use a mixture of mild soap and water to clean any marks.

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Plastic/Acrylic: Plastic and acrylic sideboards are clean-lined and modern. These will add a sleek yet simple touch to any room. Acrylic is particularly sensitive to scratches, so make sure to use a microfiber cloth when cleaning, as paper towels can actually scratch the surface more.

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3. Determine the Correct Size

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Step 1: Measure Other Furniture
Consider what other furniture is currently in the room. You don’t want the proportions of your sideboard to be disproportionate to everything else. Sideboards and buffet tables should be at least the same height as the dining table, but ideally they are a few inches taller. The most common height for sideboards or buffet tables is 30" – 36" tall. Don’t be afraid to make the width different from that of your dining table. (There are no rules here!)


Step 2: Measure the Space
Measure the width, height, and depth of the space where it will be placed. Check that it won't bump into any items. If there’s a window where you’ll be placing the table, make sure there is a reasonable amount of space between the bottom of the window and the top of the sideboard. Also, make certain that your sideboard won't be covering a heating or cooling vent (this is more common in older homes).


Step 3: Ensure a Seamless Layout
Make sure that there is ample room to walk around the sideboard easily, even if the cabinets and drawers are open. We recommend having at least 36" of room between the edge of any furniture and the front of the sideboard. In rooms that are smaller, have at least 18" – 24" of clear space.


Step 4: Measure Doorways & Hallways
Measure any doorways and hallways leading to where you will place the buffet table. When choosing a table, ensure that the dimensions are small enough to fit through these spaces.

Tip!

Once you’ve added a sideboard or buffet to your dining room, check out Decorating a Buffet Table: Your Go-To Guide for tips on styling it!


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