Difference Between Sideboard, Buffet, Server, Credenza, Cellarette, China Cabinet & Hutch.

What do you call a long piece of furniture used for storage in dining room?

If you said sideboard, buffet, server or credenza, you are absolutely correct. The fact is that these terms are mostly used interchangeably. Though there are some notable difference when it comes to details that I will walk you through below.

What Is a Sideboard?

A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers. The single feature that distinguishes a sideboard from buffet or credenza is its short legs or a base that sits directly on the floor with no legs. You can find sideboards in a number of styles, with high gloss lacquered finishes, wooden, glass or mirrored cabinet doors.

What is a Buffet?

There is no difference in buffet and a sideboard in terms of definition as both of them have drawers and cabinets for storage. The one key difference that a buffet has is, its long legs. Yes, as compared to sideboards buffets have taller legs. The term buffet was first used in Sweden where people used to lay out big spreads of food known as smorgasbords and then this concept caught on in France and then rest of the Europe.

What is a Server?

Servers are usually smaller and compact as compared to buffet. The term 'server" comes from the fact that people who are serving food in restaurants or any dining place can place their serving dishes for easy access. Servers may or may not have an open bottom, drawers or cabinets as designs vary. They can be found in variety of designs like with glass doors to showcase beautiful crockery or may be totally wooden.

What is a Credenza?

The word "credenza" follows English word "credence" and Italian word for "belief". Because initially they were used to place the food which needed to be tested before being served to higher officials. Early credenzas used to have cabinets reaching floor with no legs. But the new credenzas tend to be longer on very thin legs. They are low heighten often with sliding doors.

What is a Cellarette?

Cellarette used to be a small movable cabinet designed to hold bottles of wine or liquor, primarily used from the 18th to the 20th century. It was usually kept under the center of a sideboard and rolled out for use. If it was meant to hold ice and made of silver, it was known as a wine cooler. Most portable cellarettes were made of mahogany, and designs were varied. However their use was declined over time.

What is a China Cabinet?

China Cabinets were designed and built to protect and display formal dinnerware. china cabinets are named because the fine porcelain dinnerware was invented and perfected by the Chinese more than a thousand years ago. These cabinets can be used near the dining area or they can also be placed in the living room, Because of the glass paneled framed doors, the multiple shelves inside can be used to display fine family heirlooms or other decorative items. They usually have a hidden storage in the lower parts as well which can include cabinets as well as drawers or open shelves. China cabinets are also available in variety of designs but primarily the material stays wood and glass.

What is a Hutch?

Hutch is usually a set of shelves or cabinets placed on top of a lower unit with a counter and either drawers or cabinets. Hutches are often seen in the form of desks, dining room, or kitchen furniture. The hutch's lower half has a counter top, cabinets or drawers. The top part of a hutch is either a display case or cabinets.

What is a Curio Cabinet?

A curio cabinet is a specialized type of display case, made predominantly of glass with a metal or wood framework, for presenting collections of curios, like figurines or other interesting objects that invoke curiosity, and perhaps share a common theme. A curio cabinet may also be used to display a solitary object of special interest, such as a hand-crafted doll.While display cases for presenting products for sale (such as jewelry) are typically horizontal with a surface covered in felt, a curio cabinet is usually vertical with no felt. Most curio cabinets have glass on each side, glass shelves, and optionally a mirror at the back, to maximize visibility.

Another purpose of a curio cabinet is to protect the value of a collection, which it does by preventing contact by dust and vermin. For added security, a locked door allows the collection to be seen, while protecting it from damage and theft.

The fact is, manufacturers of these furniture pieces call them whatever they think sounds best. If you want to find the piece that you love, then I would suggest you to search all the terms when searching online - Let's say If i am looking for sideboard then i will go for "sideboard", "Buffet", "Credenza", "Server" or even cabinets.

Good Luck finding a furniture piece that suits your needs!!!