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Furniture terminology can be confusing, even for professionals. Over the centuries, types of furniture go in and out of fashion, and some trends and styles are adopted from abroad.
Many pieces serve similar purposes, with slight differences in shape and style to fit various preferences. Other items may no longer be used in accordance with their original purpose – for instance, most households no longer employ butlers and yet still may have what’s called a butler’s cabinet.It’s important to fully understand the distinctions between similar furniture types to choose a piece that matches specific needs and interior styles.
So we compiled a list of commonly confused furniture terms for storage and display pieces used in living and dining areas, and broke down their functional and aesthetic differences. We hope this resource will help improve the communication between interior designers and homeowners as they work together to choose lasting pieces for beautiful spaces.Buffet
Use in: formal dining areas
Best for: a wide, flat, usable top surface
Dominant styles: traditional, transitional
A buffet is used for storage and display, often in more formal dining areas. It is long and low to the ground, with a flat open surface that can be used for serving food or displaying objects.
Source:Black Wolf Design
They can feature cabinets, drawers, open shelving, or a combination. This classic type of furniture can be more ornate or formal in appearance than sideboards or credenzas, matching well with traditionally designed interiors.
Some buffets can come with an add-on hutch, adding storage and display space, or converting the buffet into more of a coffee and drinks bar than a service surface. Unlike a china cabinet, a buffet with hutch will still have some working surface space.
Server
Use in: smaller dining and living areas
Best for: quick access during entertaining
Dominant styles: contemporary and transitional
Similar to a buffet, a server is used for storage and to serve food and drinks in dining areas. They are more compact and often more contemporary in design than buffets, great for smaller or more informal dining areas. They still feature a long, flat top surface, perfect for serving when entertaining. Servers feature drawers, shelves, cabinets, or wine racks, but with less overall storage space than buffets.
Source: Stickley
What is the difference between a buffet and a server?
A server is essentially a simpler, more modern version of a buffet. They’re both great for serving food and drinks while entertaining, but a server can be more compact and simplistic in design than the more traditional buffet.Sideboard
Use in: informal dining room, kitchen
Best for: simple and versatile storage functionality
Dominant styles: traditional to modern
A sideboard is designed primarily for storage in dining spaces. It features drawers and cabinets for items like linens, extra dishes, or alcohol. Sideboards are long and low in profile, with a less emphasized flat surface on top, since they are not used for service as much as a buffet, though they might be used to set aside desert! Sideboards were originally more simplistic and less decorative than buffets, though they can still be quite beautiful in design.
Source: Iron Accents
What is the difference between a buffet and a sideboard?
A buffet is more decorative and traditional, with a greater open surface, while sideboards are more simplistic or functional in design, often shorter in height since they are not focused around serving.Credenza
Use in: living and office areas
Best for: heavier, multi-purpose storage
Dominant styles: contemporary, mid-century modern
Like buffets and sideboards, credenzas are designed for storage and display. They tend to be taller and narrower than sideboards, great for entryways, office spaces, or media rooms. Credenzas are designed to be multi-functional, with many types of organizational options including cabinets, drawers, open shelving, and cubbies.
Source: Baker Furniture
What is the difference between a sideboard and a credenza?
A sideboard is designed for functional dining storage, while a credenza can be more decorative and used in a wider variety of spaces including offices and living areas.What is the difference between a buffet and a credenza?
A buffet’s main feature is its wide, multi-purpose top, great for entertaining, while a credenza focuses more on varied internal storage. Buffet’s are designed specifically for dining, while credenzas are used in a wider variety of rooms.Console
Use in: living and transitional spaces
Best for: artistic display and narrow spaces
Dominant styles: modern, transitional
A console is a narrow, elongated piece designed primarily for display. They’re often used to display TVs, artwork, lamps, or keys and mail. They tend to be smaller than buffets, sideboards, and credenzas, used in entryways, hallways, behind sofas, in bathrooms or as a media center. They might contain a couple drawers and cabinets, but often more strongly emphasize open, decorative shelves.
What is the difference between a credenza and a console?
A console is usually smaller, narrower, and contains more open shelving than a credenza, which may contain multi-functional storage options and a bulkier size and shape.What is the difference between a console and a sideboard?
Sideboards are used more specifically in dining spaces and to functionally store linens, dishes, and more, while consoles are more oriented around displaying items. Sideboards are larger and simpler in design, while consoles can fit in smaller spaces and can be more decorative.Accent Chest
Use in: living and transitional spaces
Best for: making a statement, storing or displaying smaller goods
Dominant styles: anything from antique to modern!
An accent chest is an older fashioned way to refer to a more compact and decorative storage piece. It’s not the type of “chest” that usually comes to mind – a low box with a hinged lid on top – but looks more like an entry table or chest of drawers. It serves as an accent piece, with an emphasis on bold, decorative style and is a great alternative to a console.
Butler’s Cabinet
Use in: formal living and dining areas
Best for: organizing specific dining implements aesthetically, serving
Dominant styles: antique, traditional
A butler’s cabinet was designed with a more specific function in mind – storing and serving tableware and supplies for entertaining. They usually have many different types of compartments designed for the specific items they hold, like dishes, glasses, or napkins. They might also feature a drop-down hinged top which can be lifted to provide more of a counter space while serving guests. Butler’s cabinets also serve as a statement piece, often more detailed than credenzas and sideboards. This stunning antique was listed for resale on 1st Dibs.
What is the difference between a butler’s cabinet and a server or buffet?
Servers and buffets focus more on an open service top with generalized storage options, while a butler’s cabinet will feature more specialized storage and may be placed in a room offsetting the formal dining area.Furniture Terms with Pictures & Tips
Buffet
Size
Medium-Large, Long
Room
Formal Dining
Top Use
Service and Storage
Server
Size
Small-Medium
Room
Dining
Top Use
Versatile surface and fit
Sideboard
Size
Medium-Large, Long
Room
Dining
Top Use
Simple storage
Credenza
Size
Medium-Large, Long
Room
Living, Office
Top Use
Multi-purpose storage
Console
Size
Small-Medium, Narrow
Room
Living, Office
Top Use
Display, decor
Accent Chest
Size
Small
Room
Living
Top Use
Statement piece
Butler’s Cabinet
Size
Medium-Large
Room
Formal Dining
Top Use
Antique, specialized storage
Featured Brands and Style Tips
Each of these types of furniture can come in any style, even though some, like buffets, may be more associated with traditional homes and decor. Manufacturers usually have a specific style, so consider finding a brand you like, and then search through all their credenzas, sideboards, and more to see which one looks like a good match for your space and storage needs.
Featured Brand
Stickley
Manlius, New York
Sickley specializes in solid oak furniture in traditional, arts and crafts, and mid-century modern styles. This simple, yet solid server features an intricate fretwork gallery that’s lit from behind with LEDs, plus both drawers and open shelving.
With such a compact size, this server will fit in the corner of your dining room, or in nooks and transitional spaces between your kitchen and dining areas. Use the open, airy space beneath the drawers to display decorative dishware, like punch bowls, that you can easily pull out when entertaining.
Featured: Stickley Surrey Hills Server with Gallery
Featured Brand
Iron Accents
Clermont, GeorgiaIron Accents creates lovely hand-planed dining furniture in pine with either distressed or polished finishes. Their pieces pair beautifully with a country farmhouse or rustic aesthetic.
Arrange this sideboard under a set of broad windows and top it with fresh flowers.
Featured: Iron Accents Painted French Sideboard
Featured Brand
Baker McGuire
High Point, North CarolinaBaker McGuire designs one-of-a-kind luxe modern display pieces that make a statement while providing functional storage. They combine rich colors and materials with modern curves and cuts for a look both classic and trendy.
Display this glamorous accent chest in a richly decorated living room in an old Hollywood or art deco style. Match the gold color with other metallic accents like lighting fixtures or gilded picture frames and display some fresh greenery on top for a striking contrast.
Featured: Baker Luxe Collection Remi Spot Table
Featured Brand
Black Wolf
Omro, WisconsinBlack Wolf handcrafts contemporary and traditional living and dining furniture in a variety of hardwoods including walnut, red oak, ash, and cherry. They create custom pieces as well. This stunning buffet is crafted from mahogany with intricate gold finishes.
Pair this buffet with a mahogany dining set, but choose lighter colored floors and walls to avoid darkening the room. Pale accents like a rug and artwork will make your space feel modern, while giving the traditional pieces a backdrop against which they can shine.
Featured: Baker Luxe Collection Remi Spot Table
Featured Brand
Woodcraft Furniture, Co.
Mason, OhioWoodcraft Furniture Co. creates a delightfully wide range of furniture in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They make pieces that pair with farmhouse, shabby chic, and french country interiors, plus more modern looks like this console with mirrored insets. It comes in brown maple, red oak, or rustic cherry.
Find an otherwise unusable space in living or entertaining areas and turn it into a coffee or entertainment bar – equipped with a inconspicuous mini fridge.
Featured: Woodcraft Furniture Cafe Hutch
P.S.
Furniture terms evolve over time and manufacturers may list something that looks more like a console as a “modern buffet.” At the end of the day, these terms are designed to help you narrow down your specific needs, but don’t let the search terms confuse or constrain you.
Jot down some notes about the dimensions of your space, your aesthetic, storage and entertaining needs, and then save a few pictures that speak to you.
When you meet with your interior designer, they’ll have a much easier time understanding how to find the perfect piece.
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