Buffets And Sideboards

Buffets and sideboards are versatile storage pieces that combine practical organisation with elegant furniture design. Traditionally associated with dining rooms, they provide a convenient home for crockery, glassware, serving pieces and table linens while offering a generous surface for lamps, mirrors, artwork and decorative accessories. Today, their versatility extends far beyond the dining room, with beautifully designed pieces working equally well in living rooms, hallways and open-plan spaces.

Quick Facts

• Ideal for: Dining rooms, living rooms, hallways and entertaining spaces
• Storage options: Cupboards, drawers, shelves or combinations of each
• Popular materials: Walnut, oak, painted wood, lacquer, glass and metal
• Styles: Contemporary, traditional, modern, rustic and glamorous
• Main benefit: Combines concealed storage with decorative appeal
• Design tip: Choose proportions that complement the surrounding furniture and wall space

Why It’s Popular

The enduring popularity of buffets and sideboards comes from their ability to make a room both more beautiful and more functional. They provide generous concealed storage without taking up the vertical space of a tall cabinet, helping interiors feel organised while retaining a sense of openness.

In dining rooms, a sideboard can keep everyday entertaining essentials close at hand. In living rooms, it can conceal books, accessories and household items while creating an attractive platform for decorative styling.

Their versatility also makes them valuable in open-plan homes. A well-chosen sideboard can visually define a dining or living area while introducing a sense of continuity between different parts of the room.

Popular Styles

Walnut Buffets and Sideboards
Walnut is particularly appealing for its rich grain and warm, sophisticated colour. It pairs beautifully with neutral upholstery, marble, brass and contemporary lighting.

Contemporary Sideboards
Clean silhouettes, discreet handles and smooth surfaces give contemporary designs a refined appearance. These are ideal for modern interiors where simplicity and proportion take centre stage.

Traditional Buffets
Classic detailing, framed doors and elegant timber finishes create a sense of heritage. They work especially well in country-inspired, period and transitional interiors.

Lacquered Sideboards
Lacquer introduces a smooth, polished finish that can feel particularly glamorous. Neutral lacquer works beautifully in sophisticated schemes, while deeper shades can create a dramatic focal point.

Statement Sideboards
Distinctive bases, unusual textures or decorative fronts can turn storage furniture into a feature in its own right.

How to Choose

Begin by considering exactly what you need the piece to store. Cupboards are useful for larger items such as serving dishes and crockery, while drawers are ideal for cutlery, napkins and smaller accessories.

Measure the available wall carefully, including the surrounding clearance needed for doors and drawers to open comfortably. A sideboard should feel substantial enough to anchor the wall without making the room feel crowded.

Material is another important consideration. Natural timber adds warmth, lacquer offers a more polished finish, while glass and metal can introduce a lighter contemporary quality.

Think about the rest of your furniture, too. Your buffet does not have to match every piece exactly, but repeating one material, colour or finish elsewhere can help create a cohesive interior.

Styling Tips

One of the easiest ways to style a buffet or sideboard is to place a large mirror or artwork above it. This creates a strong vertical focal point while giving the furniture below a clear visual purpose.

For a classic arrangement, use matching lamps at either end and introduce a central vase, sculpture or decorative object. For a more relaxed look, vary the height and shape of your accessories.

A tray can help organise smaller decorative pieces, while a vase of seasonal flowers introduces softness and colour. Books, candles and sculptural objects can add further layers without making the surface feel overcrowded.

If the sideboard has beautiful timber grain or a particularly distinctive finish, keep the styling restrained. Allow the furniture itself to remain part of the display.

Benefits at a Glance

• Provides generous concealed storage
• Helps keep dining and living spaces organised
• Creates a sophisticated furniture focal point
• Offers a useful surface for decorative styling
• Works across several rooms in the home
• Available in a wide range of materials, colours and finishes

Inspiration from Designer Brands

Richmond Interiors offers inspiration for elegant sideboards with sophisticated finishes and contemporary proportions. For a more luxurious approach, Eichholtz demonstrates how sculptural forms, rich materials and refined detailing can turn practical storage into a statement piece.

Gallery Direct provides ideas for more relaxed contemporary interiors, particularly where natural materials and understated forms are important. Uttermost also offers inspiration for decorative furniture where texture, finish and distinctive detailing give a sideboard additional personality.

The most successful interiors treat a buffet or sideboard as part of the wider room rather than simply a storage solution. Consider its relationship with the dining table, lighting, artwork, flooring and surrounding furniture to create a harmonious result.

Common Questions

What is the difference between a buffet and a sideboard?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Both generally refer to low storage furniture with cupboards, drawers or both, traditionally used in dining spaces.

Can buffets and sideboards be used outside the dining room?
Absolutely. They work beautifully in living rooms, hallways, bedrooms and open-plan spaces where additional storage is useful.

What should I store in a sideboard?
Crockery, glassware, serving dishes, table linens, cutlery and entertaining essentials are all well suited to sideboard storage.

What looks good above a sideboard?
A large mirror, artwork or a carefully considered arrangement of decorative accessories can create an elegant focal point.

How do I make a sideboard look luxurious?
Choose quality materials, pay attention to proportions and style the surface with a few carefully selected pieces such as lamps, flowers, books and sculptural accessories.

Finishing Touch

Buffets and sideboards offer an elegant solution for bringing order and character into the home. Whether you favour warm walnut, classic oak, polished lacquer or a contemporary combination of materials, the right piece can provide valuable storage while becoming an integral part of the room's design. Style it thoughtfully, allow its proportions to breathe and choose finishes that complement your wider interior for a look that feels timeless and beautifully considered.

House of Isabella is not affiliated with any third-party brands mentioned. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.