Before we even start with our list of tips for choosing sideboards and buffets, let's first sort out an important issue that some of you might find confusing.
Before we even start with our list of tips for choosing sideboards and buffets, let's first sort out an important issue that some of you might find confusing.
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Sideboards and buffets are both pieces of furniture with fairly low, elongated storage spaces. When you place a sideboard in your dining room, it is referred to as a buffet. Once you move it to the living room, it is called a sideboard. Both are great for storing stuff, but where you will be using it will of course make a difference to the specific features you should be looking for.
Pieces meant to be used as a sideboard in the dining room generally speaking have stubby, relatively short legs and could feature a hutch for display. Pieces made to serve as a buffet in the dining room typically have no hutch, and the legs are higher.
Determining the perfect size for a buffet or sideboard can be quite tricky. In the first place, you don't want it to look overly big or minutely small when compared to your dining room table or living room furniture. Here's a couple of other principles to take into account:
The front to back depth of a buffet/sideboard is normally between 20 inches and 22 inches. For comfortable circulation, you need at least 24 inches of space between furniture pieces. And in the dining room, you want enough space between the table and the buffet so your guests can comfortably pull out their chairs and don't feel like they're trapped in a straitjacket.
A buffet is where you store items you often use in the dining room. Make sure you can access these items even if you have guests sitting at the table. If you e.g. forget to take out the napkins, you wouldn't want one or more guests having to get up just so you can open a drawer.
A buffet or sideboard with glass cabinet doors or open shelving can be a great idea for a smaller dining room or living room. Such a piece will appear lighter, and will give the room an airy ambiance. A piece with closed cabinetry has a heavier, bulkier feel to it and will work best in a bigger space. A glass cabinet filled with a shedload of different items might make the room look a little cluttered.
The ideal for a buffet is that it will be exactly the right height so you can effortlessly serve food from the top. A good rule of thumb here is for it to be the same height as your kitchen counter, which is normally 36 inches.
Of course, whether you are unusually tall or short should also play a role when deciding on the perfect height. Most manufacturers make buffets and sideboards that are between 34 inches and 38 inches tall.
Take into account that the average height of a dining room table is between 28 inches and 30 inches. Most people prefer their buffet to be taller than that.
When deciding on the style for your buffet or sideboard, you generally speaking have two options: choose something with a style that fully matches your current dining room or living room furniture, or dare to be different.
If you are not really the adventurous type when it comes to furniture, choosing the same style as the current furniture is the safer option. Safe doesn't have to be boring: a style that perfectly fits in with your present furniture and décor can look classy and timeless.
If you are buying the buffet or sideboard as an add-on because your original dining room or living room set didn't come with one, you might have to compromise a bit. Look for a similar finish and style, even though it's not a perfect match.
If you can't wait to buy something different, here are some ideas:
Most buffets and sideboards are made from some or other type of wood. One option is to try and match the type of wood used in the dining table, or at least to try to find something with a color that matches that of the dining room table.
Another option is to go for something with a contrasting color. If you, for example, have a light oak dining room table (or coffee table in the living room), but all you can find is a mahogany buffet/sideboard with light oak insets, that would be perfectly OK since it complements the table.
Remember that a buffet or sideboard is more than just a lovely piece of furniture. It is also supposed to be very functional and useful. Different buffets have different functional features, so before you buy make time to write down a couple of notes on how you intend to use it.
A buffet with drawers, for example, will be great to store things such as napkins, cutlery, plates, place-mats and similar items. It won't be such a good option if you want to store bigger, bulkier items such as vases or fairly large containers. In that case one with doors and perhaps adjustable shelves will be a better alternative.
Some buffets offer specialist features such as a dry bar, which is perfect for serving drinks. Others come with a marble top where you can put down hot dishes without any fear of damaging the surface.
