Buffet, sideboard, server, hutch, wine cabinet. The names get used loosely, and a lot of people come into the showroom unsure which one they need. Here is a plain guide to what each piece is, and how to choose the right one for your dining room.
Buffet and sideboard
Today the two words mean nearly the same thing: a long, low cabinet that sits against the dining room wall, with doors and drawers for linens, platters and serving pieces, and a top you can set food on. Some people use buffet for a piece with taller legs and sideboard for one that sits closer to the floor, but you will see both names on the same design.
A buffet is the most useful single piece of dining storage. It keeps everything you need for a dinner within reach, and its top becomes a serving station when the table is full.
Server
A server is a smaller, narrower buffet, often with open space underneath. It is a good fit for a dining room that cannot spare the wall for a full buffet, or for an eat-in kitchen.
Hutch
A hutch is a buffet with an upper cabinet set on top, usually with glass doors or open shelves. It adds a lot of storage on the same footprint and gives you somewhere to show off dishes and glassware. Because it is tall, check your ceiling height and any windows or light fixtures on that wall before you choose one.
Wine cabinet
A wine cabinet is a buffet or tall cabinet built around storing wine, with a wine rack for bottles and often a stemware holder for glasses. Many of the buffets we build can include a wine rack and stemware holder, so you do not always have to choose between the two.
Sizing it to your table
- Length. A buffet usually looks best a little shorter than the table it serves, centered on the same wall or on the table itself.
- Depth. Leave enough room behind the dining chairs so people can still pass when everyone is seated.
- Height. A top at about counter height is comfortable for serving.
Matching the wood and finish
A buffet does not have to match the table exactly, but it should look like it belongs in the same room. Built-to-order pieces let you choose the wood, finish and hardware to suit the table you have or the one you are planning. Reclaimed barnwood buffets are a popular choice for a farmhouse dining room, and quarter-sawn white oak suits a Mission or Craftsman room. Our guide to choosing an Amish dining table in Charleston covers woods and finishes in more detail.
See them in person
See the wine cabinets, buffets and sideboards we build, and the dining rooms we have set them in, or browse the full dining collection. Then stop by the showroom at 1750 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Bring a photo of your dining room and the length of the wall, and a furniture specialist will help you find the right piece.
