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Here ’s everything you demand to bed about credenza , including where to put one and what to store in it .
Dane Tashima

Credit:Dane Tashima
If you ’re bet for a snack bar or side table for your home , should you invest in a credence ? And how is this piece of furniture different from a sideboard or aconsole tabular array ? Learn the subtle differences between a credenza and other kinds of display tables to find the best fit for your base .
We ’ll help oneself you determine the most good smear in your home to place a credenza in — such as thedining roomorfront entryway — and how to make the most of the storage and display place . To help you blame the near building block for your quad and life-style , learn what a credenza is and how it came to be the family staple it is today .
What Is a Credenza?
A credence is a long cabinet or storage tabular array , traditionally used to salt away fancy looker in a dining room . Credenzas can either be a console - expressive style whole that sits like a shot on the floor , or they can have legs to leaven them off the ground .
Originally an Italian composition of furniture , the credenza was first spotted in homes during the fourteenth century . In Italian , the word “ credenza ” means trust or belief . Some inquiry also notes the origin of this term dates back to the 16th hundred when " credenza " was used to draw an act ( alternatively of a piece of furniture ) where servants would test nutrient and drinks for poisonous substance before serving aristocrats and leader .
other credenzas were designed to work as sideboards and built as draped tables , but further iterations start taking more architectural form and use . For example , in the late Middle Ages the credenza evolved into a display hub ornamented in luxe fabric — an idealistic place to show off rich plates and vessels .

Credit:Kim Cornelison
Kim Cornelison
Credenza vs. Sideboard vs. Buffet
Many article of furniture manufacturer use these terms interchangeably , make it more ambitious to love what to seek for if you ’re looking to buy one . But , thesubtle differences between eachmay aid you nail down down the correct piece for you .
sideboard : As the name hint , a counter tabular array is intended for buffet - style spreads . These piece tend to be long - legged storage cabinets idealistic for hosting and serving , so you ’ll mainly see them in dining quad .
counter : A sideboard can fit the buffet criteria , too . They can be compact or oversize and run to have unforesightful legs , or feature film cabinetwork that sits on the floor . Sideboards sometimes come with top hutches and incline to be taller , about waist - high .

Credit:Jason Donnelly
waiter : These be given to be more formal and shorter than buffets or buffet , but serve a similar purpose .
Console tables : A console table mesa is usually a shallow , waistline - high table that does n’t offer much storage , but sometimes will have drawers rather than cabinet . This kind of tabular array is often used in hallways or entryways .
Credenzas : The term historically relate to piece of furniture pieces with no legs , such as a locker - style unit that sits on the base . Contemporary credenza can have legs , and some also have sliding door . Many credenza are typically farseeing , ride low to the storey , andoffer plenty of storage .
How to Use a Credenza in Your Home
contemporaneous credence go beyond food preparation and displays , remaining an essential piece of furniture in many households today . Sometimes referred to as sideboards , mod credenzas in homes can be used for everything from storage units to media stands and display case . In aformal dining way , a credence can provide a functional memory distance or buffet apparatus . Inhome offices , credenzas can make extra storage and workspace .
Jason Donnelly
Credenza Design Elements to Consider
The best credence for you look on what you ’ll use it for . And with so many options useable , it ’s important to consider your lifestyle preferences and storage needs before you pick out one . Here are a few factors to think about .
Storage and Size
First , determine what you call for a credence for . Are you storing dining requirement , or looking for something that can function as an entryway table with drawers that can act as a catchall ? Use this information to consider size of it . If you ’re look to hive away heavy , bulky point , scout a credenza with generous storage capabilities to accommodate the summit , depth , and width of your bit . Or , if you ’re looking for adjustable internal shelves with felt padding for silverware , lookup for that feature first .
Be sure to measure your quad before purchasing a credence . guarantee the depth , width , and elevation of your part fit your demand and quad . Also , count out for any architectural inside information you demand to consider ( windows , splash ceilings , or millwork ) . Next , ensure your piece does n’t impede walkway areas .
Display Options
Some credenzas have double store options , such as a top region for displaying o.k. china and collectable and a lower portion to neatly stow away essentials . Others have see - through drinking glass panels with paint interiors , create a beautiful display font to domiciliate your serveware , ledger , sculptures , and other necessary .
Before purchasing a credence , determine what you ’ll store in it . For example , if you need to hive away a lot of uneven pieces , it might be honorable to cut the methamphetamine hydrochloride - front selection so you’re able to hold back everything behind storage locker doors .
Color and Design Style
Whether you ’re look for an ornate , hand - carved slice with pernicious antiquing or a more silklike looping with acrylic legs , there are hundreds of credenzas on the marketplace to choose from . postulate some easy categories to start with ? essay alright - tuning your hunt by color , material , and design stylus . For example , " a traditional red sideboard with a hutch " or " a glass top cabinet tabular array outfitted with framed gold metal and acrylic fiber wooden leg . "
Terms to Search for While Shopping
Many manufacturers will name their furniture according to their patronage druthers , so any terms range from buffet , server , credenza , sideboard , or cabinet can flood your search results with hundreds of listings . The best way to trim your browsing clock time and shop confidently is to type in the details that matter to you most . For example :
Credenza | etymology of credenza by etymonline .
Credenza | Italian . The Metropolitan Museum of Art .