Sideboard and Buffet Buying Guide
One of the most important things in any household is storage. There are a lot of things in the house that needs to be stored on shelves, cupboards, cabinets and more. However, storage should not mean you have to compromise on the look and feel of the room. This is why there are so many furniture options in the market. Sideboards and buffets fall in this category of storage furniture that adds a nice decorative touch to the room as well.
The dining room and living room are the rooms in the house that are usually seen by all your guests. Hence, you should always make sure that these two rooms are well decorated and have a good aesthetic. Choosing the right furniture is of utmost importance which is why you need to know how to buy the right sideboard and buffet.
How to select the right kind of Sideboard and Buffet?
Firstly, you need to be sure where you will be placing this piece of furniture. Knowing how you will be using the sideboard makes a lot of difference in the kind of piece you should be selecting.
Dining Room Buffet
Sideboards and buffets for the dining area should always have enough storage space to store different types of kitchen items. Hence, go for one with drawers and cabinets. The drawers can be used to store cutlery, special knives, napkins and more, whereas the cabinets can be used for plates, fancy dishes and more.
Some sideboards also come with an in-built wine cabinet. So, you can store your wine bottles and glasses in them as well. Having a sideboard or buffet in the dining room can be quite handy, but you have got to get one that provides storage for your dining related items.
Living Room Sideboards
As mentioned earlier, sideboards and buffets can be placed either in the dining area or living room. However, their designs should be different depending on their use in the room. While dining room sideboards usually require a lot of drawers along with cabinets, you can go for a simpler design for sideboards in the living room. Just a few drawers or cabinets are good enough for the living room.
Material and Look
Secondly, once you have decided on the placement of the sideboard or buffet, take the material into consideration. You should always make sure that the different pieces of furniture in a room match either in colour or material. If not a complete match, you can always go for a contrast.
Sideboards and buffets are usually available in wood. However, there are several options within wooden sideboards as well. This is why you need to be sure of the kind of material the rest of the furniture in the room is made of. Furthermore, if wooden furniture is not your cup of tea, you can always go for different coloured metal sideboards or concrete buffets. While these are not a common choice, their designs can be quite unique.
Finding the right size
Getting the right size of sideboard or buffet is very important. You need a sideboard that is big enough to store all the necessary items but at the same time not overcrowd the room. Always purchase a sideboard or buffet that is smaller than the dining table or only slightly bigger than the coffee table. The proportions of the furniture within one room make all the difference. If your sideboard is bigger than the dining table, it will look very odd.
At the same time, you need to take into account the size of the room as well. If you have a very small room, do not purchase a sideboard that is very wide. Sideboards or buffets should not take up too much space in the room. It may be storage furniture but it cannot stand out in a room due to its odd size.
Different Styles for Different Needs
We have mentioned before that sideboards and buffets need to seamlessly fit in the room. Whether it is the living room or the dining room, sideboards and buffets have to look similar to the rest of the furniture in the room. But that doesn’t mean that your options are limited. There are multiple styles of sideboards and buffets you can choose from.
Classic
The classic sideboard and buffet design are some of the most popular choices. While it may not sit perfectly well with modern furniture, this classic design has a charm of its own. These sideboards and buffets are made of solid wood and have that old-world feel about them.
Contemporary
Modern designs have a wide range of different styles that you can choose from. Whether you are looking for one with just cabinets or a combination of cabinets and drawers, contemporary sideboard and buffet designs have a lot to offer. They have a light aura about them and go well with most furniture.
Rustic
This is a popular choice for public places such as hotels and restaurants as well. The rustic look always gives a warm and natural feel to the room. Rustic designs usually have that natural wood look where the furniture looks unpolished. Rooms with a darker setting are perfect for rustic sideboards as they provide a great background for brighter accessories like plants.
Farmhouse
If cooler tones are what you’re going for, this style is for you. The name farmhouse comes from the setting these sideboards and buffets would suit. Grey and ashy colours, a combination of painted and distressed wood is what this style is all about. The cool colours are perfect with light coloured furniture as well.
Industrial
This style can be very specific but is quite popular as well. We all love a good combination of materials. So, combining metal and wood gives you the perfect industrial style sideboard. However, plain metal sideboards and buffets are also part of this style.
Reclaimed
For all of those who enjoy having a unique piece of furniture in their dining or living room, this is definitely made for you. Reclaimed wood is a great way to add a touch of drama to the room. They are a popular option and the sideboards and buffets made with reclaimed wood look absolutely fantastic.
