Credenzas are absolute dreams when it comes to adding extra storage to your home without giving up on the style. It’s a classic furniture piece that needs no introduction (but we will do it anyways!) but do you really know everything there is to know about credenzas? Check out this comprehensive guide to mid-century credenzas and get inspired to get your own!
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What Is A Credenza?
A credenza describes a cabinet-style piece of furniture that’s most often found in the dining room, though this versatile piece could easily be added to a hallway or even a living room or bedroom. While they’re awesome for extra storage, they also provide an amazing surface to display accessories that can really complete your decor.
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What Features Make A Credenza?
Although credenzas vary in size, color, style or even material, there are some key features that set them apart from other cabinet-style furniture pieces. Here are some of those features:
- Cabinet-style storage
- Long and low shape
- Very short legs or no legs
- Sliding doors or cabinet-style doors
- Could potentially have glass doors for display
A Quick History Of Credenzas
the name “credenza” comes from an Italian word meaning “belief” or “trust.” In the sixteenth century, credenza referred to the process of servants tasting food and drinks for the higher-ups to ensure that nothing was poisonous. This name was then taken on by the piece of furniture where the food and drink was stored for this practice.
It grew in popularity in the mid-20th century as Scandinavian designers crafted high-end, long-and-low cabinets with or without legs. The original, however, was designed back in the 16th century with a more decorative and architectural look.
Types Of Credenzas
As we said before, although credenzas are typically assigned to perform best in a dining room, these classic furniture pieces are versatile and serve different purposes. Here are some different types of credenzas you can use in different rooms of your home.
Buffet
Similar to the historical credenza, a buffet usually sits in the dining room to serve food or store dinnerware. Like credenzas, buffets come equipped with plenty of storage, though they are generally taller and have longer legs.
Sideboard
Like a buffet, a sideboard can usually be found in a dining room or even a kitchen, but they often contain more storage than other similar pieces of furniture, featuring accompanying hutches for storing china or other dishes. Think of a sideboard as the prototype for today’s kitchen cabinets.
Console
A console may look and function exactly like a credenza, but when it’s used for media storage in the living or family room, some people call this piece a console. Or, a console can be a long, low table without cabinets that’s placed against the wall or at the back of a sofa for displaying decor.
READ MORE: 25 MODERN HOME IDEAS FOR DESIGN LOVERS
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