Your Place Needs
a Credenza

Your Place Needs a Credenza

A piece of furniture that's cool, classic and extremely adaptable

Best credenzas in 2022

Need a storage solution that keeps your stuff accessible but hidden from plain sight? How about a place to display items like plants, mementos and picture frames? Maybe you need a substantial piece of furniture to anchor a room. Well, a credenza is the answer to all of these problems.

It's an old school piece of furniture that goes by many names: A sideboard, buffet, console cabinet. They come in all sorts of finishes and sizes, but all have the same low-and-long features—a low profile, lots of room inside and plenty of surface area on top. Interior designer Courtney Sempliner says she uses them a lot in her work for the benefit of closed storage and the additional style they bring to a space. While they were originally only found in dining rooms, they now work in almost any room of your home. She says they're often used as a bar or to serve food buffet-style in a dining room, but now make great alternatives to media cabinets in the living room. They're particularly good behind a desk in an office and the smaller ones even work in an entryway (think of all the storage possibilities).

Since the credenza already has a classic mid-century vibe, it seems to work wherever you put it. It makes a statement, but doesn't shout. It could be a vintage piece that was passed down to you or come from a small, online furniture brand. What's more, you'll find the cabinet tends to shape-shift as you move it from place to place. In the living room, under a TV it will have a distinctly different look than when it's in your office, with a turntable sitting on it, flanked by a pair of lamps. Now that you're dying to get one for yourself, the question is, which one's right for your home? Herewith, some of the best ones to consider.

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Our Credenza
Picks

Article Envelo Credenza

Envelo credenza,
$1,049 by Article

Envelo credenza,
$1,049 by Article

AllModern Wide Oak Sideboard

Wide oak sideboard,
$1,330 by AllModern

Wide oak sideboard,
$1,330 by AllModern

Castlery Harper Sideboard

Harper sideboard,
$1,099 by Castlery

Harper sideboard,
$1,099 by Castlery

OHDOME Valita Sideboard

Valita sideboard,
$359.95 by OHDOME

Valita sideboard,
$359.95 by OHDOME

Anthropologie Textured Chester Buffet

Textured Chester buffet,
$1,998 at Anthropologie

Textured Chester buffet,
$1,998 at Anthropologie

Zin Home Aged Bronze Credenza

Aged bronze credenza,
$2,378 / $1,899 by Zin Home

Aged bronze credenza,
$2,378 / $1,899 by Zin Home

Jayson Home Brixton Sideboard

Brixton sideboard,
$2,495 by Jayson Home

Brixton sideboard,
$2,495 by Jayson Home

Knoll Vintage Walnut Credenza

Vintage walnut
Knoll credenza,
$4,900 at 1stDibs

Vintage walnut Knoll credenza,
$4,900 at 1stDibs

Design Within Reach Edel Credenza

Edel oak credenza,
$3,495 at Design Within Reach

CB2 Laurel Oak Credenza

Laurel oak credenza,
$1,899 by CB2

Laurel oak credenza,
$1,899 by CB2

BD Studio Shadowbox Filing Credenza

Shadowbox filing credenza,
$2,599 by BD Studio

Shadowbox filing credenza,
$2,599 by BD Studio

France & Son Caramel Natural Cane Credenza

Caramel natural cane credenza,
$1,799 by France & Son

FYI

The name “credenza” comes from an old Italian word meaning “trust.” In the 16th century, credenza referred to the process of servants tasting food and drinks for the ruling class to ensure everything was safe to eat. The name was then taken on by the piece of furniture where the food and drink was stored for this practice.

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