Multi-tasking is not limited to the living. When it comes to furniture, the credenza is both a useful item and a wonderful source for displaying inspired décor. Credenzas, also known as sideboards or buffets, are the service stars of your home. The best part of owning one is discovering how it will best serve you and your family, which can be a challenge. Consider the following 4 credenza styling tips to maximize the beauty and utility of this great furniture piece.
- Challenge the default setting of where you will place the credenza. There is a tendency to push furniture up against a wall and to center it. While this is a viable option, you may find others that work as well if not better. Consider positioning it further to the right or left, leaving room for a piece of art on the wall next to it. The overall display creates the balance you desire.
- Display items with care and avoid the “cluttered” look. If you are going for the modernist aesthetic, remember: Less is more. Choose one to three items and space them for maximum impact. For example, place the tallest item in the middle, the mid-sized item to the left and the smallest item to the right. Scoot them together toward either end of the credenza, step back and assess until it feels right.
- Use your credenza for well-needed storage rather than an expensive built-in cabinet. This is a perfect place to store your vintage glassware, placemats and napkins. That collection of vinyl records would fit nicely inside, and feel free to display one of your favorites propped up on top.
- Consider moving the credenza to a living room, bedroom, kitchen or office. If you thought there were rules about that, there aren’t! A beautiful credenza adds charm and an artistic element to any room. It’s there for you to enjoy, so go for it.
Next time you feel the urge to multi-task, appreciate the care that went into designing and manufacturing this impressive piece of furniture, and your hard work, of course. Try all of our credenza styling tips until you find what works for you! And if you’re in the market for a new credenza, allow us to recommend one of our current favorites: The Raging Sideboard!
This stunning sideboard is the culmination of design expertise and artisan furniture-making by Aled Lewis, of Raging Capital Management and Saer Huston of Huston and Company. It is made of solid walnut and white oak, a pretty unique combination for midcentury pieces. Although it was designed as an office credenza and comes equipped with ventilation ports for all of your space-age devices, really, any room would benefit from this incredible beauty. While its utility can rival the best out there, we are particularly in love with the recessed drawer pulls created from the negative space of the walnut drawer front. Simply put, the seamless fusion of utility and beauty has been achieved.
