Wood Credenza Comparison

Find the right credenza for your space

No matter what style you prefer for your home or office, there is a credenza that will fit perfectly.  Wood credenzas (sometimes referred to as sideboards or buffets) are made throughout the world and are available in nearly every design style you can imagine.

American designs

Perhaps the most straight-forward styles of credenza come out of the classic American designs, such as Shaker and Mission.  These are known for their streamlined designs of clean lines and angles.  Popular woods for these pieces are oak, cherry, maple, and walnut.  Shaker credenzas look great in kitchens and dining rooms, though narrower ones would work great in a wide hallway or in a bedroom.

International designs

European styles of wood credenza are distinctly more ornate than their American counterparts.  It is common, for instance, for a French credenza (or those in the traditional French style) to include gold inlays and glass doors for easier display.  English credenzas might have rounded edges and a top constructed of some other material, such as glass or marble.

Japanese furniture makers have long been designing and building long table-height cabinets.  It is common, as it has been for centuries, for a scene to be hand-painted on the doors of the credenza, often some type of temple or pastoral scene. 

The piece is then finished with a coating of matte lacquer.  Other types of Japanese credenzas are less delicate, consisting of heavy slabs of wood coming together in clean lines and oblique angles.  

One of the most popular styles of credenza (as well as almost any other furniture) is the contemporary Scandinavian designs.  These modern credenzas can easily be found in any number of retailers, and often they are quite inexpensive.  Many of these have a "retro" feel to them, reminiscent of stereo cabinets from the 1960s.  The most popular species of wood for these, it seems, is teak.

Home vs. office designs

While we have been concentrating mostly on credenza designs meant for the home, there are plenty that are intended for more office-oriented use.  For more desk-like function, there are credenzas that have a recessed area, or kneehole, for comfortable sitting. 

The main differences between a desk and a credenza are that an office credenza almost always contains filing cabinets or drawers, and the top surface of a credenza is usually at least a few inches shallower than that of the average desk.

More information on credenzas