How to decorate a buffet cabinet
DECORATING SIDEBOARDS AND BUFFETS - StoneGable
ByYvonne Pratt
It's easy to decorate a sideboard or a buffet so it adds to the beauty of your home with these easy tips.
Decorating sideboards and buffets in our dining rooms and other rooms in our home is so important! These are prime pieces of decor real estate that can show off our personality! Today I’m sharing easy ways to decorate a sideboard or buffet and useful, fabulous, and doable styling tips too!
It does not take a lot of time or things to decorate a buffet. With my tips, you can style a buffet beautifully in minutes.
I’ve decorated my white sideboard in three different ways to show you how easy it can be!
My white buffet is one of my favorite surfaces to decorate. I love the height and length of it! Most buffets and sideboards are wonderful areas to add pretty decor to your home!
The buffet was once in our dining room at our StoneGable house but now it is in the great room of our Tanglewood house. Buffets are not just for dining rooms!
I thought it might be helpful to show you three different ways to style a buffet. And I’ll share a couple tips that will help you use your buffet to add YOUR personality to your dining room.
Actually, any long flat surface can benefit from these easy tips!
SOME BUFFET GUIDELINES TO REMEMBER
Basic buffet decorating things to know…
- decorate your buffet’s space but don’t overdo or overlayer it!
- try to avoid using lots of little collectibles or small things
- use faux blooms and plants only if they look real up to 1 foot away
- experiment and play with your accessories
- less is more
- keep a tight color palette
- change things up often
A LOOK AT THE BUFFET IN A DINING ROOM
When we remodeled our StoneGable dining room (feels like a hundred years ago) I found this pretty white buffet and knew it would work in the room.
One thing I did to keep it updated and fresh was to keep my china and dishes off the top! This is very important!
Lots of dishes on the top of a buffet even in a dining room looks cluttered and dated.
Try stying it without dishes! Keep the dishes in the buffet and not on it.
The buffet decor is classic, adding a juxtaposition of bling and burlap! I love those two words together! BLING AND BURLAP!!!!
I like this decor because it looks sharp and clean and pretty!
A DINING ROOM BUFFET IS A SUPPORTING ACTOR
Your dining room table, in most cases, is the star of your dining room. And the centerpiece on it should be its Diva! Nothing in the room should show up the Diva! So the things on your buffet or sideboard should not fight for attention.
But that does not mean your buffet should not be decorated too.
Here is a decorating recipe for styling a fabulous sideboard every time.
USE SOMETHING ORGANIC ON A SIDEBOARD
Whether your buffet is in the kitchen or in your living room like mine is now all sideboards can use a few pretty organics.
Buffets and sideboards are the perfect places to add an element of organic design.
Here are a few ideas…
- a bunch of seasonal greens or flowers
- moss balls
- plants
- topiaries
- a trio of the same potted plant
You might like to see how to make these moss balls.
TEXTURED MOSS BALL DIY. They are so super easy!
If you are thinking about going the faux route you might like to read CREATIVE WAYS TO USE FAUX FLOWERS
USE TALL ITEMS ON EITHER END OF SIDEBOARDS AND BUFFETS
Have you heard of buffet lamps or candlesticks? You know, the tall, skinny, candle-type lamp duo that go on either side of a buffet? They were so popular years ago because they added ambient light to either side of a sideboard and added a great bit of symmetry to a buffet.
We can bring a fresher, updated look to sideboards and buffets by using the buffet lamp principle but giving it a more modern feel!
Do add something tall to either side of your buffet. A lamp with a little more heft and a tall item to the other.
The mesh lamp works on the left side of the buffet. It’s just the right size and scale for the buffet. It’s a nice tall element at one end of the buffet. And it offers another layer of lighting too!
Use something tall on the buffet opposite a lamp.
A tall vignette would also work on one side of the buffet.
I often find myself creating a simple vignette using three items. And no wonder! Our eyes and mind LOVE anything grouped in threes. To see how to use this magical number when decorating, see THE MAGIC RULE OF THREE.
ADD “BRIDGE” DECOR
It’s a good idea to add a little something to bridge a lamp and a tall item at the other end of a buffet.
Three things that are alike make a beautiful “bridge” between the lamp and the other tall element on the buffet.
Instead of the three faux ferns in the same pots, I popped the middle fern in a slightly different container and put it on a couple burlap-covered books. I think just that little difference adds a lot of interest and a bit of texture to the decor on the buffet.
TIGHT COLOR PALETTE
One easy way to create a buffet that has a cohesive look is to use the colors in the room on the buffet. For the image above I used the browns in the lamp the sand and white colors of the baskets and the greens and browns of the faux plants.
And even if your room is colorful still use a tight color palette on a buffet.
Now it’s your turn! Take a look at the buffet in your dining room. Could it use a bit of a makeover? Why not put these tips and ideas into practice during a few commercials? I know you can do it!!!!!
Here’s a great little book filled with easy-to-do home decor ideas! And it’s FREE!
10 buffet styling tips |
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(Image credit: Future)
Sideboard decor ideas can really elevate your entertaining space. As well as offering useful storage space, the sideboard is the perfect spot to display treasures and trinkets, and creates a focal point for artwork and lighting.
If you are gathering dining room ideas, don't just focus on the table – the sideboard really does have a role in your rooms scheme, too.
'Think about how you're going to bring your unique personality into the dining room to help decide how to style a sideboard,' says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, co-CEO at home décor brand Dowsing & Reynolds .
'Books, art, photos, vases, trinkets, colors and details all provide an opportunity to say something about yourself, and make great talking points at dinner parties.'
Sideboard decor ideas
You can have a lot of fun dressing up your sideboard, and interior experts always relish the job.
'Sideboards are some of our favorite moments to style,' says Studio Ashby . 'Art, lighting, ceramics, beautiful books and trinkets are all chic choices.'
Below, we show you the experts' top sideboard decor ideas to set your dining room apart.
1. Make it pretty yet practical
(Image credit: Neptune)
Your sideboard is the perfect spot for styling decorative objects, but don't forget it can also be used for extra storage. Glazed-fronted sideboards can make for great small dining room ideas – the space will feel less crowded than with solid furniture, plus glass allows you to show off what you're storing – albeit in a chic way.
Louise Wicksteed, Design Director at Sims Hilditch , says: 'We love to use sideboards in dining rooms as this is a great way to use the space.
They are perfect for storing crockery, napkins, and cutlery to be used for more formal occasions.'
2. Highlight sideboard decor ideas with lighting
(Image credit: Arteriors)
If you are working on lighting a dining room, make space on a sideboard for lamps. This will not only allow you to create soft pools of low light – so welcome in a dining room – but will also illuminate your sideboard decor ideas.
Helen Pett, Design Ambassador at Arteriors London , adds: 'Of course, when entertaining, the additional table space can be used for floral arrangements, beautiful china and glassware and serving platters while still sitting prettily as key part of your décor.'
3. Maximize sideboard decor ideas with a mirror
(Image credit: 'Michelle Nussbaumer and Stephen Karlisch)
If you are considering dining room wall ideas that create drama, then an antiqued glass, elaborately framed-mirror is the best find for traditional dining spaces. Plus, decorating with mirrors will double the impact of any sideboard decor ideas you're displaying – especially in smaller or dark spaces.
It's a win win.
4. Display art to focus attention on sideboard decor ideas
(Image credit: Natalia Miyar)
Art, hung centrally above a sideboard, placed centrally behind a dining table, can create a focal point that frames the entire space.
Whether it's wall-hung or propped on your sideboard, a good general rule of thumb to follow when styling your sideboard is to make the artwork around two-thirds of its width. This gives a visually pleasing proportion while also working to invigorate the space.
5. Employ the overlapping technique
(Image credit: Neptune)
To make your sideboard decor ideas feel curated, don't be afraid for your objects and anchoring pieces to 'overlap'.
Place a lamp slightly in front of your artwork, or let foliage, twigs or flowers spread across the central piece; this will allow the finished look to feel cohesive and interactive, rather than static and flat.
6. Play with height
(Image credit: Kristin Karch Photography/The Misfit House)
One of the most important elements of styling sideboard decor is to ensure your display includes objects of varying heights to add interest to the look.
'Playing with heights and layers is essential,' states Jane Rockett of Rockett St George . 'However, this doesn’t necessarily mean putting the tallest items in the center of the sideboard. An asymmetrical display looks particularly great when styling a sideboard and allows you to build height and a focal point at just one end.'
Ally at Dowsing Reynolds adds: 'Style an uneven assortment of smaller items alongside tall or oversized items to create height and layers. Piles of books that reflect your interests alongside meaningful sculptures make great focal points.'
If you choose sideboard decor ideas that chime with your dining table decor ideas you will create a neat, coordinated look, too.
7. Group objects in threes
(Image credit: Murphy Deesign)
To make sure your sideboard decor ideas don't look higgledy-piggledy, try grouping your objects into threes for a curated finish that's easy on the eye.
The rule of three is a great interior design tip that you can apply to many aspects of your decor scheme, and is certainly the magic number when it comes to styling for a fresh appeal.
'Much like your coffee table or shelves, styling your sideboard decor ideas is an opportunity to be playful and reveal more of your personality within your interior,' says Jane Rockett.
8. Create a tableau
(Image credit: Arteriors)
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of styling your sideboard decor ideas, why not create a tableau – which is simply a group of objects that, together, look like they're made for each other?
Just as with coffee table styling, Jane Rockett suggests that 'you shouldn't worry about filling the entire space', while Arteriors' Helen Pett comments: 'We like starting with a nice low-rise sculpted centerpiece and a coffee table book stack for an everyday look.'
You could even simply add a group of candles at varying heights for a stylish and simple look.
9. Add a sculptural piece to anchor your display
(Image credit: Tiffany Leigh Design/Lauren Miller)
Sculptural vases, objets and lamps are a stylish way to make a statement and turn your sideboard decor ideas into an arty showcase that blends form and function – coordinate them to the rest of your scheme and you can pull a larger space together – useful if you are looking for uniting kitchen diner ideas.
'Add ambience and pockets of light with table lamps, and repeat textures, shapes and colors around the room,' suggests Ally Dowsing-Reynolds.
Don't neglect candles as part of your sideboard decor display. Jane Rockett adds: 'For a sideboard in the dining room, candles, candlesticks and vases always look beautiful.'
Louise Wicksteed says: 'When it comes to styling a dining room sideboard, we suggest placing a large candle at either end. Not only does this offer subtle background lighting around the table but also nods to the elegance of the room by providing well thought-out symmetry.'
10. Display your glassware
(Image credit: Arteriors)
A sideboard can double up as a drinks cabinet in a dining room, and is ideal for displaying your pretty glassware for after-dinner drinks.
Jane Rockett says: 'A sideboard is the perfect place to curate a mini cocktail bar with a few of your favurite tipples and glassware on display.'
Mix your drinks' display with other pretty artefacts, candles and vases, or an oversized plant for extra wow factor.
How can I decorate my sideboard?
To decorate a sideboard well, there are a few rules to follow that are really useful:
- Start with your dining room color scheme, choosing items that reflect the accent shades used within the room – this is particularly useful if you are styling an open-plan kitchen/living room/diner, as it can help to tie the dining zone to the rest of the space.
- For a neat look, create a sideboard decor display that's identical at each end – perhaps with matching lamps at either end of the table, and a central vase and picture behind.
- Larger items look better than a collection of small trinkets for decorating a sideboard – you want to create impact not dust-collection.
- Display fresh flowers, houseplants and convincing faux blooms in a large display that brings organic shape and colors to the space.
- Hang art over a sideboard, put wall lights either side or table lamps at each end to draw attention to sideboard decor ideas at night.
What do you put in a sideboard?
Sideboards are really useful for storing everything you might need for dining – from cutlery and china to linen and flatware. You can also usefully store candles, matches, placemats and glassware in a sideboard. When shopping for a sideboard, consider what you will need to store in it – drawers will be more useful for storing candles, cutlery and placemats; cupboards for glassware and china. A combination of both is the most versatile choice.
Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.
buffets and sideboards in the kitchen in the photo
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Surely many of us associate a sideboard or sideboard with grandmother's kitchen. And if suddenly you find yourself the heir to this item, do not rush to throw it away.
After all, it is he who can become the highlight of the kitchen interior, filling the atmosphere with warmth and homeliness and, of course, pleasant memories associated with the grandmother's house. Buffets and sideboards in modern styles look no less impressive.
What is a buffet?
In fact, this is a cabinet where dishes, various cutlery, textiles and some products are stored. The sideboard can be not only an element of the kitchen, but also a living room, especially in modern homes. In post-Soviet times, a sideboard with transparent glasses was called a sideboard. In the traditional sense, this piece of furniture has the following design:
- in the lower part there is a storage system in the form of a cabinet with drawers or doors with different patterns and colors;
- at the top - traditional open shelves, it is possible to place cabinets, the doors of which are often decorated with glass inserts;
- between these two elements, as a rule, there is free space, and the surface of the cupboards at the top of the cupboard can also serve as a table top or an additional plane for placing beautiful decorative objects.
The modern design of sideboards is rarely frilly decorative, but it fits perfectly into many styles - minimalism, country, eco, modern, high-tech.
Today there are models on sale without a clear division into parts, for example, in many of them the top fits snugly to the bottom, and there is no empty space in the middle at all.
There are budget options with glass inserts, reminiscent of an ordinary showcase.
As for the size of the sideboard, there are no standards or restrictions. It all depends on the height of the ceilings, the volume of the kitchen and personal preferences. Manufacturers offer a lot of options - from narrow single-leaf products to wide ones with a large number of doors. The filling can also be the most diverse: all kinds of dividers and other elements not only perform a functional role, but also save free space.
Benefits of a sideboard in the kitchen
- Traditional sideboards made of noble, sustainable wood are the most common;
- large capacity allows you to store in them, in addition to kitchen utensils, decorative dishes and home textiles;
- can be used in various styles to give the room a special sophistication, individuality and nobility.
Despite all the above advantages, it is important to pay attention to some of the nuances of using this attribute in the interior:
- more harmoniously the sideboard will look like an independent item in the kitchen, so additional space should be allocated for its optimal placement. A luxurious sideboard will look intrusive in a small kitchen or living room, although there are also more concise compact designs on sale;
- the price of a high-quality product made of natural material will be quite high. On the other hand, the corner design for the kitchen is a more economical, compact and quite nice option that will fit into a standard interior.
Types of sideboards
- closed type - it assumes the presence of shelves covered with doors. Such a sideboard may have a small window in which items on the shelves are partially visible;
- open type - these products do not have a door.
An interesting design solution can be an open tabletop placed between the upper and lower tiers;
- is a classic type of sideboard, which provides for the presence of 3 levels with an open niche, shelves and doors.
Types of materials used to make cupboards
1. Precious natural wood species. They are famous for their luxurious appearance and durability. As a rule, solid wood products have facade carved elements. However, the cost of such buffets is quite impressive. In addition, the possibility of a change in structure and shape under the influence of external factors is not ruled out, due to which the material may lose its former color, swell or dry out. Despite this, wood is a leader in the production of such products, and there are a lot of options for processing it.
2. MDF and chipboard. This raw material is in high demand in the market, as it is in the price segment accessible to most buyers.
At the same time, there are many ways to process it, allowing objects to look “antique” or to imitate various tree species. In this sense, the interior will look very elegant and attractive.
These materials are most commonly used for sideboards and sideboards, but plastic or metal structures are also common.
Sideboard against a background of different styles
An ideal option for classics is a sideboard made of natural solid wood, equipped with carved fronts. Such an attribute will bring a touch of graceful aristocracy and charm to your kitchen.
A white sideboard with carved trim is just what you need to create a French Provence atmosphere. An important role here is played by beautiful fittings with graceful lines (for example, door handles).
Colorful country successfully reflects the individuality of the room. This type of construction is often varnished, and the external aesthetics of the decor is very simple: there are no carved details, and the sideboard configuration involves a large number of cabinets and shelves.
In modern style, products from chipboard and MDF are used. Such designs are equipped with matte elements and provide a varied palette of colors. There is no room for pretentiousness in modern style - a laconic sideboard here is functional to the maximum.
As you can see, the many variations of sideboard design allow you to choose a model that is ideal for any style. Such a product in the kitchen ennobles the interior, making it more spectacular, refined, original.
Is your kitchen decorated with such a colorful piece of furniture as a sideboard? Which performance options do you like the most?
Antique sideboard for kitchen and living room (photo + decoration ideas)
Remember those roomy kitchen cabinets, divided into two parts by a worktop? Above it were open shelves with glass doors, and in the lower part - drawers and a closed cabinet. In the past, such a buffet was available in almost every home.
And today they are used to give the interior a touch of old charm and Provence style. In this article you will find more than 30 photos of sideboards in the design of different rooms, as well as useful ideas for their restoration with your own hands. Happy viewing!
Restoring an old sideboard: modern ideas
Surprisingly, an old sideboard can be adapted and used in almost any room in your home. However, in order for it to complement the color scheme and style of the interior, it may be necessary to restore the old sideboard with your own hands. Here are the best ideas on how to update an old sideboard with your own hands (examples with photos):
- Paint an old sideboard in a bright color that will complement your interior.
2. If you have a sideboard made of wood, it is better to varnish it. It is undesirable to paint antique wooden sideboards, as this will irrevocably reduce their value.
3. Apply a neutral paint on the outside and paint the inside of the cupboard (the one behind the transparent doors) a bright color.
4. When restoring, give the sideboard an antique effect. Otherwise, what's the point of having an old buffet in the house if it looks like new? You can achieve a vintage look in the spirit of Provence style with the help of artificial scuffs, which are created with your own hands using sandpaper, craquelure varnish or decoupage.
Remember that before applying any finish, whether it be paint, varnish or other coatings, it is important to carefully sand the sideboard surface, wash with soap and primer. You will find detailed instructions for reworking old furniture in article Do-it-yourself Soviet furniture restoration . And below we will give beautiful photos of the interiors, the main decorations of which are old buffets after restoration.
Antique sideboard for Provence or Country style kitchen
The sideboard is ideal for a Provence or country style kitchen, even if its color does not match the rest of the kitchen cabinets. The top shelves of the cupboard can be used to store cups, decorative plates, spice jars, tea boxes and miscellaneous accessories.
