Credenza

A credenza is a low, long piece of storage furniture used for both storage and display. In dining rooms it functions as a sideboard or buffet, offering space to store dishes, linens, and serving pieces and providing a flat surface for presenting food. In office settings, a credenza is a freestanding cabinet that sits behind or beside a desk, often with drawers for files and office supplies and sometimes extending the desk area.

The term derives from Italian credenza, historically meaning belief or trust, but in furniture it came to describe a serving piece in European interiors from the 17th to 18th centuries. By the 19th and 20th centuries, credenzas appeared in a variety of styles, and the office version became common as professional spaces adopted coordinated storage units.

Designs typically emphasize horizontal profile and ample storage. Common features include a combination of drawers and cabinet doors, with some models incorporating a top surface for display or a hutch, open shelves, or glass-fronted elements. Materials range from solid woods such as oak, cherry, and walnut to veneers, laminates, metal, and glass. Styles span traditional, neoclassical, mid-century modern, and contemporary.

Contemporary uses are versatile: a credenza can serve as a dining room sideboard, a home office storage solution, or a living-room media console. Its function centers on providing accessible storage and an additional surface, often complementing accompanying furniture such as dining tables, desks, or shelving units.