How to Choose the Right Buffet Table Size Guide

Few pieces of furniture can transform a dining space quite like a carefully chosen buffet table or sideboard. A buffet table not only adds practicality and storage but also integrates seamlessly with the overall interior design, carrying the potential to reshape your room’s style and layout through choice of material. Yet, with so many sizes, shapes, and designs available, selecting the right choice of buffet table for your dining area can easily become overwhelming.

Finding that ‘just-right’ fit—one that feels intuitive and effortless—takes a bit more consideration than simply measuring a wall or placing a sideboard or dining table. It calls for attention to functionality, proportions, and even the flow of daily living. The pursuit is rewarding; the perfect buffet elevates everything, from weeknight meals to festive gatherings.

Understanding the Purpose of a Buffet Table

Deciding on size begins with clarity on how you plan to use your buffet or sideboard. Is it primarily for serving up hearty weekend family brunches? Will it hold extra dinnerware, glassware and platters? Or will it act as an accent console, gracing the side of the room with vases, lamps or art? The finer details of function, style, and interior design inform the best design and dimensions for your space.

Common uses for a buffet table include:

●    Storing plates, cutlery, serving dishes and table linens

●    Serving as an extra surface for meals or drinks during parties, similar to a sideboard

●    Displaying decorative objects or lighting on your sideboard or buffet table

●    Housing wine racks or small appliances

Being clear-headed about needs ensures you won’t end up with furniture, such as a sideboard or buffet table, that is too large, too small, or simply unnecessary clutter.

Measuring Up: Key Dimensions for the Perfect Buffet

Getting proportions right is all about balancing presence and practicality. Here’s what to consider when scoping your space:

Length

The length of your buffet table should suit the width of the wall and the scale of your dining furniture in the dining room, while possibly incorporating metal accents for a modern touch. A standard buffet table ranges from 120cm to 180cm long, but can go smaller or larger depending on the room.

As a guideline, when considering a sideboard:

●    Your buffet table shouldn’t overpower the dining table; it should complement or be slightly shorter.

●    In longer dining rooms, a lengthier buffet (180cm–210cm) offers generous storage and surface space.

●    For compact spaces, stick with 100cm–120cm units to prevent cramping the layout.

Depth

Depth determines how much the buffet projects into the room, affecting walking paths and chair placement. The typical depth falls between 40cm and 50cm.

Allow enough depth for functional storage, without creating an obstacle for guests moving breezily around the room. Go too deep and you risk making the space feel boxed in.

Height

Most buffets stand at 75cm–90cm high, with 85cm often considered the sweet spot, making them versatile enough to be used in living room setups as well. This height lines up roughly with a typical dining table, so the surfaces harmonise visually.

Low buffets (under 75cm) suit contemporary, minimal homes and can serve as a media console or bench. Taller buffets (over 90cm) double as striking sideboards or statement pieces, perfect for displaying oversized art or floral arrangements.

Here’s a quick reference table to illustrate the common buffet table dimensions and their pros and cons:

Size/Dimension	Standard Range	Best For	Watch Out For
Length	120cm – 180cm	Most dining spaces	Too long for small rooms
Depth	40cm – 50cm	Balanced storage/traffic	Cramped walkways
Height	75cm – 90cm	Visual harmony with table	Too tall = bulk
Compact Buffet	< 120cm long	Apartments, tight areas	Limited storage
Grand Buffet	> 180cm long	Large rooms, spaces for entertaining	Overwhelming presence

 

The Relationship to Your Dining Table

One golden rule: the buffet or sideboard should never outshine the dining table in the dining room, but its style should complement the existing decor.

Ideally, the buffet table or sideboard should not be longer than your table. Symmetry often appeals to our sense of balance, so placing the buffet table centered on a wall parallel (or adjacent) to your dining set tends to look sharp.

Keep at least 90cm between the buffet and the edge of the dining table or any dining chairs when pulled out. This gap creates a comfortable ‘corridor’ for movement, whether guests are helping themselves to a platter or servers are clearing the table during a lively dinner.

Navigating Small Spaces

A petite room needn’t miss out on the beauty or utility of a sideboard buffet. Here are some tips for tight quarters:

●    Choose a sideboard with sliding doors rather than hinged ones to conserve space.

●    Opt for a shallow design—around 30cm to 35cm deep—if walkways are narrow.

●    Consider a high-legged or floating (wall-mounted) buffet for added visual openness and easier cleaning.

●    Prioritise vertical storage with taller models if you lack horizontal floor space.

Smaller buffets can feature clever interiors: built-in wine racks, adjustable shelves or drawers designed for cutlery or napkins.

Open-Plan Living: Defining Spaces with Buffets

Open-plan layouts thrive on flexible, low partitions. A buffet table can neatly separate a living room area from the dining zone, grounding the space without walls.

In this situation, look for sideboards or buffets with aesthetic finishes on all sides. Position the dining table ‘floating’ in the room, not pressed against a wall—this preserves open sightlines while introducing a natural boundary.

Mirrored, glass, or lighter coloured buffets or sideboards reflect light and keep the layout airy. Some feature wheels or sleek handles, allowing you to reconfigure the space for special occasions.

Fitting Style With Size

While measuring is key, the style you choose should fit the proportions of the room as well. For example, a rustic timber sideboard with chunky legs suits a generous villa dining room. A lacquered, mid-century buffet or a sleek Scandinavian-inspired credenza better complements smaller, modern apartments.

Some considerations:

●    In period homes, longer, more ornate buffets add old-world charm

●    Streamlined, compact buffets keep small or contemporary rooms fresh and uncluttered

●    Mirrored or glass-front buffets expand the perceived space visually

●    Lighter woods or painted finishes help large buffets feel less imposing

Don’t be afraid to express personality through hardware, colour, or art displayed above the metal buffet. The key is for the interior design to feel intentional, not forced.

Storage Needs Dictate Size

Evaluate what furniture and material you truly need to store to ensure you make the right choice in integrating your sideboard or buffet into the overall interior design. If your dining needs are modest—just a couple of platters and a stack of napkins—a smaller buffet will suffice.

For homes with extensive dinnerware collections, frequent entertaining, or plenty of family members, upping the size grants extra drawers, shelves, and surfaces. Adjustable interiors or removable shelves maximise flexibility.

Remember, over-filling a buffet makes finding items harder. Plan ahead for tidy organisation: baskets, drawer dividers, or shelf risers keep storage zones purposeful and neat.

Planning For Entertaining

Anyone who loves hosting guests knows how helpful a spacious buffet can be. Beyond storing crisp linen and fine china, these sideboards, along with a well-placed dining table, function as secondary serving stations, self-serve bars, or dessert landings during parties.

Aim for a longer sideboard or buffet (at least 160cm) if large-scale entertaining is frequent. Preferably, ensure some clear surface at all times, even during storage-heavy periods.

In smaller rooms, you can still enjoy this utility by using a sideboard with a drop-leaf or expandable buffet, which grows when needed and folds away for everyday living.

Shopping Checklist: What to Measure Before Buying

Choosing a buffet table or sideboard should always start with a tape measure in hand. Before you shop:

●    Measure the available wall or floor space, accounting for skirting boards, power points, radiators or window frames

●    Map furniture placement with painter’s tape or masking tape to visualise the footprint

●    Factor in at least 90cm clearance between the buffet and any other furniture or traffic paths

●    Confirm ceiling heights if considering tall buffets, and check for obstacles like pendant lighting or deep windowsills

●    List what you want to store inside, and check the internal dimensions of drawers/shelves in product descriptions

This process avoids awkward surprises when your new buffet arrives and helps filter your options much faster.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

It’s easy to fall into traps when selecting a buffet table. Some frequent pitfalls include:

●    Picking a buffet that’s too bulky for a small room, leading to overcrowding

●    Overestimating storage needs—filling valuable space with a table that’s rarely used

●    Forgetting about door swing or drawer clearance

●    Ignoring style or colour, ending up with a mismatched piece

●    Sacrificing functionality for looks, or vice versa

Balancing utility, style, interior design, and functionality is the right choice to ensure your buffet or sideboard will get daily use, not just admiration.

Why Quality Matters

The best buffet tables, including versatile options like a sideboard, stand up to years of family meals, celebrations, and shifting decor trends. At Home Elements, this principle guides every selection—a commitment to affordable pieces crafted by reliable manufacturers. Quality doesn’t just refer to a sturdy metal frame or durable material; good hardware, smooth-gliding drawers, and durable finishes make day-to-day use pleasurable.

Ensuring the piece, such as a durable sideboard, will last not only saves money but enriches the atmosphere of your home. It means you can confidently style your buffet with art, flowers, or tableware, knowing it’ll rise to any occasion.

A Buffet For Every Home

There are endless ways to reimagine your dining space with the addition of buffet furniture, blending seamlessly with your interior design vision. Whether your dining room or living room is compact or sprawling, traditional or contemporary, the perfect buffet table or sideboard enhances the practical and decorative sides of life.

Thoughtful sizing, mindful measuring, and matching style set the foundation for a room that welcomes and inspires—every mealtime, gathering, and quiet evening in.