They’re very similar, but not exactly the same. Here’s the distinction:
Sideboard
- Traditionally used in dining rooms for serving food and storing tableware.
- Often has short legs or sits closer to the floor.
- It can include cabinets, drawers, and sometimes a hutch on top.
Credenza
- Originated as a dining room piece too, but over time became more common in offices or living rooms.
- Tends to have a sleeker, low-profile design with little or no legs (often sits directly on a plinth/base).
- Known for a modern, streamlined look compared to the sometimes ornate sideboard.
In everyday use, many people use sideboard and credenza interchangeably, but design-wise, a sideboard is more traditional and dining-focused, while a credenza leans more modern and multipurpose.