These pieces of furniture can be crafted in many different styles. Some of them are finished on all sides and can be set in the center of the room. Others are made to set along the walls of a room and can have mirrors and fancy tops. These furniture items were and still are made of many species of lumber including walnut, oak, maple, ash and other woods. Some have fancy carvings and others have pressed wood designs applied to them. Some are very plain in detail and others are quite exotic. They are built to be very function with their door and drawer designs. The drawers can be lined and built with partitions and the sideboard cabinet area can have shelving in them. The doors can have raised panels or glass inserts to display fancy glassware and dishes. The drawers are generally dovetailed so they will last along time. Most buffets and sideboards are generally quality built pieces of furniture.
They can have fancy post styles or very plain square designed corner styles or post.

Buffets and sideboards are very functional for many different uses. The top can be used for displaying many different items including collectibles. It can also be used for serving food in a buffet style or as a counter to prepare some food items. The cabinet space is a great place to store that fine china or other collectible glassware. The drawer space is storage for serving utensils and the lined drawer can store your fine silverware. Today they are used mostly for display of antique and collectible items. You see them in different rooms in the home now not just the kitchen and dining area.