A kitchen cupboard is a fashionable, original cabinet in which it is customary to store dishes, cookery literature, and textiles. The design creates coziness in the room and decorates it. A corner buffet for the kitchen is the most convenient type of conventional cabinet, which, if desired, can be made independently.
The kitchen buffet has been an indispensable piece of furniture since ancient times.
What is a corner buffet for the kitchen, its features?
The classic corner sideboard model consists of two parts: the lower part, closed with doors, and the upper part, which looks like a glazed display case. This is a difficult product to make yourself, as it has many details, including intricate shapes. The main feature of the item is the ability to use a corner that was previously empty.
Antique model of a kitchen cupboard.
See also: Italian style kitchen interior
Accommodation options
Where can a corner model of a buffet or sideboard be harmoniously placed? Given the configuration features, such furniture is more intended for small spaces. This could be a kitchen, a small living room, an office in which the owner stores a collection of alcohol and corresponding glasses.
The option of placing it in the corner is suitable for models with a blank back wall, where the interior of the display case is decorated with mirror panels. Being placed opposite the entrance, such a showcase will visually add depth to the room and, reflecting natural light, will add light.
If the showcase is made triangular, but all three walls are made of glass, then such a model can easily take an island position, becoming a space delimiter in the room.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a kitchen buffet
A kitchen cupboard has several advantages:
- creates an original interior;
- easy to use;
- a simple, compact option is inexpensive;
- Fits in any size kitchen;
- suitable for zoning space.
Thanks to its small dimensions, a coal buffet can be installed even in a small kitchen.
But there are also disadvantages:
- the product is not spacious enough;
- not suitable for every interior;
- the item is placed separately from everything else, so it requires a special place;
- a luxurious antique product will be very expensive.
Advice. Most modern furniture companies offer the production of sideboards of various configurations, in accordance with the wishes of the customer.
The only downside of the buffet is its small capacity.
See alsoFeatures of caring for countertops made of artificial stone: useful tips and recommendations.
Types of buffets for the kitchen
There are two types of buffets:
- open - “classic” products with open shelves;
- closed - have several shelves, glass doors in the upper half.
Buffets are open and closed.
See also: How does an induction cooker differ from a ceramic cooker: which one is better, useful recommendations for choosing
Buffet and its use in different styles
Corner sideboards are suitable for an ordinary kitchen decorated in various interior styles:
- Baroque - the buffet is richly decorated with wood carvings, glass and stone mosaics;
- classic – made of light wood, with applied carved parts;
- Provence – white, draperies in the upper part behind the glass are acceptable;
- rustic - a rough product without finishing;
- minimalism - a product made of MDF, a strict, laconic form, no decor;
- loft – heavy wooden cabinet artificially aged.
A charcoal buffet can be successfully combined with different interior styles.
Advice. The buffet design is not suitable for modern style, hi-tech, futurism, techno.
See alsoWhat are pods for a coffee machine: advantages and disadvantages, tips for choosing
Popular models
The table shows popular corner cupboards.
| Model | Brand, manufacturer | Dimensions, width/depth/height, mm | Specifications, notes | Price, rub |
| Milan 5 | Utah, Russia | 478/478/940 | Color white or beige, display configuration, MDF material | 19 060 |
| Julia | Evita, Russia | 1031/729/2301 | Corner display case made of MDF, glass shelves inside | 22 570–28 210 |
| Milan 4 (positano) | Utah | 478/478/790 | Made from solid birch or MDF, closed panels, no glass | 18070 |
| Wardrobe-sideboard ShK11 | Axiom furniture | 850/600/2160 | Material: chipboard, MDF panels. Color: oak, cherry, walnut, apple tree | 11 800 |
| Constance | Myth, Russia | 225/31/60 cm | Corner buffet, white, MDF panels, laminated chipboard frame | 6 933 |
| Opadiris Clio | Russia | — | Hanging type, corner mounting, waterproof wood | 7732 |
If you haven’t found the model you need, order an option from the manufacturers according to the specified size, color, and filling. It will fit into any room design.
Design features of the buffet
A standard buffet is used as a place to store dishes, tablecloths and napkins, and small kitchen appliances. If there is an empty middle part, an additional horizontal surface appears in the kitchen.
The buffet consists of three parts.
See alsoKitchen design in Art Deco style
Upper section of the cupboard
On top, according to tradition, there are open shelves on which beautiful dishes, porcelain souvenirs, textile decor, etc. are placed. Often this part is decorated with glass doors and mirrors inside.
See alsoWhat is a blender and why do you need a blender in the kitchen
Middle section
The middle of the structure has a tabletop, the width of which is two to four centimeters larger than the lower part. Here, if desired, you can cook fully if there is no more suitable place in the room.
Buffets can be made with your own hands, or ordered from qualified craftsmen for any design.
See alsoSofa for the kitchen in Provence style: variety, placement examples, tips
Buffet base
The lower cabinet is designed with hinged doors, behind which various household appliances, kitchen utensils, everyday dishes, kitchen draperies, cookbooks, and culinary magazines are stored. The base rests on four legs - the simplest quadrangular shape or carved, chiseled, elegant.
See alsoConnecting a gas stove: how to install a gas stove step by step
Varieties
The proposed options for china cabinets can be divided depending on the balance of decorative and functional elements.
| Cabinet type | Degree of functionality | Filling | For which rooms |
| Buffet | Functional | Drying stands, drawers, cabinets, closed sections. | Kitchen, classic living room. |
| Sideboard | Functionality and decorativeness in half. | The upper part is glazed display cases, at the bottom there is a closed cabinet in which you can arrange storage systems, trays, and stands. | Living room, office. |
| Wardrobe showcase | Decorative | Most of the cabinet is glazed, the internal sections are also made of glass elements. | Living room, office. |
The presented features should be taken into account when choosing a configuration and your needs regarding storing dishes.
Buffet
Sideboard
Showcase
Buffet
A buffet is purchased by those for whom it is important to keep their dishes in order without much need to show them to guests. A characteristic feature of the buffet is the structure of three tiers: the lower closed part, the middle open tabletop and the upper one, which can have open shelves and a glazed display case.
Even with a corner configuration, the buffet looks quite massive, so it is more suitable for spacious kitchens, living rooms or dining rooms where a large family gathers.
The sideboard belongs to the classic type of furniture and is rarely made of MDF. More often, it is based on a high-quality array. This piece of furniture is suitable for families with traditions, since the buffet will serve faithfully for several generations. The buffet looks unusual for modern interiors. It will take a dominant position in the room, so it is worth purchasing it for a stylized setting.
Sideboard
A sideboard is usually understood as a cabinet for storing dishes, cutlery and textiles. It has upper and lower parts. The top is glazed, acting as a showcase, and the lower part is decorated with drawers and doors. Traditional sideboard dimensions do not exceed two meters in width and height. Most often, this is a low body, allowing you to easily reach even the top shelf without a ladder.
The corner version of the sideboard is perfect for small rooms; it is compact and aesthetically pleasing. The disadvantage of a corner showcase is its small capacity, so before purchasing it is important to decide what exactly will be on display and which items will have to be removed.
Modern furniture manufacturers often produce display cabinets with decorative lighting. Inside this model, glass shelves predominate, which makes the design more airy. The backlight turned on at night advantageously emphasizes the brilliance and elegance of the presented collection.
Showcase
A special feature of the display cabinet is a large number of glass elements. The model is very beautiful, looks airy and can be extremely roomy. In terms of dimensions, such cabinets can be either small or large, occupying an angle from the ceiling to the floor. This option becomes an excellent decoration for spacious dining rooms combined with a kitchen.
To make the display case, special tempered, impact-resistant glass is used. However, if there are small children in the house, a display case is not a very practical option, if only because fingerprints and palm prints will regularly appear on the surface.
A showcase requires an aesthetic approach to the placement of objects. A composition should be built inside without clutter. For large sets, display cabinets are recommended, which will help you place items in the most arranged way possible.
Corner display cases can be made entirely of glass or with a mirror wall, which allows them to be placed not only in a corner, but also as an “island”, allowing a 360-degree view. This is an excellent choice for both classic and modern interiors. Combined with spectacular lighting, a showcase can literally transform a room.
The showcase will be preferred by people who are inclined to want to demonstrate their achievements and create a spectacular environment. In practical terms of storing dishes, a display case is not very suitable, but it is good for impressing guests. Decorative plates, crystal goblets, glasses and a collection of elite alcohol will look great behind the glass.
What materials are kitchen buffets made from?
The materials used to make the original corner cabinet are:
- natural wood;
- MDF;
- laminated chipboard;
- plywood.
The fittings and decor of the structure are made of metal, plastic, glass, including stained glass, acrylic, and ceramics.
To make a kitchen corner buffet, you can use different materials.
See also: What is the difference between induction and glass-ceramic hobs?
Stocking the buffet in the kitchen
Typically, a buffet cabinet has several open shelves in the upper compartment, as well as more than two or three wide ones hidden behind “blind” doors in the lower compartment. Modern models sometimes partially or completely have a lower part filled, consisting of large and small drawers, trays, and roll-out sections.
Modern buffets consist of transparent doors and a closed bottom.
See alsoHigh-tech kitchen: technological interior
Buffet decor
A wooden cabinet is decorated in different ways:
- volumetric wood carving;
- overhead plastic elements;
- stained glass;
- covered with paint, stain, varnish;
- signed by hand.
Using decoration, you can give a unique look to an antique buffet.
Very popular are products that imitate antique ones - with paint peeled off here and there, applied in several layers, decorative abrasions right down to the wood, and areas decorated using the “crackle” technique. Some models have interior decorative lighting.
See alsoBrown kitchen: interior design in chocolate shades
Beautiful and stylish piece of furniture
A showcase made of solid expensive wood, silverware and crystal glasses sparkling behind the glass - in a living room with a traditional, luxurious design, such a cabinet can become one of the main decorations.
On the shelves you can place memorable figurines and collectibles, which will now always be in sight.
In modern design, the cabinet can be made in bright colors, which allows you to create interesting contrasting color schemes.
Useful to read: 7 simple rules for combining colors in the kitchen interior.
Do you have an old sideboard that you think won't fit in your living room? Give it a second life by painting it in a bright color or making an interesting treatment using various artificial aging techniques, such as craquelure.
How to choose a buffet for the kitchen?
Modern beautiful sideboards for the kitchen can be bought in many furniture stores. The price depends on the material of manufacture, the design of a particular item, the accuracy of assembly, the functionality of the item, and the reputation of the manufacturer. When choosing, it is important to consider where the cabinet will be located - in the kitchen or living room. For cramped kitchens, choose a small product with sliding rather than hinged doors.
Advice. If there are sliding, roll-out, lifting mechanisms, you should check their quality - the parts should move smoothly, without applying excessive force.
The price of a kitchen cupboard will depend on the material, design and number of internal cabinets.
Tips for choosing
When choosing a corner model of a china cabinet, you need to carefully examine the proposed option for quality, strength of materials and assembly accuracy. If we talk about the relationship between design and functionality, then the second criterion should become a priority, since the finishing can be done to your liking yourself, using decorative materials, fittings and even paints.
To ensure that corner models fit well into the living room interior, consider the following recommendations when choosing:
- the number of mirror surfaces should be inversely proportional to the natural lighting of the room. That is, for a well-lit room, having 1 mirror surface inside the sideboard will be enough. Where the room is not well lit, two to four mirror panels are welcome;
- for a narrow cabinet such as a pencil case, preference is given to a light shade if the room itself is made in dark colors;
- if the room is lightly decorated, choose a shade of the cabinet that is a shade darker;
- choose models with glass sections, focusing on the amount of dishes to be stored;
- The large central section made of glass is appropriate for displaying the family set. But if you plan to place alcohol and related utensils in it, then opt for a cabinet with a display case, divided into several sections of equal height.
It is recommended to take your time and make such furniture to order if you have not found an option that completely satisfies you in the store. Yes, it will take a little longer, but the model will be made exactly to the parameters of your interior.
Now about the evaluation of the filling itself:
- When choosing a model, be sure to check the quality of the shelves. They must be securely fixed. Touch it, try to move it. Loose elements under load can fail and collapse;
- all drawers in a buffet or sideboard should slide out smoothly and remain silent;
- For a floor cabinet where dishes are stored, it is important to have adjustable legs. If there is an uneven floor in the apartment, the closet may skewer;
- choose an option with reliable fittings. Plastic elements are short-lived;
- all-glass models are not suitable for those whose home has small children or frequent visits from a large number of guests.
By choosing a cabinet for the interior of an apartment or house, in which you are supposed to store dishes, you bring into the house a traditional element of classics, which will have an obvious impact on the perception of the room as a whole. Such cabinets tend to attract attention and become the central element. Before installing, decide which function will be decisive - storage or demonstration. Then it will be easier to give preference to a slide-type model or choose a fully glazed display case.
Design ideas
A kitchen cabinet in the corner should fit optimally into the interior. The product can be very small or huge, reaching the ceiling if the kitchen is spacious. A low and narrow one is placed in a cramped kitchenette, while painting the sideboard in creamy white, yellowish-gray, orange-pink, etc. In the kitchen-living room, decorated in a traditional style, if there is a large area, two identical corner sideboards are placed.
The buffet can be installed in the living room; two buffets in different corners look especially beautiful.
Installation
A few rules when installing it yourself:
- If the cabinet is attached to the wall using dowels, then the diameter should clearly correspond to the size of the furniture, and the depth of the hole should be slightly deeper than the fastener itself.
- To avoid unwanted cracks in the wall, the diameter of the drill and fastener must match.
- Start installation from the top and bottom tiers if the cabinet is not solid.
- Dowels are not suitable for porous walls. The butterfly system is reliable and simple even for an inexperienced installer.
Read on for all the ways to install kitchen cabinets.
Before installation, make a detailed drawing indicating the details and shape, and accurately calculate at what height to install the furniture.
