A sideboard is a long, low piece of furniture, usually found in a dining room, with drawers and cabinets for storing dishes, silverware, table linens, and serving pieces. The flat top surface provides a convenient place to set out food during meals, like placing a platter of roasted chicken or a bowl of mashed potatoes where people can serve themselves.

Sideboards became popular in the 1700s and 1800s when formal dining was common. Families would use them to display their nicest china and serving dishes, and this piece of furniture made it easy to keep everything needed for a meal close at hand. Today, people still use sideboards for storage and serving, though they're sometimes called buffets or credenzas.

Some sideboards are simple and modern, while others are ornate antiques passed down through generations. You might see one at a holiday dinner, loaded with pies and side dishes, or notice one in a fancy restaurant holding extra plates and napkins.