What Is A Credenza? (And How To Use It For Storage Around Your Home)

You've heard the word, and you may have wondered: Just what is a credenza, anyway? As you've probably already figured out, it's a piece of furniture. Specifically, it's a long, low piece of furniture that generally doesn't have legs; if it does, they're very short ones. It also has a lot of surface space on its top and, generally, some combination of cabinets, shelves or drawers for storage — whether it be for storing electronics, toys, wine glasses and bottles, or even extra linens and towels. It will often have sliding doors, but not always.

How did such a functional piece of furniture get such a fancy name? It comes from history: the word "credenza" means "belief" or "confidence" in Italian, and the piece of furniture took its name from this. That's because, back in the medieval and Renaissance periods, servants would use a credenza as the spot where they tasted a noble family's food first, to inspire confidence that it hadn't been poisoned. A credenza was also used in a dining area to hold both dishes and food. You might also remember it from more modern history, especially if you've ever thought about decorating your home like "Mad Men," where a credenza appears in nearly every room. These days, you will find that a credenza can serve as both a functional and stylish piece for your home.

These days, you can still use a credenza in your dining room, but you also have other options. If you're using it in the kitchen or dining area, you can still store dishes or pantry items in it, or you could add your napkins and other table linens. You could also turn it into a drink station for either wine or coffee, storing some bottles and accessories inside while using the top as a place to pour.

For a more kid-friendly use, you could move your credenza into the living areas of your room, providing a place to stash toys away. Other options for the living room include using your credenza as storage space for books and extra blankets, or for media, electronics, and gaming paraphernalia. You could also place a credenza in a small entryway to keep your keys, mail, and perhaps even your mittens and hats at the ready.

A credenza is also flexible enough to be used elsewhere in your home. You could use it as a dresser or nightstand in the bedroom, to store office or craft supplies, or to hold towels and toiletries in your bathroom. If you find a credenza made of materials that can stand up to the weather, you can even put one outside on the patio to store your gardening or barbecue tools. While they're commonly associated with mid-century modern style, you can find a credenza to suit any decor. There's a reason this versatile piece of furniture has been around for 700 years — its uses for storage are practically endless.