Enfilade vs Buffet: Which Dining Storage Fits Your Home?

Quick answer

Choose a buffet when you want a lower, longer serving surface that doubles as a dining-room display; choose an enfilade when you need taller, more enclosed storage and can trade away some surface. In most homes the deciding factor is not the name but the wall length, the height you can live with, and whether you serve from the piece or only store in it.

What actually separates an enfilade from a buffet

In French usage the two words overlap, and many retailers use them interchangeably. The practical difference is proportion: a buffet is usually the lower, wider piece you stand beside to serve, while an enfilade leans taller and more cabinet-like, with doors that hide more than they display. That single distinction drives everything else—how much wall it consumes, how much light it blocks, and whether the top becomes a working surface or a decorative shelf.

Because the terms are not standardized, judge the piece in front of you rather than the label. Measure the height against your own elbow and sightline, count how many doors open into usable depth, and check whether the top is deep enough to hold a platter without crowding the wall behind it.

Measure the wall before you choose a style

Start with three numbers: the available wall length, the clearance you want on each side, and the walking path behind chairs. A long buffet needs a wall that can carry it without looking stranded; a tall enfilade needs vertical room and enough side clearance for doors to swing fully open. If your dining room doubles as a passage, favor a shallower piece and keep the serving zone at one end rather than centered.

Height matters as much as width. A taller enfilade can make a low-ceilinged room feel compressed, while a very low buffet can disappear under a tall, empty wall. If you are unsure, mask the footprint on the floor with tape and stand in the room at serving distance before committing.

Match the piece to how you actually use the room

If you plate and serve from the dining room, prioritize a broad, easy-to-clean top and storage that opens toward you. If the room is mainly for eating and the storage is really about linens, glassware and occasional pieces, a taller enfilade with closed doors keeps clutter out of sight and frees the top for a lamp, a vase or a candleholder.

Think about what you want visible. Open or glazed sections suit pieces you enjoy looking at; solid doors suit the mismatched, the everyday and the bulky. A mixed piece—some display, some concealment—usually ages better than an all-glass cabinet in a room that is also used daily.

Style the top surface like a small composition

The top of a buffet or enfilade is a staging area, not a shelf to fill. Work in odd numbers and vary height: one tall element, one low bowl or tray, one small accent. A lacquered tray corrals keys, glasses and candles so the surface stays usable, and a decorative vase or candleholder adds vertical interest without blocking the serving zone.

Keep the center clear if you serve from the piece, and cluster objects toward one end. Rotate seasonal pieces rather than adding more—two or three well-chosen objects read better than a crowded row.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

• Surface vs. storage: A buffet gives you more usable top for serving and display; an enfilade gives you more enclosed volume for linens, glassware and occasional pieces. Decide which you run out of first—counter space or cupboard space.
• Low and wide vs. tall and narrow: A long buffet needs a generous wall and can dominate a small room; a tall enfilade uses vertical space but can crowd low ceilings and block sightlines. Measure wall length, ceiling height and door swing before choosing a silhouette.
• Display vs. concealment: Open or glazed fronts reward tidy, attractive contents but demand upkeep; solid doors hide everyday clutter but can make a room feel heavier. Choose closed storage if the contents are practical, open if they are decorative.

Pieces that work on or beside dining storage

• Plateau Vice-Versa - Aubépine: Double-faced tray with identical shapes on both sides, a discreet engraved Maison Sarah Lavoine monogram in one corner, glossy lacquer finish and a triangular cut-out design. A two-sided tray lets you flip the look without buying a second piece, and the glossy finish wipes clean easily when it lives on a buffet top.
• Bol à thé Sicilia - Ecru: Sicilia tea bowl inspired by Sicilian sunsets and warm colours, described as a breakfast ally and a piece to keep and pass on. A bowl this versatile earns its place on an open shelf or in a closed cabinet, and it stacks neatly when you are short on depth.
• Bougeoir Toi Et Moi - Fauve: Toi et Moi candleholder in ceramic, serpentine form holding two cylindrical candles, available in Bleu Sarah and Datte as a limited Christmas edition. Its twin-candle silhouette adds height and symmetry to a sideboard top without taking much footprint.

Which one fits your dining room?

Best for

• Households that plate and serve from the dining room and want a broad, easy-clean top
• Rooms with a long, uninterrupted wall and enough walking clearance behind chairs
• Anyone who wants to display a tray, vase or candleholder as part of the dining scheme

Not for

• Very narrow dining rooms where a deep piece would pinch the walking path
• Homes that need maximum hidden storage and have no wall long enough for a wide buffet
• Rooms with low ceilings where a tall enfilade would feel oppressive