What to Store in a Buffet Cabinet to Make Family Mealtimes Easier

The best things to keep in a buffet cabinet are the items you reach for at every meal: everyday dinnerware, glasses, cutlery, placemats and serving dishes. Keep the heavy pieces low, the daily items at hand and the special-occasion pieces towards the back or on a higher shelf.

Set it up this way and setting the table takes a few minutes, not a dozen trips to the kitchen. Here is what to store, what to leave out, and how to keep the whole thing safe and tidy in a busy household.

Key Takeaways

• Store things by how often you use them, not by what looks nice together.
• Heavy platters and spare dinnerware belong on the lowest shelf.
• A drawer for placemats, napkins and cutlery cuts down on table-setting time.
• Keep matches, sharp knives and anything breakable away from little hands.
• Tall or heavy furniture should be fixed to the wall, especially in homes with young children and in earthquake-prone areas.

What Should You Store in Your Buffet?

Store the dining items you use most: plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, placemats, napkins and serving dishes. Add table linen and a few candle holders if there’s room. Anything you’d normally grab from the kitchen just before sitting down is a good fit for the buffet.

A simple way to plan the space is by shelf position:

If your cabinet is a buffet and hutch, the open shelves up top suit glassware and display pieces, while the closed cupboards below hold the heavier items.

Where Should Heavy Items Go in a Buffet?

Put heavy items on the lowest shelf. It’s easier on your back, and it keeps the weight low in the cabinet. The Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake also advises moving heavy objects from high storage spots to lower shelves, which makes a home safer in an earthquake. Platters, casserole dishes, a slow cooker or a big salad bowl all belong down low. Light items like napkins and candles can go higher up.

If you have glassware, keep it on a middle shelf where you can see it. Glasses stacked too high are the first thing to go in a bump.

How Can a Buffet Make Weeknight Dinners Easier?

A buffet can work as your table-setting station. When plates, cutlery, napkins and placemats are all in one place, anyone in the house can lay the table without asking where things are. That’s handy when kids are old enough to help.

A few ideas that suit busy households:

• Keep a set of placemats in the top drawer. Table runners and placemats take seconds to put down and wipe clean afterwards.
• Use a cutlery tray or caddy. One carry gets knives, forks and spoons to the table.
• Add a small basket for sauces and condiments. Tomato sauce, salt, pepper and the pepper grinder can come to the table in one go.
• Set aside a low shelf for kids’ plates and cups. Children can reach their own tableware and help set up.

It also helps to keep serving spoons and tongs in a drawer near the table instead of the kitchen. You won’t be hunting for them with a hot dish in your hands.

What Should You Keep for Hosting and Special Occasions?

Keep your serving platters, matching glassware, jugs and candle holders together in one section. That way, when family or friends are coming round, you can pull everything out in one go. A separate shelf for hosting pieces also keeps them from being used for daily meals and getting chipped.

Good candidates for the hosting shelf:

• Serving platters and large bowls
• Wine glasses and tumblers (see glasswares)
• A water jug or two (see jugs)
• Candles and holders (see candles and candle holders)
• A spare set of dinnerware for larger gatherings

A bottle or two of wine can sit in a wine rack if you have space in the dining area.

What Should You Keep Out of a Buffet?

Keep out anything that’s unsafe, damp or likely to cause trouble if little hands find it. A buffet is for tableware and dining items. It’s not the place for cleaning products, medicines or loose food.

• Matches and lighters: Store these in a high drawer or somewhere your kids can’t reach.
• Sharp knives: Keep carving knives in the kitchen, or in a drawer with a child lock.
• Damp tea towels or wet items: Moisture can build up in a closed cabinet.
• Open food: Most households keep food in the pantry. If you store sealed dry goods in the buffet, use airtight containers.
• Cleaning products and medicines: These belong well out of reach, usually in a locked cupboard.

Placing a favourite toy or a tempting item on top of the buffet can also encourage children to climb, which brings us to the next point.

Does a Buffet Need to Be Fixed to the Wall?

Tall or heavy furniture should be fixed to the wall, and a loaded buffet or hutch can fall into that category. The Natural Hazards Commission advises securing tall and heavy furniture to wall studs with brackets or straps, since it can move a lot during earthquake shaking. See its guide to securing large furniture and appliances.

Child safety is the second reason. The OECD notes that children aged one to three are especially at risk from furniture tip-overs, and it recommends securing furniture that is prone to tip. Read more in its furniture tip-over overview.

A few simple steps help:

1. Fix the cabinet to a wall stud with two brackets.
2. Add latches to cupboard doors so items stay inside if the cabinet gets bumped.
3. Keep heavy items low and avoid stacking things on top.
4. Discourage kids from climbing on drawers or doors.

If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager before you fix anything to the wall, and ask whether you’ll need to repair the holes when you leave.

How Do You Keep a Buffet Organised?

Group items by use, give each group its own spot, and leave a little space on each shelf. A buffet that’s packed to the brim becomes hard to use, and plates are more likely to chip.

Some habits that keep things tidy:

• Do a quick tidy once a season. Take everything out, wipe the shelves and put back only what you use.
• Use shelf liners so plates and glasses don’t slide.
• Use baskets or small trays inside drawers to separate cutlery, napkins and candles.
• Keep one shelf free for items that don’t have a regular home yet.
• Store sets together. A mismatched pile of cups is harder to use than a stack of the same ones.

How Do You Choose the Right Buffet for Your Dining Room?

Measure your dining room, then match the buffet to your table size and your storage needs. Leave enough floor space to pull out dining chairs and open the doors and drawers fully. Check the shelf depth and height against your largest platter and dinner plates.

SuperPrice Furniture groups its sideboards, buffets and kitchen islands together, and you can see the full dining furniture range alongside them. If you’re also thinking about a new table, the 4, 6 and 8 person dining suites will help you plan the room as a whole.

Not sure what will fit? The team at the Thames, Whitianga and Waihi stores can help. You’ll find their details on the store locator page.

FAQs

1. What Is the Difference Between a Buffet and a Sideboard?

The two terms overlap, and many NZ stores use them for the same kind of low cabinet. SuperPrice Furniture groups them together in one collection. A buffet and hutch adds a shelved or glass-fronted unit on top for display and extra storage.

2. Can I Store Food in a Buffet?

You can store sealed, shelf-stable items, but most households keep food in the pantry or kitchen. If you do store dry goods in a buffet, use airtight containers and make sure the cabinet isn’t damp. Keep open food out of the dining room.

3. How Do I Stop Plates and Glasses From Sliding Around?

Use non-slip shelf liners and keep stacks low. Add latches to doors so items stay put if the cabinet is bumped. The Natural Hazards Commission also advises latches on cupboard doors to help stop contents from falling out.

4. What Size Buffet Do I Need?

Choose one that fits your dining area without blocking chairs or doorways, and with shelves deep enough for your biggest platter. Measure the room, the platter and your dinner plates, then compare with the dimensions on the product page.

5. Is It Okay to Put Things on Top of a Buffet?

Light décor is fine, but avoid heavy items and anything breakable. Keep tempting things like toys and treats off the top if you have small children, since they may try to climb up. Secure the buffet to the wall if it’s tall or heavy.

Conclusion

A buffet cabinet works best when each shelf and drawer has a clear job: daily items within reach, heavy pieces low, special-occasion dishes in their own spot. Keep it tidy, keep it secure, and family meals get simpler.

You can browse the dining range online, or call into the Thames, Whitianga or Waihi store to see what suits your space. Delivery details are on the shipping page.