Building a dining room that feels intentionally brought together takes more than just a great table and some chairs. What’s one of the most overlooked (and underrated) pieces of furniture in the space? A dining room cabinet. What was traditionally just storage has become another way for homeowners to make a style statement, add functional decor, or round out a dining room with the missing piece that elevates the entire layout.
Whether you're creating a cozy space for family dinners or a formal setting for entertaining, the right dining room storage cabinet that ties your design together in all the right ways is a master tip to explore. From modern dining room cabinets with sleek silhouettes to a more traditional dining room hutch cabinet, there’s a piece to suit every design style and dining needs.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find the perfect cabinet, using expert design tips form our interior design pros. We’ll also highlight some of our favorite cabinets that make it easy to balance beauty and practicality, along with dining room cabinet ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
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Style your dining room table and chairs with a complementary dining room cabinet from Liddiard Home Furnishings
Shop Dining Room CabinetsDining Room Cabinets: Defining the Term
Let’s start with the basics: What is a dining room cabinet? The term can refer to a few different types of furniture, all with different functions and styles. Each option can work in a dining room with cabinets when styled and scaled correctly to your table and seating.
- Dining Room Buffet Cabinets: Typically lower in height, these long cabinets sit against a wall and often feature cabinets or drawers for storage. This style is ideal for a dining room table with a matching buffet setup.
- Dining Room Curio Cabinet & Display Cabinets: These cabinets typically feature glass doors and are used to display fine china, heirlooms, or decor. This setup is a classic pick for traditional rooms or to make a sophisticated visual impact.
- Cabinet Hutches: A dining room hutch cabinet has a lower base (often a buffet) and a top portion with open shelving or glass doors. This hybrid setup is equally great for storage and for creating an open display for traditional dinnerware or décor.
- Server Cabinets: These are similar to buffets but with smaller builds. Often, they come with added features such as wine racks or pull-out drawers for table linens.
- Accent Cabinets: Versatile (often smaller) pieces that add storage without dominating the room. Accent cabinets are an excellent choice for apartments or casual settings.
Learn More: 7 Stylish Dining Table with Bench Combinations
Play & Pair Furniture Materials
Material matters when designing a cohesive dining space. Wood and metal are the top contenders for dining room storage cabinets, and each has its own pairing logic.
If you’re working with a wood dining table, a wood dining room cabinet in a matching finish is the most traditional approach. For example, a dark walnut cabinet looks stunning beside a similarly toned table with solid wood chairs. That said, don’t be afraid to get creative. Dark wood finishes look striking with lighter stains, especially when mixed with metal dining cabinet details like bronze handles or brass hardware.
Learn More: 6 Inspiring Ideas for a Modern Dining Room
Get the Look: Flexsteel Plymouth Distressed Gray Buffet
This buffet features a soft distressed gray wood finish that adds a rustic-modern vibe to any dining room. Its turned legs and paneled detailing make it equally at home next to a weathered farmhouse table or a sleeker modern wood set with light linen chairs. It plays beautifully with metal finishes or soft glass pendant lights overhead.
We recommend using this pick to anchor a natural wood dining table with a lighter finish to keep things balanced. The multiple drawers make it practical for everyday use while enhancing the charm of your dining room essentials.
Get Inspired by Design Style
Choosing a dining room cabinet that reflects your home’s style is key to pulling off a cohesive space. Here’s how to match cabinets with your table and chairs across four popular design styles (CLICK THE ➕TO LEARN MORE):
➕Modern Dining Room Cabinets
Go for clean lines, minimalist profiles, and high-contrast finishes. A modern dining room cabinet in black, white, or natural wood looks great with glass or marble-top tables and sleek chairs.
➕Traditional/Formal Dining Room Cabinets
If you want a more traditional design, look for carved wood details, crown molding, and rich finishes. Pair a dining room buffet cabinet or hutch with an ornate pedestal table and upholstered chairs.
➕Mid-Century Dining Room Cabinets
If you love mid-century design, focus on clean wood tones, splayed legs, and simple silhouettes. A mid century dining room cabinet pairs perfectly with low-profile walnut tables and sculptural seating.
➕Farmhouse Dining Room Cabinets
The farmhouse aesthetic is very popular. Think distressed wood, white finishes, and antique-inspired hardware. A farmhouse dining room cabinet should feel worn-in and warm, pairing perfectly with ladder-back chairs and trestle-style tables.
Get the Look: Signature Design by Ashley Mirimyn Antique White Accent Cabinet
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Cabinet
With its antique white finish, filigree doors, and rustic hardware, this rural-inspired dining room cabinet fits seamlessly into farmhouse or traditional dining rooms. It adds vintage charm to any space and works especially well next to distressed wood tables and chairs with fabric cushions. If you're leaning into a farmhouse aesthetic, this cabinet is your go-to. Style it with a bowl of fresh lemons, a vintage tray, or stacks of white plates for a truly lived-in look.
Focus on Dining Room Function
A beautiful cabinet is only useful if it actually fits your space and meets your needs. If you host dinner parties or have a large table that seats eight or more, space may be tight. In that case, skip the wide buffet and opt for a tall dining room curio cabinet or vertical accent piece.
If you're more casual and don’t need a dining room table and matching china cabinet, a cabinet with open shelving is a great way to store everyday items like placemats, napkins, and pitchers. Bottom line, let your dining room speak to you and tell you how to use it, then consider the type of cabinet style that works best for its functions.
Get the Look: Signature Design by Ashley Dagandale Black/Natural Accent Cabinet
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Accent Cabinet
Compact and highly functional, this accent cabinet works well in smaller dining room with cabinets setups. The design’s narrow depth makes it perfect behind a table with high-traffic seating. Its natural wood grain top and matte black finish offer contrast and character, while the hidden storage keeps clutter out of sight. For the most modern look, we suggest pairing it with a black or espresso-finish dining table for a grounded feel.
We Also Love: Emerald Home New Haven 2-Piece Oyster Shell Sideboard Set
Shop This Emerald Home Sideboard
With a subtle oyster shell finish and spacious drawers, this two-piece sideboard balances elegance and function. It’s ideal for formal dining rooms where full dish sets and serving trays need a home. Pair it with a traditional wood table and velvet-upholstered chairs for a timeless, high-end feel.
Play with Texture & Shape
Let us let you in on a little secret: Texture is your secret weapon to interior design. Carved woods, inlaid details, and antique patinas—all of these show up beautifully in a dining room cabinet. Mix those elements with upholstered chairs or rough-hewn tables to create a layered, visual look that’s full of visual interest.
Get the Look: Signature Design by Ashley Adwen Light Green Accent Cabinet
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Accent Cabinet
Painted in a soft, distressed green, this cabinet adds a splash of color and texture that works great in modern dining rooms. The standout is the carved door pattern that gives it a handmade and personal feel, complemented beautifully with gold hardware for a touch of contrast. This pairs beautifully with white, gray, or natural-toned tables and adds character without overwhelming the space, along with chairs upholstered in linen or tweed to build a room rich in tactile contrast.
We Also Love: Flexsteel Athens Brown Buffet
This wood dining room cabinet is a masterclass in warmth and tone. The deep brown finish and simple lines make it extremely versatile in both mid-century and traditional styles. For us, we love this look works together with patterned seat cushions or textured rugs underneath a table for balanced texture. If you have a larger dining room, use it as the anchor piece and design around its details, using the carved accents, metal hardware, and rounded edges as design elements.
Create Balance
Pass through dining rooms or large dining areas often feel empty without an anchor piece. A standout dining room buffet cabinet or dining room hutch cabinet can provide visual structure and help the space feel “finished.” Look for cabinets with visual weight—think bold finishes, wider builds, or vertical presence—and pair them with a full-size dining table and heavier chairs for symmetry.
Get the Look: Signature Design by Ashley Dreggan Brown/Gold Accent Cabinet
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Cabinet
This accent cabinet features dark wood, gold metal inlays, and bold geometric doors, making it an art piece in itself. It’s perfect for anchoring an open-concept room with a wide-plank dining table and oversized upholstered chairs. The gold accents bring in just enough shimmer to elevate a modern farmhouse or urban loft look. Place it along your dining room’s back wall for balance and style.
The dining room may not be the most-used space in the home, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve the same attention as busier spaces in the home. Dining room cabinets are a friendly reminder that function and style can coexists, and our tips featured in this guide are just the start. Learn more about pairing a dining room cabinet with chairs and tables by visiting Liddiard Home Furnishings today!
So, should a dining room table match cabinets? Not necessarily, but they should complement each other. Whether you're mixing finishes or sticking to one style family, the right dining room cabinet ties the space together and brings function you didn’t even know you needed.
From mid-century dining room cabinets to classic dining room buffet cabinets, there's a perfect pairing out there for your table and chairs. Find yours today at Liddiard Home Furnishings, online or in-store.
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For over 65 years, Liddiard Home Furnishings has been providing Utah with premium home furnishings. This family-owned business has worked to deliver a better kind of shopping experience to the greater Salt Lake City area. Whether it’s the carefully laid out showroom or the outstanding customer service, when you shop at Liddiard’s, you’ll feel like family. The team at Liddiard has crafted a catalog full of incredible products made by brands with reputations for quality. Shop online or visit our showroom to discover what makes Liddiard Home Furnishings so unique.
Shop Dining Room Cabinets at Liddiard Home Furnishings
For the home furnishings you need, visit Liddiard Home Furnishings in Tooele, UT. You’ll find the best prices when you shop dining room furniture online. Check out Liddiard reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you explore dining room cabinets — whether you call us at 435-882-0964 or use our online chat feature. Visit our Tooele showroom today!
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