What is the difference between a chest of drawers and a sideboard, lowboard and highboard?

Whether it's a classic chest of drawers, a sideboard, a highboard, or a lowboard – they can be found in every home, and we wouldn't want to be without them. They're not only practical but also look great, provide storage space, and often accompany us for a lifetime. But what exactly is the difference between them? The various terms can be confusing, as some pieces of furniture defy easy classification, given their ever-increasing variety, which pushes rigid boundaries of definition. All these pieces of furniture belong to the category of so-called case goods and serve to store a wide range of items. With the introduction of Anglicisms, we now often speak of lowboards, sideboards, and highboards. These terms correctly indicate different heights. But are there also functional differences? And how do the traditional German terms fit in? We'll shed some light on the matter.

How important are these differences anyway?

If you're looking for a classic, pre-configured piece of furniture, it's important to understand what the different terms mean, as this will make finding the right piece easier. But be aware that many hybrid models exist today – the label should only ever be a guide. Modern modular furniture systems allow you to customize the dimensions and functions of your furniture to perfectly suit your needs – purely according to your wishes – without being limited by standard definitions.

The chest of drawers

A chest of drawers always consists of drawers, which can vary in number and size. Because chests of drawers are so popular, they are now available in a wide variety of heights and widths, allowing them to adapt to all storage needs and fit into any room: bedroom, living room, dining room, children's room, or entryway. Incidentally, the chest of drawers began its rise to prominence in bedrooms, where women stored their clothes and linens.

Chest of drawers definition

A chest of drawers is a cabinet of furniture equipped with drawers. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages . The German word was borrowed from French around the middle of the 18th century, where it originated around 1700 as a noun derived from the adjective "commode" (meaning "comfortable").

As early as the 18th century, chests of drawers were frequently combined with other types of furniture. The upper sections served as shelves , display cases , and cabinets, the latter often featuring a central door flanked by numerous drawers. Secretaries, sideboards, and display cabinets evolved from these.

The sideboard

A sideboard is generally 70-100 cm high, making it very similar to a classic chest of drawers. However, it differs in function. Instead of drawers, a sideboard is often equipped only with doors and shelves. As a sideboard in the dining room, it also has drawers for cutlery. Today, sideboards are also placed in living rooms or other areas, as they perfectly combine storage and decorative functions. Sideboards are often used in living rooms to create impressive decorative elements.

Sideboard Definition

In German, a sideboard in the dining room is often called a "buffet" or "sideboard." However, there is a significant historical difference in the origins of these two pieces of furniture. The buffet evolved from the chest, while the sideboard evolved from the table.

A sideboard was traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, storing and displaying serving dishes. They became popular in the 19th century when households became wealthy enough to have a separate dining room.

The highboard

A highboard is generally 110-130 cm high, so taller than a chest of drawers or a sideboard, but shorter than a wardrobe or a wall unit. It is also usually taller than it is wide. It combines a variety of storage options: doors and shelves, drawers, glass-fronted cabinets, and open shelves. This provides ample and diverse storage space.

Highboard Definition

The highboard also evolved from the sideboard, the taller buffet. Unlike the sideboard, however, it often features open shelving and display cabinet elements to showcase favorite items.
to display. A buffet was traditionally used in the dining room or kitchen for storing and displaying serving dishes. The term "highboard" doesn't exist in English. It's a modern, very general term for a tall cabinet with a wide variety of storage options. Today, a highboard is found in many rooms, serving as both storage space and a visual focal point.

The lowboard

As the name suggests, a lowboard is always low. It's typically between 25 and 50 cm high and nowadays primarily serves as a TV or media unit. The screen is placed on top of the lowboard or mounted on the wall above it. There are many width options available to accommodate both large and small televisions.

Lowboard Definition

The lowboard evolved from the classic TV cabinet. As televisions have changed, so too has the furniture, which is now frequently used as a media unit. All technical devices such as receivers, DVD players, etc., find their place within the unit. For tidy cable management, either no back panel or back panels with cable cutouts are used. But even without a TV, the lowboard is a popular modern piece of furniture that utilizes the width rather than the height of the room and, with sufficient length, can visually elongate a space.

The shelf

A shelf is a simple, open storage solution. Basically, there are two types: wall shelves, which consist only of a shelf attached to the wall, and more complex, freestanding shelves. Shelves are always open at the front, but can
They also include side and back panels. Modular furniture systems offer the ideal opportunity to equip a shelf partially with closed compartments or drawers, thus maintaining the lightness and transparency of the shelf while simultaneously creating storage space for less conspicuous items.

Shelf definition

The term "shelf" comes from the Latin word "riga," meaning row or row. It is a piece of furniture used for storing all kinds of items. It consists of horizontal shelves connected to a vertical frame or attached to the wall. Unlike a cabinet, it is open at the front.