16 Midcentury Modern Credenzas and Sideboards for Stylishly Stashing Away Clutter
No matter what kind of chaos you find within its drawers, the credenza is one piece of furniture that always looks effortlessly cool from the outside.
Wrangle your decor in an elegant way with any one of these midcentury–inspired credenzas and sideboards.
Finn Juhl Credenza
After studying at the famous Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and working for architect Vilhelm Lauritzen, Finn Juhl set up his own design office in 1945. Later that year, Juhl and master cabinetmaker Niels Voder, collaborators since 1937, created a buzz at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild exhibition with their expressive, sculptural pieces. In 1951, Juhl went on to make his stateside debut at the Good Design exhibit in Chicago and at MoMA in New York, and he represented Denmark in designing a meeting chamber at United Nations Headquarters. The trained architect and self-taught furniture designer drew the inspiration for his Finn Juhl Credenza (1955) from the cubist movement and Goethe’s color wheel, reflected in the piece’s simple geometric shapes and interlocking planes and its sliding doors and six trays finished in varying shades of blue lacquer. The left interior has two adjustable shelves, the right an open compartment next to the one for the trays. Holding the walnut body, the hand-burnished steel frame with wooden feet lends the piece airiness. Ships fully assembled. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of House of Finn Juhl™. Made in Denmark. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Herman Miller Eames Storage Unit, 1x2
The concept of "modularity" wasn't in the popular lexicon when Charles and Ray Eames designed their innovative Storage Units (1950), which can be configured to fit a space or need. Suitable for office and residential use, these units were designed as storage and display spaces, with two color schemes. The design resulted from work the Eameses did for a 1949 exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the molded plywood and wire supports echo other items designed by the Eameses, such as their wire base tables and chairs. The "multi" color scheme includes birch fronts and brightly colored (red, white, blue and tan) side and back panels. The "natural" color scheme includes birch fronts and neutral (grey, white, tan and black) side and back panels. The shelves in both color schemes are black. The nylon glides are easy on floors. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Ibon Arrizabalaga Sen Credenza
Born in the city of San Sebastián, Spanish designer Ibon Arrizabalaga studied industrial design in Barcelona before starting his career in the automotive industry. Five years later, he quickly switched gears, so to speak, and began designing modern furniture. There’s a subtle beauty to Arrizabalaga’s work, which can be described as minimal yet harmonious. His Sen Credenza (2017) is a sleek solution for media and workspace storage, with push-latch cabinets and drawers that allow the fronts to remain hardware-free for a streamlined look. Made in Spain. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Industry West Cane Sideboard
Elegantly designed and expertly crafted Industry West's new Cane Collection is the answer to all of your furniture dreams. The frame is constructed of solid ash wood and inlayed with woven cane for a contemporary reinvention of a well loved mid-century design. The Cane Sideboard features two sliding doors that hide interior shelves. Available in natural, coral pink, ocean blue, green and black stain with natural cane detailing. Finish samples are available through our complimentary swatch program, contact us for more details! Photo Courtesy of Industry West
Blu Dot Shale 4 Drawer/1 Door Credenza
The Shale 4 Drawer/1 Door Credenza exudes clean modern design on many levels, down to the details. A solid wood ash top, legs and door/drawer fronts are complemented by full grain leather pulls, adding storage panache and practicality to the living room, dining room, or home office. Door units feature adjustable shelves and wire management holes. This credenza features plywood side, bottom and back panels. Adjustable nylon glides allow this fashionable and functional piece to stand on a variety of floor surfaces. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot
Eastvold Classic Credenza
This is NOT your grandma's credenza. It's better. Much better. Our Classic Credenza may look like an iconic mid-century piece, but this one is equipped with the modern conveniences you expect from media storage. The Classic Credenza is built with reinforced mitered joints, which allow the wood grain to wrap around the piece in one fluid sweep, showcasing the beauty of the locally-harvested, solid wood. The solid wood doors are grain matched and roll open with smooth sliding hardware. The interior has adjustable shelves and wire management portals that allow for unlimited media configurations. The Classic Credenza is finished with a durable, clear lacquer that will hold up to your sweatiest cocktails. Because let's face it, no one has the time to mess with polishing furniture anymore, not even grandma. Eastvold Furniture is a small company based in Minnesota that uses ethically harvested lumber in the construction of their furniture. Photo Courtesy of HORNE
Florence Knoll 5-Drawer Credenza
A stunner from every angle! Transform the aesthetics of your office with the Five-Drawer Credenza by Knoll. It features four box drawers with removable partitions and a full-extension file drawer for storage convenience. Dual metal bars in the file extension drawer are perfect for hanging files. The drawers are equipped with polished bar pulls for hassle-free opening and closing. The top surface of this credenza is made of marble to create a vibrant appeal. Supported by a polished base with sturdy legs, this five-drawer credenza is crafted from durable veneers to last for years. Manufactured in Italy, this credenza perfectly blends with most interiors. Knoll is Modern Always® because modern always works. For over 80 years, each chair, table, and desk has been conceived and constructed with a forward-thinking mentality, using the most advanced production methods and materials to create an immersive sensory experience that can last a lifetime. In doing so, the company has mastered the vital and nuanced elements behind furniture efficiency, ergonomics, and comfort while, at the same time, using recovery practices and materials that positively impact the environment. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Industry West Blackbird Sideboard
The Blackbird Collection, designed by Alain van Havre, joins opposing elements by combining soft round legs and eye-catching graphic lines into light and airy designs. The play on contrasts continues with an elegant black frame placed against natural oak, giving the collection a distinct look. Sample finishes available upon request. Photo Courtesy of Industry West
Treku Aura Credenza
With Treku since 2010, Enrique Delamo has a fashion design degree from Escuela Peris Torres, and Angel Martí holds degrees in industrial design and product design from EASD Valencia and IED Milan, respectively. Together they conceived the Aura Credenza (2011), an eye-pleasing two-tone storage solution that boasts clean lines and fine craftsmanship. The raised steel base imparts the unit with a visual lightness that belies its exceptional sturdiness. Aura is finished partly in wood veneer, partly in lacquer for warmth and striking contrast. Includes three drawers along the top, an open cubby and two cabinets, each with removable shelf and cord escape. Ships fully assembled. Made in Spain. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Nathan Yong Line Credenza, Small
"I have always been inspired by the simple forms of turntables and entertainment units from the 1960s," says designer Nathan Yong – a remarkable statement when you learn that Yong grew up in a wooden hut by the sea, where he and his brother made their own toys and "waited for low tides so we could pick up treasures from the shore." Growing up with the beach as entertainment, Yong developed into a resourceful designer, whose work captivated us with its quiet elegance. At Salone del Mobile, the annual furniture fair in Milan, Yong showed us his Line Media Console, and we liked the aesthetic so much that we asked him to expand the collection. Another smart storage option, the Line Small Credenza (2010) has two louvered doors, four cubbies and two drawers. The louvered design also serves a functional purpose, allowing infrared light to reach remote-controlled devices stored inside. Constructed with leveling floor glides for uneven surfaces. Made in Malaysia. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Blu Dot Clad 2 Door Credenza
Disparate materials brought together. The Clad 2 Credenza from Blu Dot pairs beautiful, warm wood with the cold, smooth toughness of steel to provide an intriguing and appealing design. The two wooden doors have soft close mechanisms to make sure they don’t make loud bangs when being shut, and they have an integrated groove that works as a convenient handle. Inside the doors are four storage compartments with two wire management systems to organize the cables from entertainment and media consoles. In 1997, Blu Dot was established in Minneapolis by three college friends with a shared passion for art, architecture and design. Then and today, their goal is to bring good design to as many people as possible, collaborating to create modern home furnishings and accessories that are useful, affordable and exceedingly desirable. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot
Fritz Haller and Paul Schaerer USM Haller Open Storage Credenza
Starting out as a lock and hardware company, Switzerland-based USM – founded in 1885 by Ulrich Schaerer in Münsingen, thus the name – built a new factory and office in 1961, which led to the transformation of its business. To outfit the new space, USM CEO Paul Schaerer and architect Fritz Haller created a modular furniture collection based on the steel construction system used for the building. Precision-crafted and able to accommodate the spatial demands of a growing business, the USM Haller Collection (1961) soon became the company’s number-one line. Constructed of steel and built to last for generations, pieces bought 50 years ago can be paired with those purchased today, and you can continue to add others as needs change. Made in Switzerland. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Egg Collective Morrison Credenza
Based in Brooklyn, Egg Collective was founded in 2011 by designers Stephanie Beamer, Crystal Ellis and Hillary Petrie. The trio produces furniture, lighting and accessories that evoke their own personal histories and draw upon memories of families and friends. Recent honors include the Best New Designer award at the 2012 International Contemporary Furniture Fair and inclusion on Forbes magazine’s 2014 "30 Under 30" list. They were also commissioned to design a seating area for the New York City Ballet’s David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Their Morrison Collection (2012/2014) was originally created for longtime friend Morrison Mullen, who needed a custom cabinet for her small apartment. To overcome space constraints, the designers knew the piece would need to serve equally well as a storage unit, serving station and media console. What they created was a multifunctional modern take on the traditional sideboard, featuring a solid marble top, soft-closing hardware, turned legs, sleek lines and delicately scalloped profile. The original design has since grown into a collection of flexible storage equally at home in the entryway, living room, dining room and bedroom. Made in Canada. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach Edel Credenza
Working out of a 19th-century building in Oslo, Norway, designers Thomas Jenkins and Sverre Uhnger bring Scandinavian design language together with cutting-edge 3-D molding technology to create striking, easy to live with forms. The Edel Credenza (2018) speaks quietly but offers hidden delights once in use. "We made Edel attractive, but the love for it comes when you start interacting with it. When you see how the doors slide across and everything’s fluid," says Uhnger. As for how to pronounce Edel, the designers say it’s like kettle, but without the "k." Made in Slovenia. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
Muuto Reflect Sideboard, Small
Reflect sideboard by Muuto was inspired by the natural light of Scandinavia. The name Reflect comes from the curves and unique thicknesses of the corners that play with reflections of light in a distinctive manner. Reflect sideboard is made of warm, natural oak and it has two doors and two drawers. Designed by Søren Rose Studio, Reflect is a masterpiece of Nordic design and craftsmanship. Photo Courtesy of Finnish Design Shop
Urban Outfitters Amelia Low Credenza
Store records, books, plants and more with this low credenza from our Amelia collection. So sleek with rustic appeal courtesy of the natural mango wood grain. Low design features 3 partitioned compartments and standing construction. Assembly required. UO exclusive. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Related Reading:
17 Midcentury Modern Dressers That Max Out Style and Storage
7 Paint Colors That Nail the Midcentury Modern Look