The dining room is the room people use a few times a week but need to store a lot in: holiday china, serving platters, table linens, glassware, candles and, more and more, a coffee or drinks station. With the right furniture, all of it can stay organized and close to the table. Here are dining room storage ideas for every size of room, from sideboards and display cabinets to pantry walls and coffee bars.
Start With What You Store
Before you buy anything, empty your current storage and sort it into groups:
- Everyday dishes and glasses: the most reachable spot.
- Serving pieces and platters: deep cabinets.
- Linens, napkins, placemats and candles: drawers.
- Special-occasion china and crystal: glass display or upper shelves.
- Drinks and coffee gear: a dedicated station.
Put the prettiest items where they'll be seen, and keep stemware near the drinks.
10 Dining Room Storage Ideas
1. A long sideboard or buffet
The classic choice: closed storage plus a serving surface. The Orbis Rounded Edge Sideboard (86.6 in W × 35.4 in H) has deep drawers for linens and cabinets for platters. Not sure which type you need? Read sideboard vs. buffet.
2. A lighted display cabinet for china and glassware
Glass doors and warm lighting make everyday glassware look special. The award-winning Arched Open Shelving Display Cabinet Set covers 126 in of wall with dimmable lighting and drawers below. See our china cabinet guide.
3. A coffee or drinks bar
A pantry cabinet with a built-in outlet turns a dining room corner into a coffee station. The Pantry Cabinet with Built-In Power Outlet has a 21.7 in deep counter for machines, a 25.6 in tall lower shelf for larger appliances, drawers for pods and filters, and under-shelf lighting.
4. A full pantry wall
For open kitchen-dining rooms, the Modern Luxe Pantry Storage Wall System (141.7 in W) combines concealed cabinets, glass display, a rolling cart and a power station along one wall.
5. A kitchen island between kitchen and dining room
An island with storage on the kitchen side and seating on the dining side links the two zones. See our kitchen island dimensions guide.
6. A hutch for a farmhouse look
Open shelves above and drawers below, as on the Wood Pantry Cabinet with Mesh Doors, give you rustic display space and hidden storage in one piece.
7. A low glass cabinet under a window
A 31 in tall cabinet like the Storage Cabinet with Glass Doors and Metal Frame fits under a window or artwork without blocking light.
8. A bench with storage
Swap chairs on one side of the table for a storage bench, or choose an island with a built-in bench and drawers.
9. Corner cabinets
Dining room corners are usually wasted. A tall corner cabinet holds glassware and cookbooks there.
10. A rolling bar cart
A cart that parks against the wall and rolls to the table when guests arrive.
Small Dining Room Storage
- Go narrow: 14–16 in deep cabinets keep space for chairs. Leave 36 in behind pulled-out chairs.
- Go tall: one tall cabinet stores more than a low sideboard on the same floor.
- Use the walls: floating shelves or plate rails above a slim buffet.
- Choose glass or mirrored doors to keep the room feeling open.
- Use dual-purpose pieces: a sideboard that is also a desk, or a hutch that is also a pantry.
Organizing Inside Dining Storage
- Use shelf risers to double the space for plates and cups.
- Use drawer dividers for flatware and napkin rings.
- Store platters vertically, like files, in a deep cabinet.
- Line drawers for table linens, and roll placemats.
- Keep a "hosting bin" with candles, lighters and place cards.
Common Mistakes
- Furniture so deep that chairs can't pull out.
- Glass doors in front of messy storage.
- No power where you want a coffee station.
- Not anchoring tall hutches and display cabinets.
FAQ
What do you call a cabinet that goes in a dining room?
A sideboard, buffet, server, hutch or china cabinet, depending on its height and how much glass it has.
What is the best cabinet for a coffee bar?
A counter-height cabinet or pantry with a built-in outlet, a deep work surface, and drawers for supplies.
How do I add storage to a small dining room?
Choose a tall, shallow cabinet, add wall shelves, and use dual-purpose furniture like a storage bench.
Shop the full dining room storage collection.