7 Small Mid Century Modern Credenza Units For Sale

More millennial couples are expecting to rent for a longer period of time than previous generations.  Apartment List’s 2021 Millennial Homeownership Report shows that 18.2 percent of millennials who don’t currently own a home, expect to always rent, and this has increased from 10.7% in 2018 and 12.3% in 2019.  An important footnote to highlight is that millennials are the largest generation aged between 24 and 39 years of age.  

If you’re a young couple, you may also be renting for flexibility, in terms of costs and mobility should you decide to move somewhere else in the United States when the next job opportunity comes up.  There are advantages included reduced risk in a hot real estate market.

Your apartment/condo may be very cozy and affordable for utilities, cable, and proximity to work.  However, your other concerns could include how to consider the home decor and interior design options for small apartments where space is a premium.  If space is a premium, you may need furniture items for storage space. 

You may have finer tastes, read home decor magazines focused on minimalist interior design or mid-century modern styles.  That’s great because you can make a small apartment look fancy with some mid-century modern credenzas which are perfect for your apartment.  

But let’s answer a few questions to get you started.  We also know of one retailer that provides new and used mid-century modern credenzas which come with a natural finish, are in perfect condition, and offer plenty of storage space for any apartment!

Table of Contents

1. What is a Credenza and What is it Used For
2. Credenza Design Finishes
3. Best Color for a Credenza
4. Walnut Louvered Credenza (Walnut Color / American Walnut) 
5. Rosewood Credenza
6. Cane Sideboard Credenza
7. Burl Wood
8. Oak Credenza
9. Why is it Called a Credenza
10. What is the difference between a Credenza and a Sideboard
11. Mid-Century Modern Credenza For Sale Items
12. Circa 60: High-Quality New/Used Mid-Century Modern Credenza for Sale
    1. G-Plan: Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Teak/Sideboard Credenza 
    2. Full Gallery
    3. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Styled Teak Credenza / Media
    4. Full Gallery
    5. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Petite Rosewood Credenza / Sideboard 
    6. Full Gallery
    7. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Handmade Walnut Credenza / Media Stand
    8. Full Gallery
    9. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Handmade Oak Credenza / Media Stand
    10. Full Gallery
    11. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern DANISH Teak CREDENZA / Sideboard by Hundevad
    12. Full Gallery
    13. Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Teak CREDENZA / Sideboard / Media Stand
    14. Full Gallery

What is a Credenza and What is it Used For

In short, A credenza is a small cupboard, usually, a combination of drawers and cabinets used to store items such as cookware and linens.

A credenza can be used in an office, is usually desk height, and will match other furniture.   It is generally made of solid wood, in a high-quality finish, and can be a walnut credenza or teak credenza that includes adjustable shelves for papers, office supplies and be closed from view.  It becomes an excellent storage cabinet.

In smaller apartment spaces, a sideboard credenza can be used in the living room, will contain a storage compartment area, and include adjustable shelves and lockable cabinet doors.   A dining room teak credenza or walnut sideboard credenza will include cupboard doors to help organize your dining ware. 

Smaller apartments will always benefit from a storage cabinet near living room areas. In some cases, this furniture piece can be a mix between dresser/ credenza for a bedroom living space, acting again, as the perfect storage cabinet for clothing, blankets, and other bedding.

In the past, the credenza has used a table and had cloth draped over it.  It was only in 14th century Italy that we would begin to see refinements in design, form, and decorations.  

Today, a modern credenza uses better materials and can be purchased as an oak credenza, or rosewood credenza.  For dining room use, there are flashier and luxurious models such as a brass buffet credenza, rosewood sideboard buffet credenza, or even a cane sideboard credenza buffet. Their material make-up is a personal preference but they are an important functional piece since can store things or act as a platform to serve meals in-home/apartment dining rooms and restaurants.

Credenza Design Finishes

Credenzas can have many finishes such as a black finish. Some credenzas can also be made of engineered wood, common to many products at IKEA and similar retailers. Clean lines are synonymous with mid-century modern credenzas.

High-end quality credenzas are made with raw wood materials and the origin material defines the look and finish of these furniture items.  Some even look good if they’re made with wood veneers. 

You will find many variations such as a:

• Rosewood Credenza
• Teak Credenza (Teak Sideboard Credenza)
• Walnut Sideboard Credenza
• Oak Credenza
• Cane Sideboard Credenza
• Burlwood Credenza

Apartment-sized credenzas off plenty of space and we’ll show some amazing examples later in this article.

Best Color for a Credenza

When you look at a 1940s mid-century modern credenza or a 1950s mid-century credenza, beyond the abundance of storage (access to shelf storage), there is a common color for some of these used furniture pieces.  It will usually be identified by its original raw material as walnut sideboard credenza style, made from modern walnut or American walnut.  

Your apartment interior heavily relies on the furniture which brings it all together from wall color, to upholster, to modern yet sleek window panes and modern lighting.  If you’re a modern millennial, you’ll like the sleek design, simplify, smooth surfaces, and a mid-century modern look or even something as futuristic as atomic age style.  This can all fall apart without the right color.

Walnut Louvered Credenza (Walnut Color / American Walnut)

Walnut color wins in this department but you can benefit from rosewood, teak and lighter blends such as oak or cane.  Walnut wood, for example, is an attractive timber that is also hard, dense and tight-grained, ensuring a smooth finish.  You will find it used for high-quality furniture or wood carvings, but attracts younger couples like you, and previous generations.  You’ll appreciate that walnut sideboard knowing that it remains a very popular home decor finish. 

It suits contemporary and mid-century modern homes, apartments, and condos.

Rosewood Credenza

Very common with a typical 1960s mid-century rosewood credenza or 1970s mid-century Danish rosewood credenza, Rosewood is recognized for rich hued timbers, with a brownish but darker vein look.  Rosewood is also available in many different hues.

Cane Sideboard Credenza

A cane sideboard credenza, with a lighter look, is made from Raffia which are leaf segments from Palmyra palm, a native tree from Madagascar and other tropical regions in Africa.   This type of furniture item may use artisanal techniques like inlaid woven cane which provides a contemporary refresh to the mid-century design that you (and we) like.    The credenza may be constructed from solid acacia wood but will fit nicely into a modern, mid-century apartment.

Burl Wood

A burlwood credenza is another popular look and finish.  What is Burl, exactly?  Unsprouted bud tissue forms burl growth on a tree.  It is a characteristic grain/look that appears in many wood types.  Burl is harvested from a portion of the tree.

If you work in a modern tech company, with open concept loft-style fixtures and items, you may have collaboration or dining tables made of burl wood. 

Through amazing natural processes, burl forms large growth at the tree trunk from stresses caused by viruses, insects, fungus or some other damage.  The end result are sharp and intense patterns.  The rapid growth of burl can further increase stress and pressure on the wood.  

The most amazing thing is that each burl-made piece is special and unique, providing an amazing finish to your apartment and potentially a dynamite talking point at the dining table.

Oak Credenza

Oak furniture is popular due to its sturdy nature and lustrous exterior beauty.  Next to untreated pine, untreated oak is second in popularity because it has a solid, structured design that is of a far higher quality.

The benefit of an oak credenza and you may be able to find much more in vintage quality credenzas like typical vintage Florence Knoll article with ample storage for as a low media, media TV stand, or console buffet format.  We did a search on Ebay and found countless high-quality vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture credenza sets.

You may also be able to find more modern versions from Knoll Inc. 

Why is it Called a Credenza

We are always curious about the original meaning or stories. The Italian name means belief or trust and is related to the English word credence. The act of credenza was performed by servants, who would taste food and drinks for their Lord, Pope, or Cardinal, as a test against poison. A modern-style buffet table has an origin story!

I guess there should no longer be any mystery behind why we have a rosewood sideboard buffet credenza, a stylish brass buffet credenza (drawing upon ancient ornamentation patterns) or a cane sideboard credenza buffet (a reflection of ancient African imports)

What is the difference between a Credenza and a Sideboard

The difference is minimal.  A teak credenza and a walnut sideboard will differ in materials but both are long in shape, have a low profile, and have tons of space with cabinets which are inches deep. 

A sideboard credenza have cabinets that reach to the floor and actually come with hutches, or shelving, to provide the additional space needed for plate ware, whether it’s IKEA or fine china, for dining or display and decoration.

Mid-Century Modern Credenza For Sale Items

We have a few tricks up our sleeve if you’re looking for used/vintage credenzas beyond the typically recommended retailer outlets like Knoll Inc., founded by Hans and Florence Knoll.

Definitely expand your search to include forums on Reddit or even Quora, but consider Ebay, Kijiji, and even Craigslist.  Don’t just assume Amazon has everything.  You may find yourself paying more.  Of course, thrift stores and garage sales in your neighborhood might lead to some amazing finds. 

We did want you to consider something a bit more strategic.  Since the roots of Mid-Century Modern have linkages to California, you will be in better shape to consider mid-century modern credenza for sale items on LosAngeles.Craigslist.org, OrangeCounty.Craigslist.org, PalmSprings.Craigslist.org, and yes, InlandEmpire.Craigslist.org.  

The last one — Inland Empire — is a metropolitan area or region in SoCal, adjacent to Los Angeles.  It includes western Riverside County and Southwestern San Bernardino County, which include desert communities of Victor and Coachella Valleys.

Circa 60: High-Quality New/Used Mid-Century Modern Credenza for Sale

Having said all this, all roads do not just lead to California.  We found a New Jersey-based supplier selling high-quality new and used mid-century modern credenzas.  We’re very impressed.  We’re going to share photos of seven we found at Circa60 that we all like. 

If you’re in the market for some higher-end furniture, we would recommend you do not wait, as once they are sold, they’re gone.  At time of this writing, these units were still available.

G-Plan: Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Teak/Sideboard Credenza

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The Mid Century Modern Teak credenza is perfect for those with smaller spaces but still need the full offerings of a credenza or media storage.

The piece is just 32 inches long and will fit in the smallest of spaces. It’s ideal for placing a television on top and using the interior space for storage.

The shelf can also be removed for vinyl storage. There is a nice vintage condition with light wear from age and use. 

Dimensions	32″ W x 16″ D x 21″ H
PRICE:	$1195.00 plus shipping
CONDITION:	Light Use, Vintage Condition

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Styled Teak Credenza / Media

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Classic.  Perfectly sized for your apartment.  Mid-century modern-styled media stand credenza.  Need we say more? An excellent layout for a media stand, it has generous shelving for components and streamlined drawers for remotes, DVDs, and other accessories. 

There are a lot of design details in this piece, including sculpted hand pulls, lovely legs, and an extendable and removable shelf. You will find gorgeous wood grains and a finished back. 

The quality and structure of this piece are exceptional.

Every piece of wood is hand-selected and inspected for quality and is handcrafted from ethically sourced wood. Most pieces are made from reclaimed wood, 3/4” thick plywood, and teak veneer. Each shelving cabinet has a shelf that can be adjusted to three heights.

Every credenza has a finished back. Upon request, Circa60 can create wire access holes.

Dimensions	54″ W x 17.75″ D x 30.25″ H
Price	$1895.00 plus shipping
Condition	Newly-built, hand-crafted, mint condition

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Petite Rosewood Credenza / Sideboard

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Perfect apartment-sized Mid Century Modern Rosewood credenza/sideboard.  Provides full offerings of a credenza or media storage for smaller apartments, rooms, and condos.

This is an extra compact furniture piece that should give you plenty of ideas for design or layout in tight or the smallest of spaces.  You can add a television on top and use the interior storage space for media items.  It also includes shelf-adjustable functionality to house vinyl records and includes four smooth drawers.

Dimensions	35.5″ W x 18.75″ D x 23.75″ H
Price	$895.00 plus shipping
Condition	Very nice vintage condition with wear from age and use.

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Handmade Walnut Credenza / Media Stand

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The handcrafted media stand is made from American walnut wood. The 48-inch piece is perfect for your media storage needs. There is plenty of space behind two sliding doors. Each shelf can be adjusted to three interior heights and each cabinet space is large enough for most components. The credenza has a finished back. The elegant construction and long legs give this piece a light and graceful appearance.

Dimensions	48″ W x 18″ D x 30″ H
Price	$1295.00

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Handmade Oak Credenza / Media Stand

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Made with oak wood. Measuring 48″ long, this compact piece will fit your media storage needs perfectly. There are two sliding doors that lead to generous shelving. Each shelf is adjustable to three interior heights and each cabinet space is wide enough for even the largest of components. The credenza has a finished back. The elegant construction and long legs give this piece a light and graceful appearance.

Each item is handcrafted from oak wood and every piece of wood is hand-selected and inspected for quality. Each shelving cabinet has a shelf that can be moved to three heights. The credenza back is complete. There is no charge for wire access holes.  You can ask the retailer.  Nice, huh?

Dimensions	48″ W x 19″ D x 30″ H
Price	$1295.00 plus shipping
Condition	Hand-crafted

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern DANISH Teak CREDENZA / Sideboard by Hundevad

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It’s perfect for those with smaller spaces but still, need the full offerings of a standard credenza. At 42.5″ in length, it’s small enough to fit into tighter spaces while holding a nice television flat-screen on top.  Ample storage within interior space, enjoy adjustable shelves on each end and a drawer for smaller knick-knack items like remotes and other essentials like batteries. 

Dimensions	42.5″ W x 16.75″ D x 26.5″ H
Price	$1495.00 plus shipping
Condition	Stamp with Danish manufacturer’s marks appears. Light wear from age and use.

Full Gallery

Apartment-Sized Mid-Century Modern Teak CREDENZA / Sideboard / Media Stand

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Mid Century Modern styled credenza/media stand, perfect for apartments. A media stand has shelving for components and streamlined drawers for remotes, DVDs, and other accessories. The quality and structure of this piece are amazing.

Every piece of wood is hand-selected and checked for quality in this unit. Most pieces are made from reclaimed wood, 3/4” thick plywood, and teak veneer. Each shelving cabinet has a shelf that can be moved to three levels. The credenza has a finished back and Circa60 will create wire access holes on request without a fee.

Dimensions	39.5″ W x 16″ D x 27.5″ H
Price	$1595.00 plus shipping
Condition	Handmade from reclaimed teak and in mint condition.

Full Gallery