This Vintage Dining Room Find Is a Storage Gem in My Living Room (It’s So Clever!)

Written by

Shelby Deering
Shelby Deering
Shelby Deering is a lifestyle writer who specializes in decor, wellness topics, and home tours. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her shopping flea markets, running on local trails, or snuggling up to her sweet corgi.
published Jan 13, 2025
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Vintage credenza in dining room.
Credit: Shelby Deering

I’m always looking for ways to bring vintage items into my everyday life. Once I realized that vintage could be a lot more than eye-catching decor, and that it could actually serve a functional purpose, I began scouring for such items at rummage sales and thrift stores. Every day, I use vintage items including Pyrex bowls, punchy hand towels, and retro plastic canisters — they all add a little bit more fun to my daily routines.

So when I decided to reformat my living room and entryway area, I knew that I would want to include a practical, yet aesthetically pleasing vintage storage solution so that I could stash away throw blankets, candles, and other living room necessities. I wanted a mid-century piece to go with my vibe, and I had a few ideas in mind — but when I spotted this gorgeous credenza in person at a local antique store, I knew it would be perfect.

The credenza had everything I was looking for: simple and uncomplicated visuals, rendered in a warm-hued teak, a price that was a steal, and, most importantly, sliding doors (fun fact about me: I don’t love storing things out in the open in baskets and shelves — I prefer to conceal everything behind closed doors and lids).

Credit: Shelby Deering

But here’s the thing — back in the day, credenzas were predominantly thought of as dining room furniture. They would store plates, crystal, tablecloths, and other entertaining items, and probably no one in the 1950s thought to stash blankets in them.

And that’s what’s fun about vintage. It allows you to get creative and flip a piece’s original purpose on its head. If a piece brings you joy but you aren’t using it in the room where it was originally intended to go, why not breathe new life into it? For example, why not use a steamer trunk as a coffee table that also acts as storage? Why not use a library card catalog to categorize your jewelry or craft supplies?

My credenza (which, bonus, is Danish-made, aka the gold standard of mid-century teak furniture) has been convenient in so many ways. Blankets that once lay askew on the couch now have a place to live. One of the shelves is devoted to my candle collection, which I swap out with the seasons. And it also happens to work as an ideal spot to show off other vintage finds, like my beloved chalkware owl lamp and swung vases.

I’m glad I pushed the envelope with a credenza that, when it was made, was only ever imagined for dining rooms. While I got lucky in getting this find at my local antique store, you can also hunt for a similar find online for convenience. This West Elm Mid-Century Storage Bench also has doors, is in a Kiln-dried solid eucalyptus wood finish, and adds retro-inspired flair.