When planning the menu for the party, plan foods that can be prepared in advance and served buffet-style. Use the sideboard to set up an easy buffet for guests to serve themselves. Add a few decorative touches such as silk flower garlands or votive candles.

If your party is a carry-in, with guests bringing food, be sure to have extra serving spoons available.

A discreetly-placed power strip can allow slow-cookers, warming trays, or buffet servers to keep food warm as needed. The long, narrow design of the sideboard makes it easy for guests to reach individual serving dishes in order to serve themselves.

Serving tables are ideal for placing dips and snacks in strategic locations throughout the party. If bringing food back and forth from the kitchen to replenish the buffet, rolling serving carts are an excellent choice. They'll also make cleanup easier after the party.

Whether you're serving dinner, or snack foods, be sure to offer a wide variety of choices. As a rule try to choose foods that are easy to eat. For example: instead of spaghetti, serve ziti or rotini. Bite size portions and finger foods make it easier for guests to enjoy the food without worrying about dribbling it down their fronts. Keep an eye on dip bowls or appetizer platters. Remove items that are starting to look "old" like dried out cheese, or deli meat that's starting to turn brown and curl around the edges.

If your sideboard is an antique one with a wooden top, protect it from spills with a decorative cloth runner. Clean up any puddles as soon as you notice them.