A cupboard is a piece of furniture for enclosing dishware or grocery items that are stored in a home. The term gradually evolved from its original meaning: an open-shelved side table for displaying dishware, more specifically plates, cups and saucers. These open cupboards typically had between one and three display tiers, and at the time, a drawer or multiple drawers fitted to them.Andrews, John (2006) ''British Antique Furniture''. Antique Collectors' Club ; p. 226

Types of cupboards

Airing cupboard

An airing cupboard (or hot press) is a built-in storage space, sometimes of walk-in dimensions, containing a water heater, either an immersion heater for hot running water or a boiler for

central heating A central heating system provides warmth to a number of spaces within a building from one main source of heat. It is a component of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (short: HVAC) systems, which can both cool and warm interior spaces. ...

water (hence, also "boiler cupboard"), or a hot water storage tank. Shelves, usually slatted to allow for circulation of heat, are positioned above or around the heater to provide room for clothing. The purpose is to allow air to circulate around the stored fabrics to prevent damp forming. Some variants of airing cupboards also serve as the linen cupboard, the storing area of the household's clean sheets and towels. In another version, the airing cupboard serves as a temporary drying space, either for laundry or for wet outdoor clothes and shoes. Its shelves can be used to fully remove traces of damp from dried clothing before the items are put away elsewhere in drawers and wardrobes. A moveable electrical version of this is a drying cabinet.

Built-in cupboard

A built-in cupboard is a storage space that forms part of the design of the room and is not free-standing or moving. It is not the same as a cabinet. In the United Kingdom houses often have a built-in cupboard under the stairs.

Linen cupboard

A linen cupboard is an enclosed recess of a room used for storing

household linen Linens are fabric household goods intended for daily use, such as bedding, tablecloths, and towels. "Linens" may also refer to church linens, meaning the altar cloths used in church. History The earliest known household linens were made from ...

(e.g. sheets, towels, tablecloths) and other things for storage, usually with shelves, or a free-standing piece of furniture for this purpose.

Stationery cupboard

Most offices have a lockable repository for valuables. The heart of this is usually the supply of stationery.

Gallery

File:St James's Church, Whitechapel, Cupboard door - geograph.org.uk - 913360.jpg, Built-in cupboard: A cupboard built into the wall of St James's Church, Whitechapel, Lancashire File:WMUK office - stationery cupboard March 2012.jpg, Stationery cupboard: An office stationery cupboard, with its lockable doors open File:LiveryCupboard.JPG, Antique cupboard: English

livery A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery will often have elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...

cupboard approximately 1600 to 1640 Image:Serwantka.JPG, Antique cupboard: Decorative crockery and bibelots in ''vitré armoire'' or ''vitrina''

References

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