The Best Sideboards for Kitchens

The best sideboards for kitchens are those with wipeable, moisture tolerant surfaces, closed doors that keep dust and cooking grease off what is inside, and a depth that leaves room to move around the kitchen. High gloss, lacquered and sealed wood finishes tend to cope best with daily kitchen life. In a kitchen diner, a low sideboard placed at the dining end gives you serving space and extra storage for tableware, while in a galley or compact kitchen a slim design can stand in for an extra run of cupboards.

Our collection of modern sideboards UK includes designs in wood, glass and high gloss that suit kitchen diners and open plan spaces. They sit within our dining table and chairs sets UK sale range, so you can plan the sideboard and dining furniture together. Here is what to look for.

Why a Sideboard Works in a Kitchen

Many UK kitchens run short of cupboard space, particularly in flats and older terraces where the kitchen was never designed for modern appliances. A sideboard adds storage without the cost and disruption of fitting new units. It also gives you a surface for serving, a coffee station or a place to keep the fruit bowl and cookbooks out of the way of food preparation.

In kitchen diners, a sideboard does even more. It defines the dining zone, holds plates, glasses and table linen close to where they are used, and adds a piece of freestanding furniture that softens the fitted look of the kitchen units.

Finishes That Cope With Kitchen Life

High gloss

High gloss surfaces are smooth and sealed, so spills and splashes wipe away easily. They reflect light, which helps brighten kitchens with limited daylight, and they sit comfortably alongside modern handleless kitchens. Fingerprints show more readily, especially on darker colours, so a soft cloth near the sideboard is useful. Our modern high gloss sideboards UK come in white, grey and black options that suit contemporary kitchens.

Sealed and lacquered wood

Oak and walnut sideboards with a lacquered or oiled finish bring warmth to a kitchen. A good sealed surface resists moisture well, although standing water should be wiped promptly. Wood suits kitchens with timber worktops or flooring, and it ages gracefully with care.

Painted finishes

Painted sideboards in matt or satin finishes suit country and Shaker style kitchens. Choose a durable, wipeable paint finish and check how the edges are sealed, as these are where wear usually shows first.

Glass

Glass tops are easy to clean and hard wearing, and glass fronted doors let you display attractive tableware. They work best at the dining end of a room, away from cooking splashes, so the glass stays clear.

Get the Depth and Length Right

Kitchens need clear space for moving between the sink, hob and fridge. A sideboard that is too deep can create a pinch point. Standard sideboards are often 40 to 50 cm deep, which suits most kitchen diners. In a narrower room, look for slimmer designs of around 35 cm.

Measure the walkway in front of the sideboard and aim to keep at least 90 cm clear in busy areas. Remember that doors and drawers need extra room to open. In a dining area, allow space behind chairs so people can sit down without bumping the sideboard.

Length depends on the wall. A long sideboard looks balanced on a long wall, while a shorter one suits the end of a galley kitchen or a space between two doors. Leaving some wall on either side keeps the piece from looking squeezed in.

Closed Storage Keeps Things Clean

Kitchen air carries steam and fine particles of grease, which settle on open surfaces. Sideboards with doors protect plates, glasses and linen from this. Drawers are useful for cutlery, napkins, placemats and the odds and ends that collect in a kitchen.

If you want to display some pieces, choose a sideboard with a mix of glass fronted and solid doors, or keep open sections to the dining end of the room. Internal shelves that adjust help you store items of different heights efficiently.

Placement Ideas for Different Kitchen Layouts

Kitchen diners

Place the sideboard against the wall nearest the dining table. This keeps tableware close to where it is needed and makes it easy to serve food. A lamp on top adds soft light for evening meals.

Open plan living spaces

A sideboard can act as a gentle divider between the kitchen and living areas. Choose a design that is finished on all sides if it will stand away from the wall, and keep it low so the room stays open.

Galley kitchens

In a galley kitchen, a slim sideboard at the end wall can add storage without narrowing the space. Keep it shallow and position it where it will not interrupt the main working line.

Kitchens with a breakfast bar

Where you have a breakfast bar or island, a sideboard on the opposite wall can hold glasses, mugs and serving dishes. Pairing it with matching modern bar stools UK helps the two areas feel connected.

Coordinating With the Dining Table and Chairs

In a kitchen diner, the sideboard, table and chairs are seen together. They do not need to match exactly, but they should feel related. Repeat a finish, such as oak legs on the chairs and an oak sideboard, or carry a colour from the kitchen units into the sideboard.

Our guides to styling dining tables with sideboards in UK homes and coordinating dining chairs and sideboards in the UK explore pairings in more detail.

Styling the Top Surface

A kitchen sideboard top works hardest when it is not overloaded. Keep one end for practical use, such as a coffee machine, a bread bin or a fruit bowl, and style the other with a lamp, a small stack of cookbooks or a ceramic jug. Artwork or a mirror above adds height and draws the eye away from the fitted units.

Avoid placing kettles or toasters on wooden tops unless they are well protected, as heat and steam can mark the finish over time. A tray or stone board gives you a safe surface for appliances.

What to Store in a Kitchen Sideboard

Organising a kitchen sideboard well makes it far more useful. Keep everyday dinnerware in the fitted kitchen cupboards nearest the dishwasher, and use the sideboard for items you need less often or that relate to dining: serving platters, the good glasses, table linen, candles, placemats and napkins. This frees up the fitted units for food and cooking equipment.

Drawers suit cutlery for entertaining, coasters, napkin rings and the small items that otherwise clutter a worktop. Lower cupboards can hold larger pieces such as casserole dishes, a slow cooker or a stand mixer that you use occasionally but do not want on show. If you entertain often, a dedicated drinks section with glasses, an ice bucket and bottle openers keeps everything in one place.

Sideboards in Smaller Kitchens

In compact kitchens, every centimetre counts. A narrow sideboard can replace a cluttered set of open shelves or a freestanding trolley, giving you closed storage and a surface for small appliances. Look for designs with tall legs, which let you see the floor beneath and make the room feel more open, and choose pale or high gloss finishes that reflect light.

Where floor space is extremely tight, consider a sideboard at the end of a hallway or in an adjoining room. It can still hold kitchen overflow, such as serving dishes and table linen, while keeping the kitchen itself clear.

Caring for a Kitchen Sideboard

Wipe spills promptly with a soft, damp cloth and dry the surface. Avoid harsh cleaning sprays, which can dull high gloss and lacquered finishes. Use coasters and mats beneath glasses and hot dishes. Keep the sideboard away from the hob and the oven door, where heat and grease are most concentrated.

Check hinges and drawer runners occasionally, as kitchens see heavy daily use. A small adjustment now and then keeps doors aligned and drawers running smoothly.

Final Checks Before You Order

Confirm the assembled dimensions, the door and drawer arrangement, and the internal shelf heights. Check whether the unit arrives assembled or flat packed, and measure your entrance and hallway. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and you can browse sideboards alongside our dining and kitchen furniture at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put a sideboard in a kitchen?

Yes. Sideboards add storage and a serving surface, and they work especially well in kitchen diners and open plan spaces. Choose a wipeable, sealed finish.

What sideboard finish is easiest to clean in a kitchen?

High gloss and glass are the easiest to wipe clean. Sealed or lacquered wood also copes well, provided spills are wiped promptly.

How deep should a kitchen sideboard be?

Around 40 to 50 cm suits most kitchen diners. In narrow kitchens, a slimmer design of around 35 cm keeps walkways clear.

Where should a sideboard go in a kitchen diner?

Against the wall nearest the dining table, so tableware is close at hand and the top can be used for serving.