The Best Sideboard Display Cabinets for Home Offices

The best sideboard display cabinets for home offices are low to medium height, around 75 to 90cm, so they sit below a window or behind a desk without dominating the room. They combine closed cupboards or drawers for files, printers and cables with a glazed section for books, awards or decorative pieces. Look for adjustable shelves, a depth of 40 to 45cm to take A4 folders, cable access at the back and a finish that matches your desk or flooring.

A home office has two jobs. It needs to function well during the working day and look calm enough that you do not mind seeing it in the evening. Our modern home office cabinets UK sale range includes pieces that blend closed storage with display, which is exactly what a sideboard display cabinet does. Below we explain what to look for and how to make one work in different types of home office.

Why a sideboard display cabinet suits a home office

Many home offices are not dedicated rooms. They are spare bedrooms, corners of living rooms, box rooms or landings. In these spaces, storage needs to look like furniture rather than equipment.

A sideboard display cabinet hides the practical clutter, such as paperwork, printer ink and chargers, in closed compartments, while the glazed section shows a few things you are happy for others to see. It also gives you a surface at a useful height for a printer, a lamp or a plant.

Because it sits low, it does not overwhelm a small room in the way a tall filing cabinet or bookcase can. It also pairs well with desks and chairs from our wider modern office furniture UK collection, helping the room feel planned. If your workspace shares a room with living or dining furniture, it is also worth browsing our general display cabinets UK and modern sideboards UK sale, since a piece designed for the living room may suit your working needs just as well.

What to look for

Height

A sideboard height of 75 to 90cm works in most home offices. It sits comfortably below most windowsills and at a similar height to a desk, which creates a tidy line around the room. Taller sideboard cabinets can hold more but may block light if placed under a window.

Depth

If you plan to store A4 files or lever arch folders, look for an internal depth of at least 35cm. An external depth of 40 to 45cm usually gives this. If the room is very small, a shallower cabinet may suit, but check what you need to store first.

Glazed and closed sections

Most sideboard display cabinets have one glazed section and one or two closed sections. In a home office, the closed part does the heavy lifting. Make sure it is large enough for your equipment. The glazed part can be smaller.

Drawers

At least one drawer is useful for stationery, chargers and small items. Metal runners and a decent internal depth make a big difference to everyday use.

Cable management

If you plan to keep a printer, router or charging station on or inside the sideboard, check for cable holes in the back panel. Some designs have removable back panels or ventilated sections for electronics.

Adjustable shelves

Adjustable shelves let you fit tall binders, box files and reference books. Fixed shelves may suit display but limit storage flexibility.

Where to place it

Behind the desk

A sideboard behind the desk gives you storage within arm’s reach and a tidy backdrop for video calls. The glazed section is particularly useful here, as books and plants behind you look considered on screen.

Under a window

If the desk faces a wall, a sideboard beneath the window gives you a second surface and keeps the view clear. Keep electronics away from direct sun.

Beside the desk

Placed at a right angle to the desk, a sideboard creates an L shaped working zone. It works well for anyone who needs to spread out paperwork or keep a printer within reach.

Against a long wall in a dual use room

In a guest room that doubles as an office, a sideboard along one wall can store work items in closed sections and guest essentials in others. When guests arrive, the office disappears behind cupboard doors.

Looking good on video calls

The background behind you on video calls has become part of how many of us present ourselves at work. A sideboard display cabinet behind your desk can help. Keep the glazed section calm: a few books, a plant and one or two objects. Avoid busy patterns or clutter that draws attention. Our article on wooden desks on video calls in UK home offices explores how furniture choices shape what colleagues see.

Choosing a finish

Home offices benefit from finishes that feel calm and focused.

• Oak and light woods: Warm and natural, these suit Scandinavian and contemporary schemes.
• Walnut: Richer and more traditional, good for a study style office.
• White or grey gloss: Crisp and modern, reflecting light in smaller rooms.
• Painted finishes: Navy, green or charcoal give character without being distracting.

Match the finish to your desk or contrast it deliberately. A white sideboard with an oak desk, for example, looks fresh and balanced.

Organising the storage

A sideboard display cabinet only helps if it stays organised. A few ideas:

• Use magazine files or box files in closed sections to keep paperwork upright and labelled.
• Keep a tray in the top drawer for pens, notepads and chargers.
• Store the printer and paper together in one cupboard with cables fed through the back.
• Reserve the glazed section for things you enjoy seeing, not overflow storage.
• Clear the top surface at the end of each working day so the room resets.

Living room offices

For many people, the home office is a corner of the living room or even the sofa. In that case, a sideboard display cabinet does double duty. It can hold work equipment in one section and living room essentials in another, while the glazed part displays decorative pieces that suit the room. Our guide to working from the living room for UK homeworkers covers how to fit work into a shared space.

In a shared room, choose a finish that belongs to the living space first. Work equipment can then disappear behind doors at the end of the day, and the cabinet reads as a living room piece rather than office storage.

Sizing for small home offices

In a box room or small spare room, every piece needs to earn its place. A sideboard of 100 to 120cm wide gives meaningful storage without overwhelming the space. Choose sliding doors or narrower hinged doors if the desk chair needs to move close by. Light finishes and slim legs help the cabinet feel less bulky.

Lighting around the cabinet

Good lighting makes a home office more comfortable to work in and more pleasant to sit in after hours. A table lamp on top of the sideboard adds a warm layer of light that softens the glare of screens. If the cabinet has integrated LED lighting in the glazed section, it can provide gentle background light in the evening, making the room feel less like an office once the working day ends.

Avoid placing a bright lamp directly behind you if you take video calls, as it can leave your face in shadow. A lamp to one side works better.

Keeping work and home separate

One of the challenges of working from home is switching off. Furniture can help. When the day ends, closing the cupboard doors on files and equipment signals a change. The glazed section, with its books and personal pieces, then becomes the main thing you see.

Choosing a sideboard that looks like home furniture rather than office storage strengthens that effect. Warm woods, painted finishes and soft lighting all help the room feel domestic. In a guest room or living room, this is especially useful, as the space can return to its other purpose quickly.

A small ritual helps as well. Clear the top surface, put chargers and notebooks into a drawer and switch on the cabinet light. It takes a minute and makes the room feel like part of the home again.

Our view

A sideboard display cabinet is one of the most useful pieces for a home office. It hides the practical clutter, displays a few personal touches and gives you an extra surface at a sensible height. Focus on depth for files, drawer quality, cable access and a finish that suits the rest of the room.

You can find home office furniture, cabinets and sideboards across our collections at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently asked questions

What height should a sideboard be in a home office?

Around 75 to 90cm works well. It sits below most windows and at a similar height to a desk, creating a tidy line.

Can a sideboard hold A4 files?

Yes, if the internal depth is at least around 35cm. Check the internal measurements rather than the external depth.

Should I keep a printer in a sideboard?

You can, as long as there is ventilation and cable access. Many people keep the printer on top with paper and ink stored below.

Is a glazed section useful in a home office?

It is. It gives you a place for books and personal items that look tidy behind you on video calls while keeping dust off.