Sideboards solve a problem most homes share. There is never quite enough storage in the rooms where people actually gather. A long low unit absorbs table linen, serving dishes, paperwork and the assorted items that otherwise live on chairs, and it does so without narrowing the room the way a tall cupboard does.
Sideboards vary widely in price depending on size and finish, and a full width unit is a considered purchase for most households. Splitting the total across a short period makes it far easier to plan.
There are two straightforward ways to do this. PayPal Pay in 3 is available at our checkout as a payment option provided by PayPal, with terms and eligibility set by PayPal. Alternatively, set the money aside yourself over four to eight weeks and place the order when the total is ready.
The self managed route has one clear advantage. You keep complete control of the schedule, and if a week is tight you simply adjust. Free UK delivery across our range means the target figure does not shift, so the plan stays accurate from start to finish.
Sideboards are among the easiest items to misjudge, because length is deceptive on a screen. Measure the wall, then subtract space for anything that sits at either end such as a radiator, a door swing or a skirting return.
Depth deserves equal attention. Most sideboards sit between thirty five and forty five centimetres deep. In a narrow dining room, every extra centimetre reduces the walking space behind dining chairs, and pulled out chairs need around seventy five centimetres of clearance to be usable.
Height matters if you plan to hang art or a mirror above the unit. Leave roughly twenty to thirty centimetres between the top surface and the bottom of the frame so the two read as a group rather than two unrelated objects.
Storage layout should follow what you actually keep. Doors suit larger items and stacked crockery. Drawers suit cutlery, table linen, chargers and the small things that get lost in a deep cupboard. Most households do best with a mix.
Adjustable shelves add flexibility, particularly if the unit will hold items of different heights. Soft close hinges and runners are a small detail that improves daily use noticeably, especially in a room used in the evening.
Where the unit will hold glassware or display pieces, a glazed section changes the character of the room. Our modern glass sideboards UK sale range shows how a partly glazed front lightens a solid run of storage.
Finish decides how much presence the sideboard has.
Wooden units bring warmth and hide everyday marks well, which suits family dining rooms and open plan spaces where the unit is in constant use. Grain adds texture to a plain wall, and our modern wooden sideboards UK sale selection covers both pale and darker tones.
High gloss finishes reflect light and can make a dim room feel brighter. They read as contemporary and pair well with simple walls, though darker gloss shows fingerprints, so lighter tones are easier in busy households. Anyone drawn to that look will find plenty of choice among our modern high gloss sideboards UK range.
Metal detailing and slim legs lift a unit off the floor visually, which makes a small room feel more open. Plinth bases feel more substantial and suit larger spaces where the sideboard anchors a wall.
Most people picture a dining room, but sideboards are useful throughout the house.
In a living room, a low unit can serve as media storage with a television above or on top, provided the height suits comfortable viewing. In a hallway, a shallower unit takes keys, post and gloves, though depth must be checked carefully against the width of the corridor.
In a bedroom, a sideboard style unit can replace a chest of drawers where the room is wide but shallow, offering more surface area at a lower height.
If the piece will sit alongside a dining table, plan the two together so proportions agree. Comparing options across our modern dining tables UK sale pages helps you judge whether the unit should match the table finish or contrast with it.
A sideboard top is a magnet for clutter, so give it a purpose from the start. Group items in odd numbers, vary height, and leave clear space at one end for practical use such as serving.
A table lamp softens the light in a dining room considerably, which matters in the evening when overhead lighting can feel harsh. Something from our modern table lamps UK selection placed at one end gives the room a second light source without additional wiring.
A mirror above a sideboard bounces daylight and makes a narrow room feel wider. Art works equally well, though a single larger piece usually looks calmer than several small frames above a long unit.
Sideboards arrive flat packed in one or two large boxes. The boxes are heavy rather than awkward, so measure the route in and plan for two people at the door.
Assembly typically takes an hour or so. Build the carcass on a soft surface, attach doors and drawers last, then adjust the hinges once the unit is standing upright and level. Uneven floors are common in older UK properties, so check the doors line up after positioning rather than before.
If the unit sits against a wall with a socket behind, plan cable access before pushing it back. Some designs include a cut out, others do not, and it is easier to know beforehand.
People usually buy either too little storage or the wrong shape of it. A short saving period is a good moment to audit what the unit will hold.
Take everything currently stacked on the dining table, the kitchen worktop and the floor, and group it. Table linen and placemats are flat and suit shallow drawers. Serving dishes and larger bowls need cupboard height. Paperwork and stationery want drawers rather than shelves, because papers slide and topple on an open shelf.
Once grouped, you will know whether you need two doors and two drawers, a longer run with three sections, or something narrower than you first assumed. This exercise regularly saves money, because it shows that a mid width unit with sensible internal layout beats a longer one with a single vast cupboard.
Comparing internal configurations across the storage ranges at Furniture in Fashion makes the comparison quicker, since shelf and drawer arrangements are described alongside the external dimensions.
Sideboards carry a lot of visual weight because they occupy a full wall, so proportion matters more than detail.
In a room with a large dining table, a longer low unit balances the table nicely. In a smaller room, a shorter unit with legs keeps the floor visible and stops the space feeling boxed in. Where ceilings are low, a lower profile design reads better than a tall unit, which can make a room feel compressed.
Think about the wall behind as well. A plain wall lets a textured or grained finish become the feature. A patterned wallpaper or a strong colour usually calls for a quieter unit so the two do not compete.
Handles are a small detail with a big effect. Recessed or push open fronts look clean and modern, while metal handles add definition and are easier for older hands to use comfortably. Choose based on who uses the room daily rather than on appearance alone.
Sideboards are long lived pieces, and a few habits keep them looking new. Wipe surfaces with a soft cloth rather than an abrasive sponge, particularly on gloss finishes where scratches show permanently.
Avoid placing hot dishes directly on the top, and use mats under anything that might sweat, since trapped moisture marks lacquered and veneered surfaces. Keep the unit slightly away from a radiator if possible, as constant heat can dry timber and open joints over time.
Check hinges and runners once or twice a year. Doors drift out of alignment as a house settles, and a small adjustment restores the neat even gaps that make a unit look well made.
PayPal Pay in 3 is available at checkout as an option provided by PayPal. Many customers prefer to set aside a weekly amount and order once the total is reached.
Measure the wall and allow clearance for door swings and radiators. In dining rooms, leave around seventy five centimetres behind chairs so they can be pulled out comfortably.
They wipe clean easily but show fingerprints on darker colours. Lighter gloss tones are more forgiving in busy households.
Yes, provided the height suits comfortable viewing from your seating. Check cable access at the back before positioning it.
Most arrive flat packed. Assembly usually takes about an hour, and adjusting hinges once the unit is upright gives the neatest result.
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