Everything You Need to Know About Sideboards

A sideboard is a long, waist height storage piece with cupboards, drawers or both, designed to sit against a wall and provide a surface on top. Originally made for dining rooms to hold serving dishes and table linen, sideboards now work in living rooms, hallways, open plan spaces and even bedrooms. Choosing one comes down to four things: the length your wall can take, the depth your walkway can spare, the storage you actually need, and a material that suits the rest of the room.

That covers the essentials. The rest of this guide explains each point in more detail, so you can choose with confidence and use the piece well once it arrives. If you would like to see the variety of shapes and finishes available, our collection of modern sideboards UK is a good place to start.

Sideboard, Buffet, Credenza or Cabinet?

These words are often used interchangeably, and in everyday UK usage that is broadly fine. Still, the differences can help when you are searching for something specific.

• Sideboard: the general British term for a long, low storage unit with a usable top. Usually sits on legs or a plinth.
• Buffet: traditionally a dining room piece used for serving food, often with shorter legs and more cupboard space.
• Credenza: a term borrowed from Italian, commonly used for sleek, low designs with sliding or flush doors. Popular in mid century inspired rooms and offices.
• Highboard: a taller version, sometimes with glazed display sections above closed storage.

Whatever the name, the questions to ask are the same: how much will it hold, how much room will it take, and how will it look? Because sideboards so often sit alongside sofas, coffee tables and media units, it helps to view them as part of the wider room. Our range of modern living room furniture UK shows how they relate to the other pieces around them.

Measuring Up: Length, Depth and Height

Measuring properly saves more disappointment than any other step. Start with the wall, then think about the space in front of it.

Length

As a general guide, a sideboard looks well proportioned when it leaves some wall visible at each end. In a dining room, many people aim for a sideboard that is a little shorter than the dining table, which keeps the two pieces in balance. In a living room, it can be wider than a sofa or narrower, but it should relate to something nearby, such as a window, a mirror or a piece of art above.

Depth

Depth is where small UK rooms catch people out. A deep sideboard holds more, but it also pushes further into the room. Check that chairs can still be pulled out from the dining table, that doors open freely, and that you have a comfortable walkway in front of the unit. In narrow hallways and terraced living rooms, a slimmer depth is often worth the trade off in storage.

Height

Most sideboards sit roughly at waist height, which makes the top easy to use for serving and for lamps. Lower designs feel more contemporary and work well under windows or as media units. Taller pieces offer more storage but can dominate a small room, so balance them with lighter furniture nearby.

A useful trick is to mark out the footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two. You will quickly see whether it feels comfortable.

Choosing the Right Material

Material affects not only the look but how the sideboard ages and how much care it needs.

• Wood and wood veneer: oak, walnut and acacia bring warmth and suit most styles from rustic to mid century. Solid wood can be refinished over time, and quality veneers give the appearance of fine timber with good stability. Our wooden sideboards UK sale include a wide spread of tones and grains.
• High gloss: a reflective lacquered surface that bounces light around, helpful in darker rooms. It wipes clean easily but shows fingerprints, so it suits households that do not mind a quick polish.
• Glass: glass topped or glass fronted sideboards feel light and suit display. Toughened glass is the sensible option for family homes.
• Metal: often used for frames, legs or entire industrial style units. Powder coated finishes are durable and pair well with wood tops.
• Marble and stone: usually as a top. Beautiful and weighty, but porous stone needs coasters and prompt cleaning.

Doors, Drawers and What Goes Inside

Before deciding on a layout, list what you plan to store. The right internal arrangement makes a sideboard genuinely useful rather than a place things disappear.

• Drawers: best for cutlery, table linen, chargers, paperwork and small items that get lost in cupboards.
• Cupboards with shelves: suited to plates, bowls, glassware, board games and photo albums. Adjustable shelves add flexibility.
• Open compartments: handy for media equipment, baskets or books, and they break up a long front visually.
• Sliding doors: useful where space in front is tight, as they do not swing out.
• Push to open doors: create a clean, handleless front, popular in modern schemes.

If the sideboard will hold a television or speakers, look for cable outlets in the back panel and enough ventilation for devices.

Where a Sideboard Works Best

Dining rooms

This is the sideboard’s original home, and still one of its most practical. It keeps crockery and glassware close to the table and gives you a serving surface when entertaining. Matching the wood tone or metal finish of the sideboard to your table helps the room feel coherent, and our modern dining tables UK are a useful reference when coordinating finishes. For ideas on getting the two pieces to work together, our guide to styling dining tables with sideboards in UK homes covers proportions and pairing.

Living rooms

In a living room, a sideboard can hold everything from board games to spare throws, while the top becomes a display surface for lamps, plants and art. A low, long design can also serve as a media unit.

Open plan spaces

Placed against the back of a sofa or along a boundary between kitchen and living areas, a sideboard can help define zones without building walls. Choose one finished on all sides if the back will be visible.

Hallways

A slim sideboard in a hallway provides a landing spot for keys and post, and hidden storage for shoes, bags and dog leads.

Bedrooms

A sideboard can replace a chest of drawers, offering a wider surface for a mirror and lamp. It is particularly useful in rooms where tall furniture would feel imposing.

How to Style the Top

A well styled sideboard top looks considered without being fussy. The classic approach is to build a loose triangle: something tall at one end, something of middle height in the centre, and something low at the other end.

• A table lamp or tall vase provides height.
• A piece of art or a mirror leaning against the wall or hung above anchors the arrangement.
• A low bowl, tray or stack of books grounds the composition.

Leave clear space between groups so the surface still feels usable. In a dining room, keep at least part of the top free for serving dishes. If your sideboard sits near a television, our article on matching TV units with sideboards in UK living rooms explains how to coordinate the two.

Style Directions to Consider

• Mid century modern: tapered legs, warm walnut or teak tones, slatted or sliding doors.
• Contemporary minimal: handleless fronts, matte or gloss finishes, clean rectangular forms.
• Industrial: dark metal frames, reclaimed or rough sawn wood, visible fixings.
• Japandi: pale wood, simple lines, fluted or reeded detailing and a muted palette.
• Classic: panelled doors, turned legs and traditional handles, often in painted finishes.

The best choice is usually the one that relates to something already in the room, such as your dining chairs, flooring or door furniture.

Caring for Your Sideboard

Dust regularly with a soft cloth and avoid harsh chemical cleaners, which can dull finishes. Use mats under lamps and vases to prevent scratches, and coasters for drinks. Keep wooden sideboards away from direct heat sources where possible, and wipe spills promptly. Check door hinges and drawer runners occasionally, as small adjustments keep everything aligned.

A Piece That Earns Its Place

Few pieces of furniture are as adaptable as a sideboard. It stores, displays, serves and defines space, and the right one can move with you from room to room and home to home. Measure carefully, plan the inside around what you own, and choose a material that suits both your style and your household. You can explore sideboards alongside the rest of our living and dining ranges at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a sideboard and a credenza?

In everyday use there is very little difference. Credenza is often used for sleek, low designs with sliding or flush doors, while sideboard is the broader British term for any long, low storage unit with a usable top.

How long should a sideboard be in a dining room?

A sideboard usually looks balanced when it is a little shorter than the dining table and leaves some wall visible at each end. Always check that chairs and doors still have room to move.

Can a sideboard be used as a TV unit?

Yes, provided it is sturdy enough, at a comfortable viewing height, and ideally has cable outlets and ventilation for devices. Lower, longer designs tend to work best.

What should I put on top of a sideboard?

A lamp or tall vase for height, a mirror or artwork above, and a low tray, bowl or stack of books create a balanced arrangement. Leave some clear space so the top remains usable.

Are high gloss sideboards practical?

High gloss is easy to wipe clean and reflects light well, but it shows fingerprints and dust. It suits households happy to give it a quick polish now and then.