A sideboard is a long, low cabinet with cupboards, drawers or both, designed to store items out of sight while offering a top surface for display or serving. Most are between 120cm and 200cm long, around 75cm to 90cm high and 40cm to 50cm deep. They come in styles from mid century and Scandinavian to sleek high gloss and industrial, with finishes including oak, walnut, gloss, glass, metal and marble.
Sideboards are a central part of our modern sideboards UK collection, and they suit far more rooms than the dining room alone. Understanding sizes, styles and finishes makes it much easier to choose one that works for your home.
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are some useful distinctions.
In practice, the name matters less than the dimensions and storage layout, which decide how well it will work in your room.
Compact sideboards start at around 100cm to 120cm, which suits small dining rooms, hallways and flats. Medium lengths of 140cm to 160cm are the most common and suit most living and dining rooms. Long designs of 180cm to 200cm or more make a statement on a wide wall.
As a guide, a sideboard often looks balanced when it is roughly two thirds the length of the wall it stands against, or slightly shorter than the dining table it accompanies.
Most sideboards sit between 75cm and 90cm high, similar to or slightly above dining table height. This makes the top a comfortable serving surface. Lower designs of 60cm to 70cm work well as TV units in a living room.
Depths of 40cm to 50cm are typical. Shallower designs of 35cm or so suit hallways and narrow rooms. Deeper designs hold large dinner plates and serving dishes more comfortably.
Always check the clearance in front. In a dining room, allow enough space for chairs to be pulled out and for someone to walk behind them, as well as for the sideboard doors to open fully.
Slim tapered legs, warm wood tones and clean lines define this enduring style. Sliding doors and slatted fronts are common. Mid century sideboards suit a wide range of interiors and feel light because the cabinet is raised off the floor.
Pale woods, simple forms and minimal handles give Scandinavian designs a calm, uncluttered feel. They suit bright rooms and pair well with natural textiles.
Sleek, handleless fronts in white, grey or black reflect light and create a crisp, modern look. They often feature push to open doors and integrated lighting.
Metal frames combined with reclaimed effect or dark wood give an urban, workshop feel. Industrial sideboards suit loft style flats and rooms with exposed brick.
Vertical grooves on door fronts add texture and depth. Fluted designs suit both contemporary and Art Deco inspired interiors and catch light beautifully.
Panelled doors, turned legs and decorative handles suit period properties and classic schemes.
Oak brings warmth and visible grain. It suits most styles, ages gracefully and hides everyday marks well. Our modern living room furniture UK sale pages show how oak sideboards sit alongside coffee tables and TV units in coordinated rooms.
Richer and darker than oak, walnut adds depth and a sense of quality, especially in mid century designs. It pairs well with brass and green tones.
Gloss reflects light and suits modern, minimal interiors. It is easy to wipe clean but shows fingerprints, so it needs regular attention. Explore our high gloss sideboards UK sale range for white, grey and black options.
Glass doors or tops display tableware and collections. Toughened glass is the sensible choice for safety. Glass suits contemporary rooms and makes a sideboard feel lighter.
Metal sideboards in black, brass or bronze finishes suit industrial and glamorous interiors alike. They are durable and slim in profile.
A marble top adds luxury and a cool, smooth surface. It needs coasters and prompt cleaning of spills, as marble can mark from acidic liquids such as wine and citrus.
For natural wood tones in a range of styles, our wooden sideboards UK collection covers oak, walnut and painted finishes.
Sideboards are among the most adaptable pieces of furniture you can own.
How a sideboard meets the floor has a surprising effect on the room. Designs raised on legs show more floor beneath them, which makes a room feel lighter and more spacious. They also make cleaning underneath easy. Tapered wooden legs suggest mid century style, while slim metal legs feel contemporary or industrial.
Sideboards on a plinth or solid base sit closer to the floor and feel more substantial. They suit traditional rooms and larger spaces where a grounded, solid piece balances a long wall. A plinth also prevents small items and dust from gathering underneath.
Wall hung sideboards float above the floor entirely. They look sleek and minimal and are useful in small rooms or hallways where every visible piece of floor helps. They need a strong, suitable wall and secure fixings, so check your wall construction before choosing one.
In a small dining room or flat, a compact sideboard with a shallow depth keeps walkways clear. Sliding doors or push to open fronts avoid the need for space in front for swinging doors. A light finish or raised legs stops the piece from feeling bulky.
In a larger room, a long sideboard can anchor a wall and provide a generous surface for display. Consider pairing it with large artwork or a mirror above to balance its length. In very large rooms, two matching sideboards on facing walls can create a sense of symmetry.
In an open plan space, think about how the sideboard will be seen. If it stands behind a sofa or at the edge of a dining zone, choose a design that looks good from the back as well as the front.
The top of a sideboard is a natural display surface. A simple, effective formula is to combine something tall, something medium and something low: perhaps a lamp, a vase and a small stack of books. Hang or lean artwork above, centred on the sideboard and slightly narrower than it.
Leave space between groups of objects so the arrangement does not look cluttered. Change the display seasonally with flowers, branches or candles to keep it feeling fresh.
For more ideas on coordinating a sideboard with other furniture, our guides to styling dining tables with sideboards in UK homes and matching TV units with sideboards in UK living rooms offer practical inspiration.
Measure the wall and check the space needed for doors and drawers to open fully. Consider what you will store and choose an interior layout to match. Check access into the room, particularly for long sideboards and narrow staircases. Keep the sideboard away from radiators and strong direct sunlight to protect its finish.
We offer sideboards in a wide range of sizes, styles and finishes, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Explore the full collection at Furniture in Fashion.
Most sideboards are between 75cm and 90cm high, similar to dining table height, which makes the top a comfortable serving surface.
A sideboard often looks balanced at roughly two thirds of the wall length, or slightly shorter than your dining table.
Yes. Choose a lower design with cable access and check that the top can support the weight of your TV.
A credenza is usually lower and sleeker, often with sliding doors, while sideboard is the broader British term for a long storage cabinet.
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