Styling: 15 Creative Ways To Style Your Sideboard
It’s the perfect place for housing ceramics, lamps or much-loved photos. Here’s how to make your sideboard the star
Cheryl F
13 January 2015
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing for the UK's top interiors titles. I love shopping for quirky accessories, have a passion for rummaging through vintage stores and I'm ever-hopeful of finding that elusive perfect paint shade.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing... More
The sideboard is the humble workhorse of your dining or living room. A rectangular, waist-height unit that, unsurprisingly, sits on the side (usually against your longest wall), it provides valuable storage for those myriad items you don’t want on display – mismatched plates or napkins; cutlery sets that only see daylight at Christmas; ugly wedding presents you can’t quite bear to throw out. However, it also offers a brilliant surface for the things you do want to display, including lamps, pictures and even potted plants.
Traditionally, the sideboard’s flat top was used as a place to serve food or house silverware. But today a good-looking sideboard can ‘finish’ a room, providing an extra style note, creating a feature along an otherwise blank wall and providing a home for artworks or vases. It’s also the ideal place to show off those unique personal collections, be they decorative ceramics or retro ornaments. In fact, in many rooms, it’s the only surface to use for this purpose. Whether your sideboard has the increasingly popular midcentury retro factor, modern minimal lines or a touch of old-school grandeur, don’t leave it bare – try these ideas for giving it added style and character.
Traditionally, the sideboard’s flat top was used as a place to serve food or house silverware. But today a good-looking sideboard can ‘finish’ a room, providing an extra style note, creating a feature along an otherwise blank wall and providing a home for artworks or vases. It’s also the ideal place to show off those unique personal collections, be they decorative ceramics or retro ornaments. In fact, in many rooms, it’s the only surface to use for this purpose. Whether your sideboard has the increasingly popular midcentury retro factor, modern minimal lines or a touch of old-school grandeur, don’t leave it bare – try these ideas for giving it added style and character.
Group think
Make a style statement by using one side of a wooden vintage sideboard to cluster together your favourite ceramics. This collection of simple white vases has become a mini artwork thanks to this easy-to-imitate stylist’s trick. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, stay alert for interesting ceramics in second-hand and charity shops.
Make a style statement by using one side of a wooden vintage sideboard to cluster together your favourite ceramics. This collection of simple white vases has become a mini artwork thanks to this easy-to-imitate stylist’s trick. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, stay alert for interesting ceramics in second-hand and charity shops.
Style your supper
The sideboard was traditionally used for serving food, and when supper guests come over, it’s still the perfect place to leave drinks, snacks and plates for an inviting party buffet.
This Swedish sideboard looks quaint and rustic thanks to its shabby chic painted finish. The clear cake stand, carafe and back-to-basics crockery add further Scandi character.
The sideboard was traditionally used for serving food, and when supper guests come over, it’s still the perfect place to leave drinks, snacks and plates for an inviting party buffet.
This Swedish sideboard looks quaint and rustic thanks to its shabby chic painted finish. The clear cake stand, carafe and back-to-basics crockery add further Scandi character.
Create a conversation piece
You know those quirky pieces you collected on your travels but didn’t know where to put? Well, now they have a home. This sideboard has been used, museum-style, to display a few choice arty finds: a large figurine, mini sculptures and glass candlesticks. I also love the red angled lamp.
When arranging your own treasures, make sure items have enough room to breathe to avoid a dust trap.
You know those quirky pieces you collected on your travels but didn’t know where to put? Well, now they have a home. This sideboard has been used, museum-style, to display a few choice arty finds: a large figurine, mini sculptures and glass candlesticks. I also love the red angled lamp.
When arranging your own treasures, make sure items have enough room to breathe to avoid a dust trap.
Prop up photos
A sideboard is a natural home for showing off photos and prints. Don’t go overboard, though: one or two framed favourites will have more impact than a dozen pictures crammed together.
This metal number in lipstick red has cool, locker-room looks for an industrial feel, as opposed to the usual wood. It’s been matched with the flora and fauna lampshade to add a coordinating shot of colour.
A sideboard is a natural home for showing off photos and prints. Don’t go overboard, though: one or two framed favourites will have more impact than a dozen pictures crammed together.
This metal number in lipstick red has cool, locker-room looks for an industrial feel, as opposed to the usual wood. It’s been matched with the flora and fauna lampshade to add a coordinating shot of colour.
Don’t fear the traditional
If you’re a traditionalist at heart, treat your sideboard with the same respect. This heavy wood and gold-edged number does old-school elegance perfectly, with a classic display of two large glass vases, a central one filled with flowers, and an ornate, gilt-framed mirror above. Sometimes less is definitely more.
If you’re a traditionalist at heart, treat your sideboard with the same respect. This heavy wood and gold-edged number does old-school elegance perfectly, with a classic display of two large glass vases, a central one filled with flowers, and an ornate, gilt-framed mirror above. Sometimes less is definitely more.
Be midcentury and proud
Many of the coolest sideboards around are vintage wooden models dating from the middle of the 20th century. Hunt around for similar versions online or in vintage stores for a bargain. If you’re lucky, you might even turn up an affordable Danish original, typically in warm-toned teak or rosewood.
This sideboard steals one of the canniest ways to add instant panache – namely housing mini groups of suitably retro ceramics. The mustard hue of the cushion and typography print also dates back to this era.
Read more about midcentury style
Many of the coolest sideboards around are vintage wooden models dating from the middle of the 20th century. Hunt around for similar versions online or in vintage stores for a bargain. If you’re lucky, you might even turn up an affordable Danish original, typically in warm-toned teak or rosewood.
This sideboard steals one of the canniest ways to add instant panache – namely housing mini groups of suitably retro ceramics. The mustard hue of the cushion and typography print also dates back to this era.
Read more about midcentury style
Play with plants
This open sideboard makes an unexpected home for potted plants. Lined up together, they dodge the 1980s flatshare vibe and instead seem vibrant and retro. If your cacti and spider plants are looking jaded, this could be an easy way to perk them – and your sideboard – up.
Find out why house plants make you feel good
This open sideboard makes an unexpected home for potted plants. Lined up together, they dodge the 1980s flatshare vibe and instead seem vibrant and retro. If your cacti and spider plants are looking jaded, this could be an easy way to perk them – and your sideboard – up.
Find out why house plants make you feel good
Stay minimal
This super-slimline floating sideboard was custom-built to suit the dimensions of this room – a great option if you have a good carpenter and don’t want (or can’t fit) a bulkier freestanding model.
It’s been kept clear of clutter, save for a record player, but the colourful DIY picture group above, along with the wooden veneer and zingy orange lighting emanating from underneath, ensures this sideboard isn’t a retiring wallflower.
This super-slimline floating sideboard was custom-built to suit the dimensions of this room – a great option if you have a good carpenter and don’t want (or can’t fit) a bulkier freestanding model.
It’s been kept clear of clutter, save for a record player, but the colourful DIY picture group above, along with the wooden veneer and zingy orange lighting emanating from underneath, ensures this sideboard isn’t a retiring wallflower.
Hang artworks above it
In this eclectic abode, the unusual retro sideboard has become the focal point thanks to two bright bovine Warhol prints hung above.
The tray of colourful drinks and juices adds to the pop art effect, and a special mention must also go the fabulous lime-green textured wallpaper.
In this eclectic abode, the unusual retro sideboard has become the focal point thanks to two bright bovine Warhol prints hung above.
The tray of colourful drinks and juices adds to the pop art effect, and a special mention must also go the fabulous lime-green textured wallpaper.
Team with shelves
I love the clean lines of this ultra-simple white sideboard in a Scandi-chic room. A pair of candlesticks and a couple of small objects sit on the top, but the real eye-catching display comes higher up, on the shelves above. These have been perfectly positioned to complement the sideboard and store excess ornaments and accessories, allowing the sideboard to remain clutter free and functional.
I love the clean lines of this ultra-simple white sideboard in a Scandi-chic room. A pair of candlesticks and a couple of small objects sit on the top, but the real eye-catching display comes higher up, on the shelves above. These have been perfectly positioned to complement the sideboard and store excess ornaments and accessories, allowing the sideboard to remain clutter free and functional.
Earn your stripes
Just because most sideboards tend to be wood, white or black doesn’t mean you have to follow the herd. This stripy painted sideboard is bold and beautiful. Why not buy a simple wooden number and do your own style-hack colour makeover? This one is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a definite standout.
Just because most sideboards tend to be wood, white or black doesn’t mean you have to follow the herd. This stripy painted sideboard is bold and beautiful. Why not buy a simple wooden number and do your own style-hack colour makeover? This one is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a definite standout.
Bookend with lamps
Lamps and sideboards are a perfect interiors match. This boxy black chest is a case in point – it looks super-chic bookended by two structural lights in matching black. The wall of photographic art adds to the hip monochrome look, while the finishing touch is a bunch of classic white roses.
Lamps and sideboards are a perfect interiors match. This boxy black chest is a case in point – it looks super-chic bookended by two structural lights in matching black. The wall of photographic art adds to the hip monochrome look, while the finishing touch is a bunch of classic white roses.
amorybrown.co.uk
Tidy up TV clutter
A sideboard beneath a television set can make a welcome alternative to uglier consoles and cabinets. It’s also somewhere to hide piles of DVDs, digi boxes and other techie clutter. This wood and white number, in a playroom, is unobtrusive but large enough to conceal all manner of sins, while a few wooden toys on top add some colour.
A sideboard beneath a television set can make a welcome alternative to uglier consoles and cabinets. It’s also somewhere to hide piles of DVDs, digi boxes and other techie clutter. This wood and white number, in a playroom, is unobtrusive but large enough to conceal all manner of sins, while a few wooden toys on top add some colour.
Reserve for cocktail hour
The sideboard can be a great place to stash your best bottles of spirits and aperitifs – or, as here, make them into a feature (taxidermy fox optional). All that colourful glass helps create a classic 1970s cocktail trolley vibe. Martinis at the ready…
The sideboard can be a great place to stash your best bottles of spirits and aperitifs – or, as here, make them into a feature (taxidermy fox optional). All that colourful glass helps create a classic 1970s cocktail trolley vibe. Martinis at the ready…
Keep it simple
Don’t overcrowd your sideboard – a few items are all you need to turn a functional piece of furniture into a feature. Here, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts – five simple items lined up and given plenty of space. The well-placed wall light adds focus, too.
TELL US…
How have you styled your sideboard? Let us in on your style secrets in the Comments below.
Don’t overcrowd your sideboard – a few items are all you need to turn a functional piece of furniture into a feature. Here, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts – five simple items lined up and given plenty of space. The well-placed wall light adds focus, too.
TELL US…
How have you styled your sideboard? Let us in on your style secrets in the Comments below.
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I love sideboards and have seen many over the years, I don't have one though. I have a hutch dresser and a china cabinet with queen ann legs. Thanks for showing us the different sideboards