Choosing a sideboard or cabinet: how to find the right one

Crockery that no longer fits in the kitchen cupboards, papers on the dining table and chargers in every drawer: sound familiar? A sideboard solves that. Inside, your things disappear out of sight, and on top you create an atmospheric spot with a lamp, a vase or a few photo frames. But which size do you choose, and do you want open shelves or doors? In this guide you will read what to look for.

Which sideboard suits you?

Wish	Choose	Our models
Small room, hall or corridor	Compact, 70 cm wide	Mila, Yara, Vivienne
Lots of storage space in the living or dining room	Wide 100 cm model	Sofie, Chantal
Bookcase and cabinet in one	Tall 121.5 cm model	Theresa
Mainly displaying things	Open piece without doors	Miley

Sideboard or tall cabinet?

A sideboard is a cabinet at roughly hip height. The big advantage: you keep a top surface that you can style, and the cabinet looks less bulky than a tall cabinet. Our low models are around 80 cm high. If you have little floor space but lots of things, a taller model can be smarter. The Theresa is 121.5 cm high and combines open shelves with a closed section, so you can store more on the same 70 cm width. Looking for even more height? Then also take a look at our bookcases.

Step 1: measure your space

Measure the wall where the sideboard will go and also look at the depth. In a narrow corridor you want to keep enough walking space, in the living room a sideboard can be more of a presence. Our compact models are 70 cm wide and 30 to 35 cm deep. The Sofie and the Chantal are 100 cm wide and 35 cm deep, with room for crockery, books and supplies.

Also think about the doors. If you have little space in front of the piece, a sliding door is handy: on the Yara you slide the door aside to whichever side you need at that moment.

Step 2: open, closed or both?

Open shelves show off your books, plants and decoration. Doors keep everything calmly out of sight. Most of our models combine the two:

Mila: 3 open shelves and 2 adjustable shelves behind a push-to-open door.
Theresa: 3 open shelves at the top and extra storage space at the bottom.
Chantal: 2 open compartments with a shelf adjustable in 5 positions, plus 2 closed cupboards.
Vivienne: an open shelf for books and decoration and a cabinet with a height-adjustable shelf.
Sofie: louvred push-to-open doors with an adjustable shelf behind them.

Step 3: choose the type of door

Push-to-open: no handle, you open the door with a light push. That keeps the front sleek. You will find this on the Mila and the Sofie.
Louvred doors: give an airy, country-style look, as on the Sofie.
Sliding door: handy if there is little space in front of the piece, as on the Yara.

Step 4: pay attention to the top

The top is the showpiece of your sideboard. The Vivienne and the Chantal have a glass top, an elegant spot for a vase, lamp or photo frame. The Sofie has an iron and wood top that, according to the product description, has a load capacity of up to 30 kg. On the Theresa, each top shelf holds up to 20 kg.

What else to look for

Stability: the Vivienne has adjustable feet and an included anti-tip kit, the Chantal adjustable feet and an anti-tip mechanism. Always secure a cabinet according to the manual.
Layout: adjustable shelves make it easy to store tall bottles, stacks of plates or binders.
Assembly: the Mila and the Yara come with numbered parts, clear instructions and a screwdriver.
Style: all our sideboards have an industrial look with black metal and warm brown tones. That makes them a good match for wood, plants and natural materials.

Where do you put your sideboard?

Living room: a wide model such as the Sofie becomes a calm centrepiece against the wall.
Dining room or kitchen: the Chantal and the Vivienne offer room for crockery and a glass top for a fruit bowl or coffee corner.
Hall or corridor: a compact model such as the Mila or the Yara keeps post, keys and bags together.
Workspace or bedroom: with open shelves and a cabinet, the Theresa gives lots of storage space on a small floor area.

Would you rather have an open piece to display things? The Miley has a large open compartment, an iron grid and a vintage top, and looks great in the entrance or living room. You will find more open tables and console tables in Choosing a side table or coffee table.

Tips for styling your sideboard

Place a lamp, a vase and a few books on top. Three items of different heights often look calmer than lots of small things.
No socket nearby? Choose a cordless lamp. Read in Choosing a cordless table lamp which one suits you.
Mainly looking for space for books? Then also read Choosing a bookcase or wall shelf.
Hang a mirror or artwork above the sideboard, it finishes off the corner.

Read also

View all sideboards. Ordered on a working day before 15:00, shipped today, shipping is free and you get free 30-day returns.