Sideboards

In the UK, sideboard covers most low storage cabinets used in living and dining rooms. A buffet usually describes a taller dining-room piece for serving, and a credenza typically has sliding or flush doors and a slimmer, mid-century profile. The names overlap, so compare dimensions and door styles rather than relying on the label.

Most sideboards are 75–90 cm high and 40–50 cm deep. In a dining room, leave at least 90 cm between sideboard and table so chairs can be pulled back, and aim for roughly 30 cm of clear wall at each end so the piece does not look squeezed in. A sideboard about two-thirds the width of its wall usually looks best.

Yes, if it is at least as wide as the screen and around 50–60 cm high, so the picture sits close to seated eye level. Taller sideboards push the television up uncomfortably. Check that the back is open or can be drilled for cables, and that doors are ventilated if they will hide streaming boxes or games consoles.

Look for solid wood or real-wood veneer over plywood rather than foil-wrapped board, metal drawer runners and soft-close hinges. Adjustable shelves make the interior far more useful. Turn to the back panel too: it should be screwed or rebated into the frame, not thin hardboard stapled on, which is a common sign of cost-cutting.

It depends on what you will store. Drawers suit cutlery, table linen and smaller items you want to find quickly, while cupboards with adjustable shelves hold tall serving dishes, glassware and board games. Many sideboards combine both. If it will sit in a dining room, a shallow top drawer for cutlery and napkins is especially useful.

Hang art or a mirror above, about two-thirds of the sideboard's width, and add one tall element such as a lamp or vase at one end. Balance it with a lower group of objects at the other, leaving some of the surface clear. In a dining room, keep part of the top free so it can be used for serving.