A sideboard isn’t just a great storage solution, it’s also a beautiful feature in any home
Every home can benefit from a sideboard, as it’s both a beautiful and functional addition to any space. Whether you’re storing kitchen china, displaying family photos or simply finding a place for all the odds and ends you haven’t managed to sort out yet, a sideboard is the ideal solution. As well as being a practical piece of furniture, a sideboard can also be extremely stylish. You can use it to express your own personal flare through interior design. Your first step is finding a beautiful sideboard to add into your home. There are many options here, from contemporary designs to stunning vintage options. Vintage sideboards like those from Vinterior instantly elevate the feel of your home by giving you a piece of furniture that is truly unique to you.
Once you’ve found the perfect sideboard, it’s time to start making the most of it with style. Here are some simple yet effective ways to create beautiful interior design with your sideboard.
Consider the space carefully
The first decision you’ll need to make when you introduce a sideboard into your home is where you are going to place it. In most homes, sideboards fit best in living rooms, dining rooms or hallways — especially if you place a vintage sideboard in an entrance hall for an immediate sense of decadence when you step through the door. But in truth, a sideboard can fit well in any room, including the bedroom, where they can act as a great place to store bedding and clothes, and the bathroom where you can use it to store toiletries and towels.
Wherever you’re thinking of displaying your sideboard, be sure to note down the measurements of the space before you actually make a purchase. You might fall in love with a larger sideboard, but you need to know that there is space in your home to accommodate it. Sometimes smaller sideboards can add just as much interest and drama to a room, especially when placed in a blank space between two windows, or between a window and door. This is a great way to maximise your storage capacity, fill in empty walls and add some visual interest to the room.
Keep things simple
No matter how excited you are about styling your sideboard, it’s important to bear in mind that sometimes the simplest designs are the most effective. A vintage sideboard is already a stunning piece of furniture, so try to make sure you give it enough room to breathe and shine.
Don’t put your sideboard somewhere where it’s going to be crowded by other items of furniture, and if you have to, pick these other items of furniture wisely. Placing a wardrobe directly next to your sideboard, for example, will overshadow it as it’s too tall, but a slightly taller chest of drawers can add an interesting height dimension between the two pieces of furniture.
If you can, try to give your sideboard enough room to speak for itself without the presence of other large furniture items. This will give you the best platform for showing off this beautiful item of furniture you’ve invested in! Try accompanying your sideboard with smaller, more decorative details which will enhance it rather than hide it.
Plants are a great way to do this. Find a simple yet stylish vase in a shade that complements your current colour scheme and fill it with an array of beautiful plants and flowers. Long stemmed flowers like certain roses or orchids are particularly effective, as they won’t bunch together and overpower your sideboard. Or, alternatively, you could go for a tall leafy houseplant as green always works well alongside dark woods. Houseplants have the added benefit of being easy to maintain.
Other items you might consider for your sideboard include a decorative lamp, family photographs, neatly stacked books or even just a selection of fresh fruit in an attractive fruit bowl to celebrate the arrival of spring and summer. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a small and simple addition which helps your sideboard stand out and doesn’t take any of its impact away.
Photo by Sophia Baboolal on Unsplash
Superb styling ideas
After deciding what sideboard you want to go for, where in your home you’re going to place it and what other items of furniture — if any — you’re going to place around it, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to use your sideboard to create a particular style.
There are a surprising number of ways to make the most of your sideboard through design. Decorating this simple yet stunning item of furniture can certainly have a big effect on the overall look and feel of your home.
Make sure the top of your sideboard doesn’t simply become a place to house coffee cups, old bills and car keys by giving it a particular style and purpose through design. Think of how much time and effort we spend making sure our coffee tables look sleek and attractive — it’s time to do the same with our sideboards.
A functional design in a functional space
If you’ve placed your sideboard in the kitchen, a great way to style it is to highlight its functional nature with items that you will genuinely need to use throughout the day. One example is a pot with an assortment of kitchen implements like whisks and wooden spoons, which will add a rustic feel to the space and highlight the cosy factor that we all want our kitchen to convey. The key is to keep things simple, so if you are adding purely decorative elements then keep them fairly neutral, like a cream vase or small mirror.
Reflect the rest of your décor
If you’re placing your sideboard in your living room, hallway, bedroom or dining room, you can afford to be a bit more decorative in your styling. The main thing to keep in mind here is that you should be complementing the rest of the space in order to create a harmonious design. So take inspiration from the room around you and pick out your favourite details, then complement them with your sideboard styling. This might refer to colours, materials or specific items of wall art or soft furnishings which you want to reflect. If your room has a neutral design but contains one or two bolder elements, use your sideboard to echo this and bring the room together.
Make the most of vintage
If your sideboard already contains vintage detailing, you probably don’t need to do a lot with it as it is already a beautiful piece of furniture which is going to catch people’s eyes. However, highlighting this with vintage décor like your best china, old photographs or a family heirloom you’re particularly proud of will heighten the effect.
Go contemporary
Even a vintage sideboard can benefit from contemporary styling, as this can create a nice contrast. Choosing items like lamps with modern materials and bases will help your sideboard stand out. This will be particularly effective if your home already contains a mixture of modern and vintage design elements. Look for materials like chrome and other metallics. Whatever you choose to do with your sideboard, make sure it’s a reflection of your own personal styles and tastes.