The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

9 best sideboards: Stash your crockery and glassware in style

Dish up a fabulous blend of Seventies’s interiors and modern day chic with these luxurious storage units

Ali Howard
Friday 26 March 2021 16:48 GMT
No longer something that belongs in the Seventies, the term sideboard has come to cover a lot of furniture styles
No longer something that belongs in the Seventies, the term sideboard has come to cover a lot of furniture styles

Synonymous with Seventies suburbia, this is a furniture piece that was once confined to the dining room – its purpose to house our best crockery and glassware, keeping it safely stored away to bring out only on special occasions.

But just as separate dining rooms have faded with the last century (open-plan living has seen to that), so has the notion of keeping things for “best”. Enter the contemporary sideboard, a stylish, functional and versatile unit that’s more than earned its place in the modern living space. 

Today’s sideboards often pay homage to their mid-century predecessors with materials such as walnut and teak offering a rich and homely warmth.

But where many of them differ is an added element of glamour – a flash of gold or a rich textural accent – that brings them up to date and in line with our current obsession with luxury, and stylish home entertaining.

This elongated unit needs careful consideration when measuring up. Some cupboard doors open outwards while others boast streamlined sliding doors, so think about regular access and award your sideboard the space it deserves.

Read more:

And where some are indulgently wide furniture pieces, others stop short at around 100cm in width – ideal for those with a smaller floor plan to play with.

Our roundup of the best sideboards comprises a range of styles and price points, but all of them were chosen for their successful combination of form and functionality.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

John Lewis & Partners rattan sideboard, oak

John Lewis & Partners rattan sideboard, oak indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H70cm x W120cm x D45cm

The popular indoor rattan trend continues with this charmingly retro sideboard, part of John Lewis’ spring/summer 2021 offering. It boasts a woven cane front, which awards it a lightness of form, while its body is crafted from a combination of solid oak and pine – and it’s all beautifully blond and pale. As with many modern sideboards, this one will happily double up as a TV stand with its handy cable holes at the back of the unit, otherwise generous adjustable shelving to keep your best crockery pieces safely stored away. We loved its smooth lacquered finish, which accentuates the beauty of the natural wood grain.

Back to top

Umage treasures 2 door cabinet, brown

Umage Treasures 2 door cabinet, brown indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H75cm x W109cm x D43cm

Another rattan-accented number, this beautiful furniture piece is from Danish brand, Umage, is a triumph of form and function. In a dark stained oak which successfully mimics a rich walnut, its contrast in both colour and materials is really arresting. If, like us, you’re a sucker for hidden storage, you’ll love the way the woven cane sides open up like wings to reveal nifty spaces for bottles, while inside the main body of the unit there’s adjustable shelving to suit your storage needs. This one proved a real show-stopper, and we loved its mix of cool mid-century styles.

Back to top

Pepper Sq. virka high sideboard, brown

Pepper Sq. Virka high sideboard, brown indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H82cm x W142cm x D40cm

Sleek and chic, this contemporary sideboard is a design lover’s dream. Its horizontal lines look like drawers at first glance, but the unit features streamlined sliding doors that open up to expose generous storage space inside. Another optical illusion is that the bulky unit is elevated off the floor on a slim metal geometric frame, awarding it a physics-defying, floating look. Rest assured though, it’s perfectly sturdy. At 82cm in height this is the tallest sideboard in our roundup, and sure enough, it has an imposing presence. A handsome addition to our dining room.

Back to top

Danetti ellis dark oak and brass sideboard

Danetti Ellis dark oak and brass sideboard indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H60cm x W160cm x D45cm

Danetti’s star sideboard is a glamorous affair with design roots in the mid-century modern, while also nodding to Art Deco design. Much like its 1970s predecessors, this one is luxuriously wide, boasting three openings with six separate storage spaces. Unlike most mid-century pieces though, the Ellis is unapologetically bulky without legs to prop it up. This, of course, maximises on internal space, so it’s a great buy if you have a lot of stuff to store away. We loved the subtle criss-crossing pattern of the dark oak, along with its flash of gold inset at the top.

  1. £699 from Danetti.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Housecosy arjun sideboard, mango wood

Housecosy arjun sideboard, mango wood indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H75cm x W150cm x D45cm

Hand-crafted from an attractive mango wood, this slatted sideboard offers both Scandi-chic and homely warmth. The tropical wood is wonderfully varied in tone – from ash to blond to honey – to create an attractive visual texture beyond the arresting horizontal lines on the front. Simple in functionality, the sideboard boasts smooth sliding doors and a central internal shelf with plenty of storage space, while its contemporary black metal frame both elevates the unit and offers a pleasing contrast in materials. Effortlessly stylish and perfectly practical.

Back to top

Lime Lace geometric brass chevron cabinet

Lime Lace geometric brass chevron cabinet indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H50cm x W88cm x D35cm

For fans of mid-century modern design, this smaller than usual sideboard could sit amongst true vintage finds and you wouldn’t know the difference. The unit is crafted from 100 per cent mango wood and boasts a rich and warming chestnut finish. Its angled, tapered legs are straight out of the 1960s, while its gilded geometrics add a dose of glamour. Its two simple sliding doors, left and right, open to reveal easily accessible storage via chic hexagonal gold knobs. This one may be smaller in dimensions but it has a big impact in any space.

Back to top

Ikea stockholm sideboard, walnut veneer

Ikea stockholm sideboard, walnut veneer indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H81cm x W160cm x D40cm

Ikea brings the classic mid-century sideboard up to date in this generously sized furniture piece, with its boxy silhouette, chunky feet and streamlined front. Without handles or knobs, the natural wood grain is uninterrupted – crafted with walnut veneers and the grain with all its attractive irregularities, is all the visual texture you need. Inside you’ll find two drawers (unusual for a sideboard but handy for our best cutlery sets) along with an adjustable shelf. This is an affordable piece yet, its attention to detail is admirable: the walnut veneer continues inside the unit, while soft push openers make for a user-friendly experience.

  1. £350 from Ikea.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

La Redoute plato scandi-style 4-door sideboard

La Redoute Interieurs plato scandi-style 4-door sideboard indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H77cm x W140cm x D41.7cm

While it undoubtedly brings homely warmth, a dark wood furniture piece can easily overwhelm a smaller space – and that’s especially so with a sprawling sideboard. Enter La Redoute’s offering in white. The sideboard is made from a lacquered MDF with a lustrous finish, and boasts an arresting chevron pattern on the front, and thanks to its four door design it has a pleasing symmetry. The hinged doors open outwards in pairs to reveal adjustable shelving with four separate storage spaces, perfect to organise the crockery. And in true Scandi style, the white body is contrasted with a sleek pale wood under-frame and feet. A well crafted, stylish and affordable piece, which is expected to be back in stock around the second week of April.

Back to top

Bee9 Design oslo low sideboard

Bee9 Design Oslo low sideboard indybest.jpg

Dimensions: H45cm x W120cm x D40cm

Where minimalist design meets awe-inspiring woodwork, Bee9’s oslo low sideboard is a modern beauty. Made to order, it comes in a comprehensive range of door finishes, from white melamine to Formica to solid oak. But in a beautifully pale birch, its craftsmanship is celebrated in the most simple fashion. We loved its functional cut-outs in place of handles and its smooth ash dowel feet, which raise the chunky unit off the floor. This one offers plenty of storage, including space for taller objects like bottles and vases.

  1. £719 from Bee9.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

The verdict: Sideboards

We loved John Lewis & Partners’ sideboard for its beautifully crafted rattan cane doors and its retro styling. This is a wholly versatile piece that looks at home in the living room as much as a dedicated dining space, awarding it a relaxed informality. We were also impressed with Ikea’s Stockholm sideboard for its quality of craftsmanship and its streamlined design despite its affordable price tag.

Want to add a splash of luxury to your morning caffeine hit? Take a look at our review of the 8 best coffee tables: From glass topped to wooden designs

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in