A sideboard is usually the longest piece of case furniture in a home, so small decisions – 20 cm of length, a darker veneer, a stone top – change how the whole wall reads. This guide covers the measurements that matter, how the common top finishes behave in daily use, where a sideboard works in different rooms, and how to style it without crowding it.
The examples come from the Sitdesign sideboard collection, made in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul. The catalogue lists standard models, and custom dimensions are available on request.
Length: start from the wall
A common rule is to leave at least 30–45 cm of clear wall on each side of a sideboard, so it looks placed rather than squeezed in. On a 300 cm wall, that points to a piece of roughly 210–240 cm. Typical lengths fall into three bands:
- 160–180 cm: apartments, hallways and smaller dining rooms; usually two or three doors.
- 200–220 cm: the most common size for a dining room that seats six to eight.
- 240 cm and above: large dining rooms, open-plan living areas and long walls behind a sofa.
In a dining room, it also helps to relate the sideboard to the table. A sideboard about two-thirds the length of the table, centred on it, usually looks balanced. Check doors, radiators and sockets before choosing: a sideboard that blocks a socket or a door swing quickly becomes a daily irritation.
Height and depth
Most sideboards stand between 75 and 90 cm high, and the height decides what the piece does in the room:
- Around 75–80 cm: close to dining table height, comfortable as a serving surface and calm under a large painting or mirror.
- 85–90 cm: more storage inside and a stronger presence on the wall; works well with high ceilings.
- Low pieces, 50–65 cm: closer to a TV unit; they keep a living room open and sit well under wide windows.
Depth is usually 40–50 cm. Pieces of around 40 cm suit hallways and narrow dining rooms; 45–50 cm leaves room for dinner plates, serving dishes and stacked glassware. Keep at least 90 cm of walkway between the front of the sideboard and the nearest chair back, so doors and drawers can open while people pass.
Veneer, lacquer or marble on top
The top is the part you touch every day, so its finish should follow how the piece will be used.
Wood veneer
Veneer shows the grain of the wood across the whole surface, and matched veneer sheets give a long sideboard a continuous look. Walnut veneer, as on the Lavor sideboard, adds warmth to rooms with a lot of stone, glass or white walls. Wood reacts to heat and standing water, so use trivets under hot dishes and coasters under glasses.
Lacquer
Lacquered fronts and tops give an even colour, in matte or high gloss. Matte lacquer hides fingerprints better; gloss reflects light and makes a dark piece feel lighter. Lacquer is a good choice when the sideboard should match the wall colour or other painted joinery.
Marble tops
A marble top is heavy, cool to the touch and takes hot serving dishes well, which makes it practical next to a dining table. Marble is porous, so it is usually sealed, and acidic liquids such as wine or lemon juice should be wiped up quickly. You can see the stones we work with on our marble materials page.
Dining room or living room
In a dining room, the sideboard is a working piece: plates, cutlery and table linen go inside, and the top becomes a serving surface during dinner. Drawers for cutlery plus at least one cabinet with adjustable shelves is the most useful mix. If possible, place it on the wall nearest the kitchen, so serving takes fewer steps.
In a living room, a sideboard more often holds books, records, games and media equipment, or stands behind a sofa in an open plan to separate the seating area from the dining area. Here a lower, longer piece with closed doors works well, because it keeps the room visually quiet. Models with a clear horizontal line, such as the Ordinate sideboard or the Merlin sideboard, suit both rooms. A sideboard that repeats the wood or stone of the dining table also links the two areas, an idea we cover in how to create a sense of continuity between rooms.
Styling the top
A sideboard top reads calmer when it is mostly empty. A few simple rules help:
- Hang art or a mirror so its lower edge sits 15–25 cm above the top, and keep it narrower than the sideboard; about two-thirds of its length is a common rule.
- Group objects in odd numbers and vary their height: a tall vase or lamp, a medium object, and a low bowl or a short stack of books.
- Leave at least a third of the surface clear, especially in a dining room where you need space to serve.
- Put a table lamp at one end for evening light; it brings out the grain of the wood or the veining of the marble after dark.
Custom sizes and timing
If a standard length does not fit your wall, custom dimensions are available on request, and the finish can be chosen to match other pieces in the room. Sideboards are wood pieces made to order in our factory, with a lead time of 6–8 weeks. When you send a request, include the wall length, the available depth and a photo of the room; this makes the quote faster and more accurate.
To compare finishes or ask for a quote on a specific size, contact us with your measurements.
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