What prevents a newly decorated room that seemingly has it all, from beautiful furnishings down to a fresh lick of paint, from being not just good, but great? Well, often the secret lies in the finishing touches. While you might not have made any of the major interior design faux pas plaguing many contemporary homes, you might feel a niggling feeling that something’s missing… Enter the power of sideboard dressing!
You might not know it yet, but the way you present your surfaces can have a subtle yet impactful effect on the final look of your interiors. By simply styling a sideboard with intention, care and perhaps some of the tips we’re about to divulge, you can tease out a sense of cohesion, and (dare we say) artistry, that you didn’t even know you were missing, Before we get to these tips, though, it’s helpful to explain in a little more depth why these small details have such a big impact.
Here’s an outline of our guide in a nutshell:
Why Give it a Go?
Beyond the obvious – it looks pretty nice – there are many reasons to invest your time in properly styling your furniture, whether that’s a well-decorated coffee table in the living room, your bedside table décor or even a dining table centrepiece to mark a special occasion. When it comes to sideboards in particular, you’ve got plenty of specifics to consider.
For instance, if it lives in the hallway, you might want to prioritise functionality over the sheer gravitas of the display. Conversely, if aesthetics are number one and it’s practical to do so, you could go all-out with a display of your favourite art pieces, knick-knacks, or even your prized record player. Truly, the options are limitless. But let’s get on track: here are some core motivations for giving sideboard dressing a go.
Depending on the location of your sideboard and indeed your capacity for organisation, this handy piece of furniture can inadvertently become a dumping ground for random bits and bobs you’re not sure what to do with. Keys, letters, old magazines, discarded mugs, you name it.
With a set of (ideally, flexible) guidelines in place, it’s much easier to keep on top of the mess and welcome a sense of structured serenity back into the space. As we’ll get into later, there are ways to make clutter work for you – i.e., turning it into a visually appealing feature rather than an eyesore. As the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. So once the mess is dealt with, you’ll start to feel that low level of pent-up stress ebb away.
Tie the Whole Room Together
There are two main pitfalls when it comes to sideboard dressing:
- Your sideboards feel empty, cold or lonely because of a lack of decoration.
- The accessories and your wider room décor don’t match
Both circumstances result in a room that feels slightly off-kilter, ill-thought-out or, at worst, amateurish – not what you want, if it’s your aim to impress or you’re hoping to make the interior feel warm and cosy. Instead, it’s better to style your sideboards in a way that complements and actively enhances its surroundings. You may even find that by leaning into the room’s inherent strengths and quirks, you can mould people’s perception of its size, particularly when space is at a premium.
Go From Nice… to Professional
Sideboard styling is all about elevating your furniture from pleasing to striking. Whether originating in the spacing, use of angular or curved silhouettes, shared motifs or tasteful décor pieces, a handful of small yet deliberate touches go a long way. The idea is that each of them goes towards the bigger picture, details building intrigue, texture and a sense of life, which ultimately creates a roomscape with real depth and maturity.
Universal Styling Tips
With the ‘why’ out of the way, let’s tackle how to go about styling a sideboard. While this handful of universal hacks covers most scenarios, remember that at the end of the day, it’s your personal style preferences that matter most and, of course, understanding what works best for the specific space in question. That said, here are some universal tricks that the interior designers swear by.
Picking the Right Surface
Sideboard dressing is pretty tricky if you don’t yet have one or your existing piece is due some TLC. When picking out your surface of choice, think about how it will fit into the overall scheme. For instance, wood finishes and metal detailing such as brassy handles bring a sense of timeless luxury befitting of a mid-century modern living room. After something a little more edgy and contemporary? Then, perhaps a more simplified, slick silhouette is in order. Something like our Imari piece? No matter your preference, it’s always worth considering how the sideboard will serve you day-to-day. If durability is at the top of your list, you might want to opt for a natural, hard-wearing material, which brings the benefits of an organic warmth we humans subconsciously crave and a long lifespan. Crucially, these materials age beautifully over time, gaining personality and depth – talk about character development!
Sideboard Placement
As with any piece of furniture, functionality and flow can never be understated. It’s a balance of these two principles that allows your sideboard décor ideas to fully flourish, feeling not only authentic but well-positioned within the room. Don’t be afraid of negative space and curb the urge to shove your sideboard up against the wall when you have other options. You might find that floating it alongside another piece allows your décor to breathe. After all, a bouquet on a sideboard stuffed into the nook underneath the stairs isn’t going to demand the attention it deserves.
The bottom line here is that sideboard styling isn’t just about what you plonk on top. No. It’s all about considering your décor in a holistic way, thinking about the entire room as a whole and how your decoration interacts with it.
Sideboard Styling Motifs
Visual complexity or its inverse, simplicity, can have a drastic impact on how we come to understand and feel a space. By removing busy patterns, complicated shapes and building a general sense of cohesion, you create calm, while curvy shapes and geometric patterns introduce a ‘bite’ that keeps you stimulated.
While you might have a specific preference along the minimalist-maximalist continuum, one thing remains true no matter the aesthetic, and that is contrast. In order to toe the line between plainness and overstimulation, you need to have some level of contrast in texture, colour, matte or shiny finishes and shapes. Otherwise, everything will feel too samey.
Speaking of samey, this isn’t to say that motifs aren’t welcome. In fact, by tying disparate elements together – for example, a vase in a shade that complements the dark wood of the sideboard whilst matching the soft furnishings sewn about the room – everything chimes together, building that bigger picture we mentioned earlier. You could even take it a step further and bring texture and form into it. See how, in this example, the shape and texture of the sideboard match the rattan basket to its side?
Focal Points & Rhythm
When you design a room or indeed dress a sideboard, focal points come into play. Just like in disciplines such as graphic design, visual hierarchies can help tell a story and guide our eyes in a pleasing, stimulating direction. With certain elements commanding more attention, there’s a sense of order and rhythm, which can make all the difference in your design.
This could be a large, oversized mirror or propped-up painting in the centre of your sideboard. Another option is to build height within groupings of ornaments. Imagine a couple of tall, elegant candles perched next to a small plant pot or two – bonus points if you’re able to create rhythm by echoing the shapes of other decorative pieces throughout the room.
Put simply, the idea is to have one key element to draw in people’s gaze first and then provide a logical direction for it to travel in from there. This helps anchor the space whilst keeping you on your toes.
Visual Weight & Proportionality
Tied to the notion of focal points and rhythm is the concept of visual weight and proportionality. Understanding them will be key to ensuring your sideboard remains balanced and not overloaded with ‘stuff’. In our experience, the line between clutter and décor is a fine one, so be careful to select decorative objects that won’t be dwarfed by the sideboard or overwhelm it either. You also want to ensure that the level of decoration matches the rest of the interior; if your sideboard is the only surface you have styled, it can stick out like a sore thumb.
Usually, this is a process of trial and error, placing a handful of items together to see what works and what doesn’t. Before you start worrying – you don’t need to buy your new décor in advance to discover which effect you prefer. Simply, grab a few objects from another room and see how they fare. Then you can peruse accessories, ensuring you get the perfect fit.
10 Sideboard Décor Ideas
Without further ado, here are 10 ideas to help you along your sideboard dressing journey. From classic arrangements to more niche suggestions, we hope there’s something for everyone.
1. Make Your Sideboard a Statement in Itself
As well as being genius storage solutions for hallways and corridors, sideboards can double up as statement pieces by themselves. By opting for an interesting design, with a unique pattern like our Sinnington model (take a look at that gorgeous tube styling!), you can draw the eye immediately. Your décor, then, acts as the cherry on top, bringing out the depth of character even further.
Here’s a lovely example from the account @raspberryinteriordesign. The curvy, retro detailing of the sideboard catches the eye while the decorative touches on top – the vase, coffee table books, picture frame and lamp – provide a lovely colour contrast that blends the whole scheme together.
2. Create a Sheltered Cove
Another helpful tip to employ, especially if you have lots of space to work with, is to exploit how our brains are wired to enjoy sheltered areas. This can even work in living rooms with awkward layouts and, of course, attic rooms where there’s already some sense of enclosure. The idea is that people are generally more drawn to spaces where they have a good vantage point and can lean back against something solid.
So, when it comes to your sideboard dressing, don’t forget to think about the items surrounding the piece. We’re in love with this example from Fran Worboys. The sideboard is the backdrop to a cosy nook; in front of it is an armchair layered with patterned blankets, there’s a wicker blanket basket placed next to it, and then on top of the sideboard there is a beautiful display of books, pictures, a lamp and some flowers, which together create a truly restful sanctuary.
If you wanted to have a go at this yourself, you could build out this sense of enclosure by placing a tripod lamp nearby. Another option is to bring your sideboard into your sofa placement plans – after all, it would make a great backstop, staving off that uneasy feeling of being crept up on.
3. Light It Right
When dressing your sideboard, it can be easy to overlook the role of lighting, so don’t let this be you. The first point to remember is that while bright, vibrant lighting is energising during the day, by night we need to be able to wind down. For this reason, dimmable or colour-changing smart bulbs are a game-changer, giving you the ability to warm things up and mimic the natural golden tones of sunset.
Fairy lights, table lamps and candles can all serve this function, and with a plethora of options available, you can welcome interesting lines and silhouettes into the décor, building upon the motifs you already have going.
For more general advice on how to go about lighting your space, we already have guides on lights for living rooms, and those with low ceilings. Spoiler: it’s all about getting the mixture of task, ambient and accent lighting perfectly balanced.
4. Go Biophilic
For those unacquainted with the term, biophilic simply refers to interior design intended to increase our connectivity to the natural world – an aim that can be achieved in numerous ways. The obvious first step is to look to organic, natural materials like wood, metal, wicker, leather and fabrics such as cotton and hemp. Not only do they age wonderfully, gaining maturity or patina over the years, but they hark back to the outdoors, creating a sense of health, vitality and openness conducive to a positive mental state.
Think about how greens, browns and blues are calming; this is part of biophilic design too. By introducing tones you can find in the great outdoors, we’re effectively signalling to the brain that it’s time to relax. The best part is that so many colours work with natural materials – case and point, our guide on oak furniture colour schemes.
The final point we wanted to make before moving onto the next tip is that it’s not just about the physical appearance of your furnishings and sideboard décor either. While, yes, a sideboard decked out with earthen crockery, flowing sculptures and plants is exactly what we’re talking about, don’t forget about more abstract elements too. For instance, how open is the space? If you lack windows, have you tried installing artworks depicting the natural world? It’s surprising how easy it is to lull your mind into a sense of calm; particularly if you opt for landscape imagery that looks outwards or features curving lines.
5. From Biophilia to Bibliophile
Are you a book lover or bibliophile? Well, then this tip is for you. On top of providing us with knowledge and escapism, books are a wonderful addition to your existing sideboard décor ideas. For one, contemporary cover designs are more artistic and visually appealing than ever. With millions of options out there, the task is to find those that match your existing colour scheme whilst providing a glimpse of your personality.
From conversation starters to minimalist decorations, there are plenty of methods of displaying them. Perhaps a book stack is your style? Maybe you want to display your favourite page of an artbook by using an ornate book stand. Alternatively, you could try dressing your sideboard by filling in the shelves with colour-coordinated tomes. Whatever the case, don’t forget to layer them with accessories.
6. Try a Symmetrical Arrangement for Balance…
For an immediate sense of harmony, symmetrical arrangements are the go-to. Try placing two taller objects on either side, like candelabras, or anchoring the sideboard with a big mirror in the centre. If you want to take it a step further, you could frame it with furniture like a pair of armchairs or pendant lights up on the wall. On a similar note, repetition can help keep your décor look interesting without overloading your brain with visual clutter. It’s all about cultivating a feeling of stability, which, in turn, indicates health, safety and predictability.
7. Or Asymmetry for ‘Bite’
As much as symmetrical design creates safety through predictability, asymmetry can build visual interest, edginess and excitement. Think of it as a striking opportunity to get onlookers to stop and think, flipping their expectations and building intrigue. A common example of this used by many interior designers is by creating groupings from an odd number of objects. For instance, a wooden tray loaded with a trio of trinkets like a scalloped jewellery bowl and a pair of candles at different heights can break up the monotony of a fully balanced scheme.
8. Make a Shrine for Your Special Interest
Sideboard dressing is the perfect opportunity to make your favourite interests known, carving out a space for joy and creativity. Popular options include a space for a record collection and music player, an assortment of boardgames or even a shrine for your Lord Of The Rings-related items. Whatever the case, there’s nothing like surrounding yourself with comfort hobbies to add authentic character to your home, even in new builds.
9. Don’t Forget the Walls!
We’ve spoken a lot about how to style the surface of your sideboard, but what about the wall behind it? Good question! First and foremost, the sideboard and its backdrop should be complementary without overpowering one another; that is, they shouldn’t blend together – the sideboard disappearing – and neither should they contrast so intensely that it gives visitors a headache.
The trick to finding the ideal balance is by pinpointing their similarities and drawing on them. For example, if you have a wooden sideboard, it’s best to forgo unpainted wooden panelling. Sadly, you can have too much of a good thing here. Instead, it’s better to create contrast with colour, perhaps hinting to the primary colour of the wall with a handful of small objects.
Another fun route to explore, is the way of the gallery wall. Here, you can either play with maximalism, combining a variety of frame shapes, sizes and materials or you could try a minimalist approach with only one or two pictures leant against the wall.
10. Dive Head-First Into Style Aesthetics
Finally, let’s talk about specific styles. Whether the studious vibe of dark academia or the countryside whimsy of cottagecore, there are so many aesthetics to tap into and – the fun part – combine. By launching head-first into them, you can design a room that feels cohesive, fully realised. For instance, the China display on this antique sideboard is giving the best of vintage charm and would look gorgeous alongside other old-fashioned pieces.
It’s Time to Dress to Impress
Alas, that’s all we have time for in today’s guide. We hope that each of our sideboard dressing ideas has nudged you in the right direction, whether that’s towards a sense of visual rhythm or simply a more functional (albeit aesthetic) use of the surface space. Whatever the case, remember, there’s a balance to be had of practicality and finesse. Get it right and your room will look purposeful and sophisticated – as if a professional has designed the space. Get it wrong, and things will remain unrefined and cluttered. Let’s avoid the latter…
After more helpful hints, or simply another dose of inspiration to get the cogs whirring? Then, we suggest taking a look at the rest of our blog. There’s much more to explore.
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