Sideboards Buying Guide
A Brief History
The sideboard as we know it today can trace its history back to the 17th century serving table, which was kept in the dining room for the storage of plates and utensils and as a place from which to carve a joint of meat. It was a functional, rather than sophisticated piece of furniture.
It appears that Thomas Chippendale was one of the first people to popularise the concept of a table that was kept in the dining room specifically for the storage of serving utensils, cutlery, alcohol and crockery. It was at this time that it came to be known as a sideboard.
Sideboards are supposed to be sat against a wall for convenience, and are wide so as to create the greatest possible amount of storage space.
Where and how a sideboard is used
The traditional room of the house in which the sideboard is placed is the dining room, where it has long been a popular means of storage for glassware, cutlery, crockery, spirits and wine. These days, however, rather more relaxed attitudes prevail, with the sideboard now being commonly used in any room of the house, for any purpose.
Sideboards are particularly useful in the hallway, living room, kitchen or dining room, and can be used for any of the following purposes and more:
Display - photographs, ornaments and other personal items can be stored on the top of the sideboard
Storage - especially when it comes to equipment for the likes of arts and crafts, although it can also be used as a means of keeping any other precious items away from heat and light.
As an accent piece, being used purely as a means of balancing a room's layout and, well, looking good! Sideboards are made out of high quality, and therefore visually appealing, woods.
Sideboard features
Popular sideboard features include various combinations and quantities of drawers and doors, in addition to open shelving.
Choosing a Sideboard
It firstly helps to consider the other furniture in your house, and to look for a sideboard that has a matching wood or finish - whether that is oak, pine, painted or something entirely different.
Then, you might want to consider the style of sideboard that most interests you: is your existing furniture traditional or modern, for example? Here at Furnishing Homes, we offer sideboards that use authentic reclaimed woods that are distressed for a real antique feel.
Finally, you'll need to consider the kind of items that you'll need to store, which will dictate - for example - whether you require extra drawers or instead, more space in the form of cupboards and shelving.
How to clean and maintain a sideboard
Exposing your sideboard to strong sunlight or even placing it in close vicinity to a radiator can cause shrinkage and lead to the loosening of joints and veneers. You are advised to clean your sideboard with good quality beeswax.
