How Tall Should A Sideboard Be? [A Breakdown Of Standard Sideboard Dimensions]

Furnishing your home's dining room in the traditional sense will require more than just the table and chairs. Many homeowners will choose to place other dining room standards among the dinette sets to make storage and display items decorative and practical. Should you be considering a sideboard for your dining room, you will want to be familiar with the standard dimensions so that you can determine the best possible placement of this prospective piece. We did thorough research on sideboards and buffets so that we could give you a definitive answer.

The standard sideboard is thirty-six inches tall. This dining room piece's depth is usually between twenty and twenty-two inches and is almost always sixty inches long. The sideboard should be taller for the best practical use than the dining room table or an average of twenty-eight to thirty inches tall. The sideboard being taller than the dining room table will make the furniture in the room seem better proportioned. 

Now that we know how tall a sideboard should be, we'll look a little further into this piece of furniture's standard dimensions. You might also be wondering what the difference is between a sideboard and a console or what should be stored on and in a sideboard. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what we've discovered.

A sideboard with lamp on the top inside a carpeted flooring living room, How Tall Should A Sideboard Be? [A Breakdown Of Standard Sideboard Dimensions]

Sideboard Sizes and Limitations

Sideboards work well in the dining room of most homes but do have some limitations. While they will serve as a good place to store china and your better dishware safely, you will be limited on how well you display them. Their sixty-inch length can also be a hindrance, as this makes it a challenge to arrange one comfortably in smaller dining rooms or eat-in kitchens. 

If you need a shorter sideboard, we found this one available. At just over forty-seven inches long, it will fit better into smaller dining rooms. It has great drawer storage, and the shelf in the center is big enough to accommodate a microwave.

To view this sideboard on Amazon, click here.

We were able to find a sideboard to appeal to lovers of mid-century modern-inspired furniture. This sideboard is nearly sixty inches in length and has ample storage space below.

To view this sideboard on Amazon, click here.

This modern sideboard has three large drawers that span the entire piece's entire length, which sits atop three very large cabinets.

To view this sideboard on Amazon, click here.

For a more rustic sideboard, consider this model from Vasagle. This piece has an elevated tabletop with a singular shelf below it. Two center shelves sit below, flanked on either side by spacious cabinets.

To view this sideboard on Amazon, click here.

What Is The Difference Between A Sideboard And A Console?

While you could technically interchange these two pieces of furniture and have them be functional, the sideboard and the console table serve separate functions and have different standard sizes. 

The sideboard, when in a dining room or kitchen, is known as a buffet. Buffets are placed against a wall and are used for several purposes. A buffet has drawers and shelving underneath the tabletop used to store dishware, serving ware, and other items. The buffet's tabletop is a great place to display decorative objects and set out additional food for large meals or gatherings. 

A console table is more of a shelving unit. They tend to be shorter and narrower than sideboards and lack any drawers. Some only have a tabletop, without any shelving below it. This piece of furniture is used in entryways and living rooms for displaying decor. 

What Do You Store On And In A Sideboard?

The shelves and drawers beneath a sideboard can store a variety of objects. For households that might not have a hutch or china cabinet, a sideboard is a perfect place to store dishware that is only used for special occasions safely. While you won't be able to properly display good dishware or china inside a sideboard as you would a hutch, you will be able to keep them out of harm's way.

The sideboard is also perfect for stowing good silverware. The drawers in most sideboards are built just for this use. You can store the serving spoons, cake servers, and other items you do not commonly use in the sideboard drawers.

During large meals or social gatherings, use the sideboard tabletop to set out dishes of food. Some entertainers use it for a true "buffet-style" meal, while others use the top simply for keeping the dining room table uncluttered with food.

When not in use for a meal, the sideboard's tabletop is often adorned with decorative items. 

A delicious set of treats on a continental breakfast

Can A Sideboard Be Used For A TV Stand?

Depending on your television's size, a sideboard might be a good substitute for a television stand. The typical sideboard is wide enough to accommodate the modern flat screen, and the drawers and shelving would be great for storing blu-rays, DVDs, and video games.

Keep in mind that sideboards are much bigger and heavier than the typical television stand. While this means you'll have a sturdier place to keep your television, this also means that it will require a lot more effort to move. It's also worth mentioning that it might not fit well into smaller living rooms or family rooms because of the sideboard being much larger than a television stand. 

A gorgeous wooden sideboard with indoor plants on the sides, olive wreaths on the window, and a wall mounted on the wall

Can You Put A Sideboard In A Living Room?

We mentioned earlier that a sideboard is known as a buffet when it's in a dining room. When this piece of furniture is elsewhere in a home, it's known as a sideboard. You can use it in bedrooms for vanity item storage and living rooms for various purposes. 

Earlier in this post, we discussed how sideboards work as a good substitute for a television stand. Sideboards can also take the place of a console table, as they offer a lot of room for storage and display.

A modern Scandinavian themed living room with a wooden screened sideboard with furniture's on top

In Closing

Sideboards are a great multi-purpose piece of furniture. Whether you place one in your dining room and use it as a buffet or arrange your living room for additional storage and display, this versatile furnishing is sure to be kept in your home for years to come.

If you found this post on sideboards to be helpful, we believe you'll enjoy reading the following posts on home furnishings:

How To Decorate The Top Of A Nightstand Or Bedside Table? [7 Suggestions]

What Size Should A Console Table Be – Length, Height, And Depth (Inc. Behind A Sofa)

What Size Should A Console Table Be – Length, Height, And Depth (Inc. Behind A Sofa)

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