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How to choose the perfect sideboards to furnish your home in a practical way without sacrificing aesthetics
Finding a piece of furniture that is practical and aesthetically interesting is not always easy. There are accessories that stand out not only for their lines, colors and shapes, but also for their uniqueness and the history they hold. Among these are the sideboards , antique and fascinating furnishing accessories because they tell us a story of other times, that of rustic and country life.
Sometimes it is the story behind an object that makes it so irresistible and elegant for its diversity and originality. Sideboards have ancient origins and, despite the passage of time, continue to play an irreplaceable role in our homes.
Do you all know the story of the sideboards? Make yourself comfortable because now we will tell you.
Sideboards are rustic pieces of furniture and were originally designed as rectangular wooden containers with a hinged lid and high sides used for kneading homemade bread , therefore as a work surface, or to store sourdough or flour, but also to store bread once it is ready.
Times change, customs change, but some objects remain because they have become a symbol of the home and therefore indispensable. Modern sideboards no longer have the functions they once had, but now take on the role of sideboards rather than worktops as they originally did. Despite everything, however, they continue to retain their undeniable charm.
Today sideboards are exclusive designer furniture , their aesthetics are simple and elegant and their function is twofold:
Precisely because of their delicate and particular lines, sideboards are pieces of furniture to be displayed and kept in plain sight. We can place them in different areas of the house, in the living room but also in the entrance, in the kitchen and there are those who even dare to have a compact sideboard in the bedroom to use as a practical container to keep sheets or linens in order.
At this point you may be wondering, if modern sideboards are used as cupboards, are there similarities but also differences between the two?
We already know what a cupboard is, but what are the origins of cupboards ?
The sideboard is a piece of furniture created mainly for the kitchen and its history dates back to 1600. It was a low and long piece of furniture usually placed in the banquet hall. Now it is used, almost always in the kitchen or at most in the dining room, to store dishes .
The difference between the two is the origin, undoubtedly, but also the way of using them . Often we tend to confuse them but, as clarified, they are not at all the same thing.
Furthermore, the shapes and sizes are also different. These peculiarities will be very useful to us at the time of purchase to understand which of the two will be more functional for our uses and will match better in our environments.
The cupboards are taller and narrower and this depends on their ancient functions, that is, those of kneading and, inside, of storing bread. The sideboard is instead low and develops horizontally .
Now that we know the differences and similarities between these 2 iconic furnishings, let's see in detail how to choose the perfect sideboards for our interiors and, subsequently, where to place them.
There are so many models of sideboards that choosing the model that best suits our needs is not so simple. We must take into account the dimensions, how they will be placed within the rooms, the shapes, the colors and the style, but also the functions. A sideboard in the bedroom will certainly not have the same functions as one placed at the entrance of the house.
How do we choose the most suitable solution for each need?
Let's start right away with the materials. Here the choice is not so complicated because the sideboards are almost all made of wood . What changes is the type of wood. Let's look at some models together.
Fir wood is a widely used material in the production of not only furniture, but also prefabricated houses. It is a resistant material with enveloping shades which contribute to creating a comfortable atmosphere in the home. Fir is also easy to work with and aesthetically it is truly versatile.
If you want to focus on this type of wood, then take a look at our Easy sideboard by Altacorte . Composed of 4 swing doors in brushed fir wood in white, black, cappuccino and ash finishes, it is a furnishing accessory with a modern and refined style . What is striking about this sideboard with sober lines is the contrast between its simple and clean shape with the more articulated one of the doors with various shapes that together create a unique object of innate elegance.
Oak sideboards are durable and have a stable and well-balanced structure. It is a type of material that is used for fine furniture so it allows us to give the rooms that refined touch that we cannot do without. If you are intrigued by this type of wood, then you may be interested in the Nook sideboard by Altacorte with doors, drawers, and feet included. Made entirely of oak, it is composed of three hinged doors and three drawers. It is available in different colors and finishes.
Perfect in a modern style environment, its important design that combines the warmth of wood with a modern line, makes it the true protagonist of any interior.
Maple is one of the hardest woods you will find used in furniture, and this makes it perfect for practical and durable furniture items such as dressers and kitchen cabinets.
Other favorite woods for making sideboards are MDF and chipboard . They are two types of very resistant and easy to handle materials. MDF is obtained from wood fibers pressed together with resin or glue. They are perfect against the action of humidity having a low degree of swelling.
A sideboard made of MDF is Goya , a solution proposed by Tonin Casa for the living room and dining room. It is made of matt lacquered MDF with internal shelves in clear transparent glass. The modern design makes it ideal for a living room but also a dining room, and is perfect for those who want practicality and maximum quality from a single piece of furniture. The opening with coplanar doors allows you to optimize spaces without sacrificing aesthetics.
The sideboards are not only made of wood but there are several models also made of metal . These solutions are chosen for those modern environments such as interiors furnished in industrial or urban chic style.
The 80 sideboard by Adriani&Rossi is a model that you can find in our catalog, it is made of anthracite metal and has built-in shelves mounted with no visible fixing system. The design of this piece of furniture is simple and reflects the aesthetic canons of minimal and essential style.
If the structures of the sideboards are mainly made of wood with some rare exceptions of metal, we find them enriched with inserts of different types and finishes, especially glass and crystals.
Each sideboard has specific dimensions based on which we can decide where and how to place them in the home. We can find models with a single door up to a maximum of 4 doors . Furthermore, together with the doors it is possible to find models with drawers and doors together for a complete and functional solution.
However, we can give an overview of the dimensions starting from the doors:
If you need a compact and modest-sized sideboard, then we have what you need.
The Altacorte wooden sideboard has a single door and the dimensions of the product are 71.5cm x 90cm. It is also available on request with 2 doors. Made of brushed fir wood, we can choose it in four different types of finishes: white, black, cappuccino or ash. The single-door version is available with right or left opening.
Sideboards were originally tall, linear pieces of furniture without too many frills. Nowadays, however, the dimensions, shapes and styles are truly many, transforming this object of common use into a versatile and timeless piece of furniture.
We will find compact and low sideboards , but also models that develop horizontally just like classic sideboards. The shape remains substantially the same, the rectangular one that branches out upwards or downwards, with rounded corners or perfectly geometric and rigorous lines.
The design also changes depending on the functionality and style. We will find sideboards with drawers, with shelves without doors and with doors, but also models that include both. The suspended sideboards are also very modern, but let's see them all in detail.
Sideboards with drawers are furnishing accessories that expand horizontally so that they can accommodate different types of containers. Drawers are very practical because they allow us to divide all the objects into different spaces so as to keep them in order and within reach whenever we need them without going crazy looking for them.
They are accessories with modern lines and suitable for the living area, like this truly versatile proposal by Connubia . MADE is in fact a sideboard but can also become a stylish TV stand with flap doors and handle-free drawers with a push-open system. We can choose them in different variations and colors, the style is essential, the shades sophisticated and contemporary.
Sideboards with doors are the most seen and are reminiscent of cupboards in their use and shape. There are many types of design and our choice will depend on how we will use them. For example, in the living room it is better to opt for a low sideboard, while in the kitchen we should rely on a tall and well-placed model.
What if we're looking for something exclusive?
The sideboard from the Granada line by Tonin Casa is a truly tempting and extremely elegant proposal with a wooden structure and silk-screened glass doors.
A complete piece of furniture that looks more like a work of art enriched by baroque fantasies that are grafted onto rectangular, light and precise surfaces. A weave of wood and glass, decorated, enriched and made priceless by the wonderful Swarovski knobs.
We can place this wonderful proposal in a contemporary open space to give it a touch of irresistible charm. The doors are composed of display cases that have the option of adding internal LED lighting, with or without remote control.
The suspended sideboards are presented as real wall units and are chosen to furnish a contemporary living room. In addition to being practical for storing various objects, we can use the shelves by decorating them with a colorful vase full of flowers or for a frame. There are those who use them as if they were consoles and therefore a base for the TV, books but also to rest their laptop after work.
Dividing furniture is very popular in modern apartments and among these we cannot forget double-sided sideboards . They are really useful for separating spaces, they furnish with style and are functional and original.
Before analyzing the sideboards in different rooms, let's try to understand why they are such indispensable objects in the home.
They have undergone transformations in both style and function, completely overturned over the years they have returned to the fore without feeling the effects of time that runs fast, but how have they managed to resist? They have adapted, changing shape, function and transforming themselves to live the house in these frenetic times. From classic sideboards, practical and functional furnishings, we have moved on to real modern and glam design objects that impose themselves with their own style giving warmth and color to the rooms.
Designs that change, styles that evolve. What are the most popular and sought-after styles for the interiors of your home?
Classic style sideboards are very suitable solutions to give that rustic and retro touch to the rooms. They are chosen to enhance a corner in the kitchen and store the dishes and essential accessories for every day. The colors are soft, the surfaces are hand-worked and the design is more refined than modern models, usually enriched with decorations or inspired by the lines of the poor art style.
An interesting idea for your kitchen is this model by Tonin Casa, Namaka , with wooden drawers and doors to use as a convenient sideboard. The line is light, the colors chosen match perfectly with the linear style of the sideboard. The feet are pinned and make it suitable for any environment, not just the kitchen. In fact, we could also risk it in an open space with vintage furnishings for a retro touch.
Modern style sideboards are the most versatile and easy to match in any room of the house. The details are simple but defined, the wood used as the load-bearing material of the sideboard is combined with different elements such as glass or metals in different finishes and shades. A modern and stylish sideboard allows us to personalize an anonymous home entrance and is perfect in a colorful and contemporary style living room.
A modern sideboard with a simple design and neutral colors fits in any environment and the Nook model by Altacorte is an example. Thanks to the oak material and linear shapes, it combines the warmth of wood with a modern line, becoming the exclusive protagonist of your home.
Minimalist sideboards are very simple, they do not have any particular details but the surfaces are smooth and without frills. The most popular colors, in addition to lacquered white, are the different shades of beige and natural wood shades.
The low and long sideboard by Napol combines the simplicity of the lines with the elegance of the materials chosen. The model has doors made of matt white lacquered wood, glass shelves and a matt lacquered finish in the same color as the body. We can insert it in any modern living room or lounge, but it is also perfect as a low entrance cabinet.
Industrial style sideboards
Industrial-style sideboards are characterized by the materiality of their surfaces, intense colors and embossed details. Wood and metals blend together to create a practical piece of furniture with an unmistakable aesthetic.
If you love this style, don't miss our Madia Hita ET/069 by Stones . Made of solid mango wood, it is a sturdy, durable piece of furniture that adds character to all interiors. The inspiration is the 50s style, the details are exclusive and full of enveloping nuances.
Also very popular are the shabby chic style sideboards that are striking for their finishes treated to appear worn and re-adapted in a completely new context. They give a unique touch to the rooms and are recommended for small kitchens, bedrooms but also for a country chic style bathroom.
Sideboards can be placed in different environments. If we have a rustic kitchen, the choice will fall on a classic and sturdy sideboard, while in a modern living room a low and colorful sideboard will immediately become the protagonist of our furnishings.
Let's see in detail where and how to place each model.
In a modern kitchen we can opt for a simple cupboard made of wood and with glass doors. The colors will be neutral, the design essential. In a rustic kitchen we can instead focus on a shabby chic style model, obviously white.
A tall and roomy sideboard will look great in a spacious kitchen, the Altacorte model in wood with 4 doors in brushed fir wood in 4 different types of finishes: white, black, cappuccino or ash. With a rustic but at the same time elegant style, it will give an original touch to the rooms.
In a living room, sideboards can be of different types:
The dimensions of these furnishings are not very large, we find suspended cupboards used as real wall units, cupboards used as TV bases or as simple shelves on which to place decorative objects.
Compact and sophisticatedly designed sideboards are chosen to furnish romantic bedrooms not only for their refined aesthetics but also for their practicality and capacity.
At the entrance of the house we can place an elegant sideboard to fill the spaces and make even the most anonymous of rooms unique and irresistible.
If you are looking for an exclusive item for the entrance of your home, then try the Vela sideboard by Tonin Casa . Vela is a solution with timeless charm, made of wood and with two doors. The lines are sinuous and elegant at the base and blend perfectly with the slightly arched legs.
Sideboards have that rustic charm and those unmistakable lines that make them perfect in a cozy and harmonious environment like the tavern . We can use them not only to give that familiar and comfortable touch to the rooms, but also as a chest of drawers to keep various objects in order.
Now that you know everything about sideboards, are you ready to choose the model that best suits your needs?
