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Styling a sideboard


10 buffet styling tips |

Sideboard decor ideas can really elevate your entertaining space. As well as offering useful storage space, the sideboard is the perfect spot to display treasures and trinkets, and creates a focal point for artwork and lighting.

If you are gathering dining room ideas, don't just focus on the table – the sideboard really does have a role in your rooms scheme, too.

'Think about how you're going to bring your unique personality into the dining room to help decide how to style a sideboard,' says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, co-CEO at home décor brand Dowsing & Reynolds .

'Books, art, photos, vases, trinkets, colors and details all provide an opportunity to say something about yourself, and make great talking points at dinner parties.'

Sideboard decor ideas

You can have a lot of fun dressing up your sideboard, and interior experts always relish the job. 

'Sideboards are some of our favorite moments to style,' says Studio Ashby . 'Art, lighting, ceramics, beautiful books and trinkets are all chic choices.'

Below, we show you the experts' top sideboard decor ideas to set your dining room apart.

1. Make it pretty yet practical

(Image credit: Neptune)

Your sideboard is the perfect spot for styling decorative objects, but don't forget it can also be used for extra storage. Glazed-fronted sideboards can make for great small dining room ideas – the space will feel less crowded than with solid furniture, plus glass allows you to show off what you're storing – albeit in a chic way.

Louise Wicksteed, Design Director at Sims Hilditch , says: 'We love to use sideboards in dining rooms as this is a great way to use the space. They are perfect for storing crockery, napkins, and cutlery to be used for more formal occasions.'

2. Highlight sideboard decor ideas with lighting

(Image credit: Arteriors)

If you are working on lighting a dining room, make space on a sideboard for lamps. This will not only allow you to create soft pools of low light – so welcome in a dining room – but will also illuminate your sideboard decor ideas. 

Helen Pett, Design Ambassador at Arteriors London , adds: 'Of course, when entertaining, the additional table space can be used for floral arrangements, beautiful china and glassware and serving platters while still sitting prettily as key part of your décor.'

3. Maximize sideboard decor ideas with a mirror

(Image credit: 'Michelle Nussbaumer and Stephen Karlisch)

If you are considering dining room wall ideas that create drama, then an antiqued glass, elaborately framed-mirror is the best find for traditional dining spaces. Plus, decorating with mirrors will double the impact of any sideboard decor ideas you're displaying – especially in smaller or dark spaces. It's a win win.

4. Display art to focus attention on sideboard decor ideas

(Image credit: Natalia Miyar)

Art, hung centrally above a sideboard, placed centrally behind a dining table, can create a focal point that frames the entire space.  

Whether it's wall-hung or propped on your sideboard, a good general rule of thumb to follow when styling your sideboard is to make the artwork around two-thirds of its width. This gives a visually pleasing proportion while also working to invigorate the space.

5. Employ the overlapping technique

(Image credit: Neptune)

To make your sideboard decor ideas feel curated, don't be afraid for your objects and anchoring pieces to 'overlap'. 

Place a lamp slightly in front of your artwork, or let foliage, twigs or flowers spread across the central piece; this will allow the finished look to feel cohesive and interactive, rather than static and flat.

6. Play with height

(Image credit: Kristin Karch Photography/The Misfit House)

One of the most important elements of styling sideboard decor is to ensure your display includes objects of varying heights to add interest to the look.

'Playing with heights and layers is essential,' states Jane Rockett of Rockett St George . 'However, this doesn’t necessarily mean putting the tallest items in the center of the sideboard. An asymmetrical display looks particularly great when styling a sideboard and allows you to build height and a focal point at just one end.'

Ally at Dowsing Reynolds adds: 'Style an uneven assortment of smaller items alongside tall or oversized items to create height and layers. Piles of books that reflect your interests alongside meaningful sculptures make great focal points.'

If you choose sideboard decor ideas that chime with your dining table decor ideas you will create a neat, coordinated look, too.

7. Group objects in threes

(Image credit: Murphy Deesign)

To make sure your sideboard decor ideas don't look higgledy-piggledy, try grouping your objects into threes for a curated finish that's easy on the eye. 

The rule of three is a great interior design tip that you can apply to many aspects of your decor scheme, and is certainly the magic number when it comes to styling for a fresh appeal.

'Much like your coffee table or shelves, styling your sideboard decor ideas is an opportunity to be playful and reveal more of your personality within your interior,' says Jane Rockett.

8. Create a tableau

(Image credit: Arteriors)

If you're feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of styling your sideboard decor ideas, why not create a tableau – which is simply a group of objects that, together, look like they're made for each other?

Just as with coffee table styling, Jane Rockett suggests that 'you shouldn't worry about filling the entire space', while Arteriors' Helen Pett comments: 'We like starting with a nice low-rise sculpted centerpiece and a coffee table book stack for an everyday look.'

You could even simply add a group of candles at varying heights for a stylish and simple look.

9. Add a sculptural piece to anchor your display

(Image credit: Tiffany Leigh Design/Lauren Miller)

Sculptural vases, objets and lamps are a stylish way to make a statement and turn your sideboard decor ideas into an arty showcase that blends form and function – coordinate them to the rest of your scheme and you can pull a larger space together – useful if you are looking for uniting kitchen diner ideas.  

'Add ambience and pockets of light with table lamps, and repeat textures, shapes and colors around the room,' suggests Ally Dowsing-Reynolds.

Don't neglect candles as part of your sideboard decor display. Jane Rockett adds: 'For a sideboard in the dining room, candles, candlesticks and vases always look beautiful.'

Louise Wicksteed says: 'When it comes to styling a dining room sideboard, we suggest placing a large candle at either end. Not only does this offer subtle background lighting around the table but also nods to the elegance of the room by providing well thought-out symmetry.'

10. Display your glassware

(Image credit: Arteriors)

A sideboard can double up as a drinks cabinet in a dining room, and is ideal for displaying your pretty glassware for after-dinner drinks.

Jane Rockett says: 'A sideboard is the perfect place to curate a mini cocktail bar with a few of your favurite tipples and glassware on display.'

Mix your drinks' display with other pretty artefacts, candles and vases, or an oversized plant for extra wow factor.

How can I decorate my sideboard?

To decorate a sideboard well, there are a few rules to follow that are really useful:

What do you put in a sideboard?

Sideboards are really useful for storing everything you might need for dining – from cutlery and china to linen and flatware. You can also usefully store candles, matches, placemats and glassware in a sideboard. When shopping for a sideboard, consider what you will need to store in it – drawers will be more useful for storing candles, cutlery and placemats; cupboards for glassware and china. A combination of both is the most versatile choice.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR SIDEBOARD — THREE BIRDS RENOVATIONS

A sideboard has to be one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you could have in your home - it looks good in any style of home and any room of the house and provides a great opportunity to unleash your inner styling rock star.

Here are some super simple tips for styling a sideboard.

A WALL HERO

Having a hero piece on the wall above the sideboard is a no-brainer because it’s going to create a focal point. This wall hero could be a gorgeous print (or gallery of prints), a stunning mirror or a textural feast with something like a juju hat. Once you know what you’re going to place above the console, your next decision is where to position it – centred or off-centre? There is no ‘right’ way here, it really just depends on what will look better with the decorative pieces you’re going to use and whether you want to create symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. Both can look beautiful, but we usually gravitate towards an asymmetrical look. It’s a little fresher and more relaxed, and we like that.

DECORATIVE ITEMS

After you’ve chosen your wall hero (or heroes), the next thing you’re going to do is select a range of items to sit on the sideboard. An easy rule of thumb to follow is to choose things that vary in size so you end up with a good mix of heights and shapes. This creates visual interest and balance.

High - Adding height to a sideboard is probably the most important thing because it helps balance out the long, slimline dimensions of most sideboards. Our go-to is a vase of flowers or pretty branches, but a plant or a table lamp is also perfect for bringing in height. We also like to position our taller pieces so that they overlap the wall art slightly, creating a visual connection. Sometimes, this high piece can pack such a punch it replaces the need for any wall art at all.

Medium - These are often sculptural objects. We love using empty vases, succulents, upright books or large candles.

Low - Pretty bowls, a string of mud-beads, tiny candles, a small stack of books and sculptural objects from nature – shells or coral – tend to be our fave options for this category.

Once you’ve got your selection of items, arrange them in front of that wall hero to create balance and harmony. You don’t want everything sitting in a straight line (snoozefest!). Instead, create a bit of depth by pushing some of the taller items to the back a bit and bringing the lower-lying objects to the front. The key when styling these pieces is to cluster a few objects together.

How many ways can you style one sideboard?

Top tip - more is not more when styling a sideboard. Too many pieces can make it look cluttered and messy.

Join Sarah and thousands of other students from around the world in our online Styling School. Our next intake starts on soon and we’d love to have you join us!

MISSED OUT ON JOINING THREE BIRDS STYLING SCHOOL? NO DRAMA, MAMA!

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Buffet for the kitchen: types, tips for choosing, photo. How to arrange a stylish sideboard for the kitchen: photo and description

Published: 10/11/2020 / Updated: 05/23/2022 18855 views

The old generation knows perfectly well what a sideboard is and happily continues to use this piece of furniture. Young people consider it "naphthalene", suitable only for a summer residence or an apartment in which elderly people live. Old models can really make such an impression, but there are also modern ones that will perfectly fit into any interior and cope with their functions!

Let's take a look at the stylish sideboards for the kitchen, learn about the different types, designs and find the best solutions for different occasions.

Contents:

Purpose, advantages and disadvantages of the kitchen cupboard

Basically, what is a buffet? Cabinet for storing kitchen appliances, dishes and textiles. It can be open and closed, different sizes, with a large or small number of compartments.

Among the advantages of such a cabinet:

Among the shortcomings are high prices for quality products and bulkiness. Let's say right away that in many cases the cost is justified, because this thing is purchased for decades. Large dimensions are not an obstacle for a spacious kitchen or living room, in addition, small models are now being produced.

How to choose a sideboard for dishes in the kitchen?

First decide on the type: closed or open. Closed shelves are covered with doors. If you do not hide the contents from yourself and others, order models with doors made of translucent or completely transparent glass.

The open cupboard has no doors, but it can have a comfortable table top.

When choosing, pay attention to:

It is very important to weigh everything well and not make momentary decisions - this is a purchase for many years! In addition, professionals recommend choosing the size and shape of the sideboard, focusing on the surrounding objects, so that it stands out from the crowd. If there is little furniture in the room, look at cute accessories, such as planters, flowerpots with house plants.

The color should not be the same as that of the flooring, but the gamma related to the dining table, set and chairs is welcome. In houses with porous walls, wall-mounted display cabinets are often used.

And most importantly - practicality. Then you will constantly have to fold and take out something, wipe it, so learn more about designs and materials, opening and closing mechanisms. Unpretentiousness in care, reliability and versatility are a priority.

Why do you need a display cabinet for your kitchen?

Showcase - open cabinet with shelves and glass doors. There are floor, in the form of narrow tall pencil cases and rectangular, square "extensions" that are placed on kitchen cabinets.

Most often, display cabinets are placed in the dining area. In the living room, they also perform a decorative function. They store and at the same time demonstrate to others expensive porcelain and crystal sets, souvenirs, memorabilia.

Showcases made of solid wood are considered the most durable, expensive and environmentally friendly, high-quality and cheaper - from MDF, and budget - from chipboard. In modern interiors, bright cabinets are installed that help create an interesting contrast. Pretty figurines, awards can be hidden behind glass doors, and napkins, towels and cutlery can be hidden in closed compartments.

Why is a kitchen cupboard good?

This is an additional useful area and a tool for space zoning.

Now the cupboard-shelving comes in the form of:

It is customary to store dishes, spices, cereals, bottles and jars, towels and cleaning products here. You need to understand that the rack a priori holds fewer shelves, is not protected from dust and is open to everyone, including guests, pets and children.

Wooden kitchen shelving units are perfect for eco-friendly and rustic interiors. Plastic - very practical and convenient, they store fruits and vegetables, drinks. They will look organically in eclectic rooms and decorated in hi-tech style.

Corner sideboard for dishes in the kitchen

This is an addition to the kitchen set, a place where it is customary to put dishes a priori. Classic models of corner sideboards consist of a top and a bottom. At the top there are glass doors, and at the bottom they are deaf. Laconic and intricate forms, narrow radius sideboards are equally appropriate.

Corner kitchen models can be equipped with a dryer, rubber underlays, railing systems of tubes and hooks. Plastic, metal gratings, trays, which are closed at the bottom of the product, are also appropriate. Drawers will also come in handy.

The most suitable sideboard for a small kitchen

As a rule, sideboards are installed in rooms with a large area, but there are many exceptions to the rule. Manufacturers offer a good selection of compact models, and designers offer methods for visually expanding space.

Small cabinets look best in a corner or against a wall, so they don't take up precious square footage or look bulky. As for color, experts recommend blue tones. They refresh, soothe, brighten and enlarge the room.

Blue, green, yellow or white sideboard for the kitchen?

Blue classic wardrobe - the choice of extraordinary personalities and admirers of nautical style. It looks attractive, pacifies, makes the kitchen bright and original. Sideboards with greenish, sage shades are called "chameleons": they change color with different lighting conditions and are in any case considered basic. Such tones advantageously complement others, and do not dominate.

The white sideboard is associated with traditional cuisine. Pairs especially well with black stone countertops. Bright yellow products make the interior luxurious. For a vintage vibe, cabinets feature wrought iron handles in buttery warm color combined with a marble top. But sideboards from a pale green-yellow range will give the kitchen or living room a playful, unusual mood.

In such a room it is always comfortable, easy, negative emotions fade into the background.

If you are conservative, go for grey. Yellow chairs and gilded decor will help make it more expressive.

Durable and beloved wooden kitchen sideboards

Classic and modern cupboards are safe, durable and versatile. Natural wood is an environmentally friendly material that is not harmful to health. It is reliable and allows you to realize almost any design ideas.

The most popular wood species for chest of drawers:

Alder, birch, larch, hornbeam, walnut are also used. Good budget options are pine and birch. The color palette, the choice of fittings, the shape and decor will depend on the style. Classic sideboards made of wood, as a rule, with stucco, gold handles or gilded decor, light pastel colors, inserts on the facades.

Products made in country style combine strict forms and lines with rustic coziness; there are no special “decorations”, brightness and originality in it. Provence is hard to imagine without forged inserts, carved details, neutral beige tones and monograms.

Fashionable vintage sideboards for the kitchen again

Antique and at the same time “modernized” cupboards for dishes in rich, bright colors are experiencing a “rebirth”. The retro style is here too.

Many began to regret that they threw away old chests of drawers, tables, chairs and grandmother's cupboards. Wooden models are definitely well preserved from the 50-70s of the last century. They do not need to be artificially aged, just give a little gloss and think carefully about how to “frame”.

But, of course, only fans of antiquity will like this idea, people who are not averse to nostalgic or regret throwing away memorable, albeit unsightly things, organically coexist with antiques. If you want to recreate the atmosphere of the 60s, look for models with floral prints, 70s - intricate with lacquered wood, 50s - bright, solid colors with a strict geometric shape.

Does the USSR sideboard look organic in a modern kitchen?

If you have a maximum of two vintage items in your room, yes. Good options: a combination of a retro floor lamp and an armchair, a dining set for sleeping or dining with a dressing table that sits comfortably in the corner. Soviet furniture is organic in retro, minimalism, loft, as well as Scandinavian, classic styles and Provence.

Provence kitchen always with a large wooden sideboard. It can be turquoise, beige, olive or lilac.

It is often painted, and the surrounding space is filled with soft wooden retro chairs and a massive table. Furniture made of fiberboard from the times of the USSR is often restored using decoupage cards, opaque paint, and film with a pattern. In the absence of scratches and cracks, they simply periodically polish and replace the fittings.

What is a sideboard for a modern kitchen?

It is very different from the Soviet and generally vintage. Such a cabinet for dishes does not need to be polished to a mirror finish and is conveniently integrated into the design. It has attractive fittings, no fragmentation into sections, curls, fanciful forms, gilding. Today's models are ideal for provence, minimalism and loft.

Minimalism is characterized by regular cubic shapes, unusual design as decoration. Many, for example, like the glass center, which looks like an aquarium. Art Nouveau is easy to recognize by smooth lines, brown and black colors, multi-colored glass or its complete absence, unusual shape and carved elements.

Loft-style models - non-standard, milky or black, metal with mesh doors. They have thin legs, decor and metal inserts, and artistic forging is also found.

PERFORMA | VIP sofas offer you a large selection of cabinets and shelving for living rooms, kitchens and other rooms. You can choose a model of any size, sort products by price, manufacturer, novelty and popularity. To the stylish sideboard you can pick up a small cozy sofa, ottoman. At your service are also exclusive options and the opportunity to order the production of furniture according to an individual project!

Expert: Nadezhda Gumennaya

Expert: Nadezhda Gumennaya

Founder and CEO of Performa

Furniture expert. 15 years in the furniture business.

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kitchen design photos with sideboard, tips for choosing a modern sideboard for the kitchen

Tips

In the past, sideboards in the kitchen were very popular. Today, due to the emergence of new types of fittings, they have received the status of antiques

It is usually installed by connoisseurs of the classic interior style. If it is planned that the kitchen will be made in this style, buffet must be present here without fail. In the article we will talk about the main features, varieties, and also offer to get acquainted with a large number of thematic photographs.

Types of sideboards for the kitchen

In the traditional sense, a sideboard is a massive closed cabinet in which kitchen utensils are stored. The design does not provide for the possibility of hanging. In the upper part there is a cabinet equipped with wooden doors with transparent or translucent glass. Between the top and bottom, in some models there is a table top, on which there are frequently used accessories, figurines, vases and so on.

As required, a sideboard can be placed in an open or closed kitchen. The former are also called "showcases". This is a special cabinet in which there are shelves protected by glass doors. The design provides for the presence of a narrow or high pencil case placed on the floor. Another popular option - the showcase is made with a rectangular or square shape, mounted on a kitchen cabinet. Such structures are called extensions.

Design: Svetlana Ilyina

Products are divided into several categories according to size or shape. The most optimal option is considered to be a three- or two-door pedestal with glass showcases. This option is popular largely due to the ability to store a large number of things. The lower closed cabinet is able to provide comfortable use of large-sized accessories, including frying pans, pots, jugs, or household appliances. The upper showcase of the kitchen sideboard is reserved for decorative purposes - for example, to put a visa or a service.

These products take up minimal space. It is enough to plan in advance the placement against the wall. In most cases, the buffet has a width of 1.2 to 2 meters, a height of up to two meters, and a depth of up to 45 centimeters.

On the other hand, you can use more modest options. Fits very well in the kitchen sideboard. The owner will not face the difficulties associated with the selection of a location. The design is designed in such a way as not to cause discomfort when the inhabitants of the house move around the kitchen area.

Design: Maria Pilipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

Where to put the sideboard?

Although a kitchen with a sideboard is more practical, you should think about where to put it in advance. If you have a spacious room, the best solution is to place the buffet near the table, or near the entrance to the room. No visitor will be able to pay attention to such a sideboard.

If there is a lot of free space in a separate room, it is naturally best to place it there. Manufacturers supply furniture with a large number of additional sections. It is also possible to combine a corner showcase and a large sideboard. As practice shows, in order to achieve greater practicality, a large number of open shelves are provided.

When buying a serving bar-buffet with several compartments reserved for storing containers with drinks, you can achieve a distinction between the free space of a studio or an ordinary apartment. Using such a buffet, the kitchen will be divided into two zones - for cooking and a living room. This solution is really functional and convenient, since residents do not have to constantly come to the kitchen.

Color of kitchen furniture

The following colors are the most popular:

Some companies and private restorers offer their customers an antique sideboard for the kitchen, the photo of which you can see below. The main feature is that the appearance mimics long-term use, including scuff marks.

Design: Maria Pilipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

Design Styles

In order to achieve a consistent look and feel for a kitchen, a sideboard must meet a number of parameters, including not only size, but style as well. You can try to change the old buffet on your own, or purchase ready-made products. In the latter case, there are several options to choose from.

  1. Classic sideboard. As a rule, it is made of expensive wood, additionally decorated with engraving or carving. With its help, it becomes possible to favorably emphasize the severity of the design.
  2. Country. It does not require any rigor and extravagance from fittings. Here, the opposite is true - such a sideboard can have a simple design, or be aged by artificial means. In this case, two requirements are put forward - to use exclusively natural wood and not to protect its surface with paints and varnishes.
  3. Provence. In this case, as a rule, buffets for the kitchen are used, photos of which you can see in this material. Carved trim is allowed, but you can do without its use. Such buffets are characteristic of a similar style. Simple and sophisticated, at the same time accompanied by notes of romantic style. It goes well with fittings, also finished in antique style. Manufacturers mainly use light colors.
  4. Retro. Such a buffet, as a rule, is subjected to artificial aging. Practice shows that today it is very difficult to find original fittings made in this style. The kitchen is immediately filled with notes of sincerity and warmth.
  5. Contemporary styles. In most cases, a modern buffet in the kitchen is made of plastic. Additionally, acrylic, frosted glass is used. The use of chrome and polished aluminum inserts is allowed. There are no extra details here. Products tend to have a smooth surface without decor. They are simple and roomy. In the interior, a huge number of different devices are available to ensure the comfort of use.

Materials and their combinations

Kitchen cupboards were originally made from wood. This is an excellent material, having a high margin of safety, it is beautiful and durable. However, manufacturers have begun a gradual transition to alternatives. Increasingly, MDF and chipboard are used. The structures created with their use are characterized by resistance to pollution, have a good margin of safety, are easy to process, and at the same time have a minimum cost.

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