The kitchen doesn't always have enough space to store utensils, especially those that are not used daily. Beautiful plates and formal service can be turned into a full-fledged decorative element by allocating a special open cabinet for them and thereby solving two problems at once. We tell you how to choose a sideboard for a living room in a modern style: what to combine with and which model to choose.
How does a sideboard for dishes work?
Despite the increased functionality, modern materials and solutions, the sideboard is quite easy to identify by a number of features.
- The lower part is installed on legs. At the same time, it is quite massive. Visually it resembles a mezzanine, only it stands on the floor. Occasionally there are models similar to a TV stand that stands on the floor.
- The top tier is always narrower than the bottom. Usually has shelves and doors made of glass.
What is the difference between a sideboard and a buffet?
The ancestor of the sideboard is considered to be the buffet. In general, it has been known since about the 16th century, although it acquired its characteristic appearance only in the 17th century. It was then that the following arrangement began to be used.
- Doors are made on the lower tier, very similar to a kitchen bedside table. But the dimensions are larger here. Additionally, flat drawers are installed under the tabletop, which are intended for cutlery.
- Niche in the center. The visual design may be different, but the main goal is to divide the space into serving and working.
- The upper section is equipped with shelves. This tier is used for storing and displaying dishes. The most common option is with a glass facade, but there are also open models.
The high functionality of such furniture allowed it to quickly spread throughout Europe. Moreover, unlike other types of furniture, sideboards and buffets did not change in individual countries. In our country, such cabinets are used primarily due to the small area of kitchens. We also often install a sideboard in the living room, just as decorative furniture.
The main difference from the buffet is the central niche. In other respects they are very similar. At the same time, you need to take into account that buffets, unlike sideboards, are often made part of a set.
The history of the sideboard
At the very beginning, the sideboard was intended for the kitchen; it looked like a wide bedside table with doors. The height of the sideboard was the same as that of a standard table. Tablecloths and other kitchen linens were placed in the lower part for storage. Small drawers were made under the tabletop to allow storing cutlery. Gradually, they began to add a small second floor to the cabinet, which was made in the form of a closed mezzanine. They kept the plates there.
During the Soviet era, such furniture spread in our country. A Soviet innovation was the interior mirror, which, together with glass shelves, made it possible to move the sideboard into the living room. In addition, the sideboard for dishes began to be made wider and larger. As a result, the furniture began to look more like a closet than a table. The standard for Soviet furniture of this type was the absence of a difference in area between the upper and lower parts. It's actually a cabinet with glass shelves.
Now such furniture is recommended for installation in the living room. Often, a modern sideboard has not only shelves for dishes, but also a bar, a niche for a TV or a stereo system. At the same time, there is some return to the roots, since there is a pronounced niche.
Multifunctional cabinet
There are also options for a sideboard cabinet. Absolutely everything should be stored in it, even bedding. This wardrobe is convenient and comfortable, no different from a regular wardrobe in terms of convenience and spaciousness. This option looks very impressive.
Recently, sideboards designed for alcoholic beverages have become extremely popular. Such a cabinet is placed in the hallway, living room or kitchen and bottles of expensive alcohol are displayed in it, flaunted as if in a shop window.
The sideboard completely replaces the bar counter. Place glasses for guests in a hollow niche, and move comfortable high chairs nearby. The home bar is ready.
Caring for your sideboard is incredibly easy, just like any other piece of furniture in your home. It is recommended to protect this piece of furniture from direct sunlight and wipe dust on it (for this you should use any furniture polish containing resins and an antistatic agent).
Don’t forget to wipe the dinnerware sets, wine glasses and glasses inside the sideboard so that they always shine and look great, just like in a real display case.
A sideboard is a convenient thing, necessary in every home. A multifunctional cabinet, used as an option for storing various things, spacious and attractive in appearance. Decorate your home and make your life easier with extensive cupboards.
Shapes and sizes of sideboards
A standard sideboard for a home can have a height of 150–200 cm. The width should not be more than 200 cm. For the lower section the depth is approximately 45–50 cm, but for the upper section the standard is 30 cm. But this is only adhered to when creating finished furniture , made-to-measure options cater only to your needs.
It is important to take into account the features of different forms.
- Classic sideboard. It has legs, the upper part is smaller than the lower part.
- Floor. Installed directly on the floor.
- Corner sideboard. The inside resembles a triangle. Quite a complex storage system, but it looks very impressive. Typically, the corner option is used in rooms with a small area.
- Suspension. There is no bottom part, only the top. Can be used in conjunction with a separate wide cabinet.
- Ostrovny. The top is missing. This form is used to demonstrate finished dishes.
- Modular. It resembles a construction set; individual modules are installed in a way that is convenient for you.
Rules for placing dishes in a sideboard
Usually only the best cutlery is displayed. Let's see how best to place it so that the sideboard in the interior looks better.
- If glassware and tableware are placed, the latter is installed in the center.
- Large dishes are placed back, small ones are placed in the foreground.
- It is not recommended to mix tea (coffee) service with crystal or glass.
- White and colored porcelain are placed separately.
- To make the dishes look neater and also to fit more, the plates can be placed at an angle.
- Only small flat saucers and plates are placed in a stack. Make sure the height of the stacks is small.
If the dishes are used frequently, you should not put them on review. You will have to equalize the exposure every time, and with regular use, the dishes lose their appearance.
What are modern models made of?
Today, wood is not the only possible material for making a china cabinet, although it is still very popular. Let's look at the main ones.
Tree
Still, wood remains an unchanged classic when it comes to cabinet furniture. It produces reliable, eco-friendly products that last a long time and also combine well with transparent glass inserts.
Simple wooden sideboards feel good in modern styles, especially Scandinavian ones. The natural texture of wood will give the living room an atmosphere of warmth and comfort, and the painted body will make the shelving a bright accent. Black color in combination with frosted or stained glass will add luxury to the atmosphere.
An old sideboard looks interesting in a modern interior - rare furniture will add a fashionable vintage atmosphere, and besides, a design with history always seems more soulful and cozy.
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Metal
Metal sideboards also have impressive technical characteristics. A durable frame will be safe and will last for decades. By design, the racks can be completely closed, standard (base plus glazed doors) or open.
This is an excellent option for interiors with brutal notes or with a slant towards minimalism, especially in combination with glass or other chrome elements. A dark frame will add a graphic touch to the room, and a gold or copper finish will make the bright living room more formal.
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MDF or chipboard
If you want the best price-quality ratio, then pay attention to these modern materials. They are made from compressed wood waste, last a long time, but are much cheaper than natural wood. Another plus is a large selection of product shapes, external coating (the surface can be matte, glossy, embossed or smooth), and colors.
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Where is the sideboard installed?
If the kitchen is spacious, it is quite possible to install a sideboard there. But, in practice, this possibility is rare.
These types of cabinets are most common in living rooms. The sideboard fits perfectly into any interior. In some cases, it is preferable to choose a model with a niche where the TV is placed, so the furniture becomes the central element of the room. Sometimes modular sideboards are used, combined with other types of furniture.
Restoration of old furniture
If you find an old sideboard at your dacha, do not rush to throw it away. If funds allow, you can give the cabinet for restoration. In addition, you can restore furniture yourself, with your own hands. To do this, it is enough to putty the sideboard and cover the top with paint or varnish.
But the easiest option is to cover it with self-adhesive film, the colors of which come in a variety of colors. Certain types of film imitate wood, which is why many visitors and guests will think that this is a wooden model.
Styling
It should be taken into account that the sideboard can be made in different styles.
- Classical. Clear contours and correct silhouette.
- Minimalism. Cubic shapes are used. There is little decor, sometimes original design is used.
- Palace styles. This refers to Baroque and Rococo. Exquisite furniture, often using carvings, bent legs, and gilding. The decorations are usually somewhat elaborate. The shapes are only smooth.
- Ethnics. This includes a variety of styles, but the most common are Russian versions, distinguished by painting under Khokhloma, palekh and other types. You can also find an oriental style, here the sideboard is made multifaceted and decorated with carvings. It is important to understand that this style should include not only one element, but the entire interior.
- Vintage. This is an imitation of furniture from one period of history. Often, handmade furniture is used, or at least individually finished. Often decorated with decoupage and artificially aged.
A modern sideboard allows you to effectively display beautiful examples of tableware, and also provides additional storage space. When choosing, take into account all the nuances and features of the furniture.
External gloss of sideboards
Beautiful sideboards are usually made in the Baroque style. Gold trim or mirror inserts are often used. This kind of furniture looks expensive, there is no rich interior that would not fit into an unusual, original sideboard.
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