Sideboard Upgrades: 10 Easy Ideas That Actually Work

If your sideboard feels unfinished, the cause is usually one of four things: it's in the wrong spot, the hardware is too small, the lighting is flat, or the top is either cluttered or bare. All four are fixable without buying a new piece of furniture.

Below are ten upgrades, ordered roughly from free to a small weekend project. Most work for renters too, and I've flagged where pets or kids change the advice.

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Is your sideboard in the right place and the right size for the wall?

Start with placement, because it costs nothing. In a dining room, leave about 36 inches between the sideboard and the back of a tucked-in chair so people can pass. If you can spare 42-48 inches, a seated guest won't feel squeezed.

A sideboard that looks small on a long wall shouldn't just sit alone in the middle. Put a tall plant or a floor lamp on one side so the group reads as wider. For a dining setting, a height of about 30-36 inches is comfortable for serving. Much lower than that and it starts to look like a media console.

Can you replace a damaged top with stone?

Yes, and it's one of the biggest changes you can make to a tired piece. A local stone fabricator often has remnants of marble, quartz or soapstone that are cheaper than a full slab. Ask them to cut one to your exact top dimensions with a finished edge.

Stone handles spilled drinks far better than a wood veneer, which can swell if liquid sits on it. If cats jump up on your sideboard, a hard stone surface also shrugs off claws and is easy to wipe after a hairball. Stone is heavy, so check that the cabinet can carry it.

How do you add sconces above a sideboard?

Two sconces flanking a piece of art make a sideboard look built in. Place them roughly halfway between the art and the ends of the furniture, with the light source about 60-66 inches from the floor, adjusted to your ceiling height. If they sit closer to the crown molding than to the sideboard, they're too high.

Renters can skip the electrician: mount plug-in sconces and run the cord down neatly, or use battery-powered ones. Choose bulbs around 2700K-3000K for a warm, relaxed light. Hardwiring is a job for a licensed electrician.

Which hardware makes a sideboard look more substantial?

Small stock knobs are an afterthought on most furniture. As an architect, I'd go for longer pulls or oversized knobs on a sideboard, because a big cabinet front needs hardware with some presence.

• Measure the center-to-center distance between the existing screw holes before you buy anything.
• If a single knob replaces a pull (or the reverse), a backplate can hide the old holes.
• Buy one sample first and pull a loaded drawer with it. If it's uncomfortable, it's the wrong piece.

You don't need to match the metals in the room exactly. Brass pulls next to a black chandelier look deliberate.

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Should you put legs on a sideboard?

If the cabinet sits flat on the floor and the room is small, adding 4-6 inches of leg height lets you see the floor run underneath. That makes the piece look lighter and the room more open. Tapered wood, metal and bun feet are all easy to find.

It also helps with cleaning. Pet hair and dust collect in the gap under a flush cabinet, and a robot vacuum or broom can pass under a raised one.

Raising the piece changes its balance, so I recommend anchoring it to the wall, especially with kids or pets in the house. A top-heavy cabinet can tip when a drawer is pulled out.

How do you style the top of a sideboard?

Group objects in odd numbers, and vary their heights. A reliable arrangement has one tall item (a lamp or a vase with branches), one medium item (leaning art or a sculpture) and one low item (a stack of books or a bowl for keys).

Overlap things slightly rather than lining them up. Set the small bowl on the books and let the lamp sit a little in front of the art. Keep the pieces to different materials: if the cabinet is wood, bring in glass, metal, ceramic or stone rather than more wood. For more arrangements, see our full guide on how to style a sideboard.

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What plants work on a sideboard with pets around?

One tiny succulent gets lost on a long surface. Large branches in a heavy ceramic vase give height without clutter, and they draw the eye upward.

Check toxicity before you buy anything. Lilies are a well-known danger to cats and sago palms are dangerous to dogs, so check any plant against the ASPCA's lists and ask your vet if you're unsure. Spider plants and Boston ferns are commonly listed as non-toxic.

Weight matters as much as the plant. A wagging tail or a cat chasing a leaf will topple a light vase, so choose a heavy one and put a dab of museum putty under it.

How do you organize the inside of a sideboard?

If opening the door makes things slide out, the storage isn't working. Treat the interior like a kitchen cabinet.

• Tiered risers let you reach one platter without unstacking the rest.
• Felt bins keep linens clean and separate.
• A shallow tray corrals bottles if the sideboard is your bar and catches sticky rings.

If you store food or drink for occasional use, keep the cabinet away from heat. Ohioline notes that cabinets above the range, near the dishwasher or next to the refrigerator exhaust run too warm for food. A sideboard in a dining room usually avoids that problem, but keep it away from radiators and vents.

How big should the art above a sideboard be?

A small frame floating over a wide cabinet looks lost. Aim for art or a mirror about two-thirds the width of the sideboard, so a 60-inch piece takes roughly 40 inches. A gallery grouping can fill the same footprint.

Hang it low enough to connect: the bottom of the frame should sit about 4-8 inches above the surface. Much higher and the eye reads the art and the furniture as two separate things.

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Is motion-sensor lighting inside the cabinet worth it?

Battery-powered, rechargeable LED strips with a motion sensor switch on when you open the door. They make it easy to find a platter during a dim dinner party and cost very little. Being able to see into the back of a dark cabinet is a small comfort you notice every time.

A quick finishing check

• Press on the top. If it wobbles, add shims and anchor it to the wall.
• Hide lamp cords with adhesive clips along the back leg.
• Look for three heights on the surface and a mix of materials.
• Add something living: a plant, branches or fresh flowers.
• Walk past it. If you have to turn your shoulders, move it.

If you're also working on the room's colors, these beige color combinations are a good place to start, and the same vignette ideas apply to a deep corner fireplace mantel.

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Frequently asked questions