A sideboard top is one of the best display spots in the house: long, wide and at the perfect height. It's also one of the easiest to get wrong, with a row of small objects lined up like a shelf at a garage sale. Good sideboard decor comes down to a few principles: an anchor on the wall, balance from end to end, varied heights, and a little empty space. Here's how to decorate a sideboard step by step, with ideas for dining rooms, living rooms and every season.
Step 1: Start With the Wall
The wall above the sideboard sets the scale. Choose one:
- A large piece of art or a mirror about two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the sideboard, hung 6–10 in above the top.
- A gallery wall of several frames, kept within the width of the sideboard.
- Leaning art: one or two frames leaning against the wall on the sideboard for a more relaxed look.
- A TV, if it's a media sideboard; then keep the top decor low.
Sizing details are in our sideboard dimensions guide.
Step 2: Choose Symmetry or Asymmetry
Symmetrical
A matching pair at each end (two lamps, two candlesticks or two vases) with the art centered between them. It looks formal, calm and classic, and suits traditional dining rooms.
Asymmetrical
Something tall at one end, balanced by a wider, lower grouping at the other. It looks relaxed and modern. The trick is visual weight: a big lamp on one side can be balanced by a stack of books with a bowl on the other.
Step 3: Layer Heights (Think in Triangles)
Arrange each grouping as a triangle: one tall piece, one medium and one low. Lamps, branches in a tall vase and candlesticks give height. Books, boxes and bowls give the low layer. Designers often group objects in threes or other odd numbers. It's a guideline, not a rule, but it keeps groupings from looking stiff.
Step 4: Add Light
- Buffet lamps: tall, slim lamps suit sideboards. Buffet lamps are commonly about 32–36 in tall, or about 29–31 in on a tall sideboard or under a low ceiling. The bottom of the shade should sit around eye level, so you don't see the bulb, and the shade should be narrower than the sideboard top.
- Candles: pillar candles or candlesticks for the dining table end.
- Built-in lighting: glass-front sideboards with LED lights, like our Storage Cabinet with Glass Doors, glow at night and show off what's inside.
Step 5: Add Something Living and Something Personal
Fresh flowers, branches or a plant soften the hard lines of the cabinet. Then add something with a story: a ceramic from a trip, a vintage find, a favorite book.
Step 6: Leave Space
Leave breathing room between groupings, and keep open surface for serving dishes, especially in a dining room.
What to Put on a Sideboard
- A table lamp or a pair of buffet lamps
- A large mirror or art
- A tall vase with branches or flowers
- A tray or a large bowl
- Stacked books with a small sculpture on top
- Candlesticks or hurricane candles
- A decanter and glasses on a tray (see sideboard bar ideas)
- Ceramics, pottery or a vintage find
Dining Room Sideboard Decor
- Keep the center clear for serving and buffet dishes.
- Use lamps or candlesticks at the ends.
- Add a tray with a pitcher and glasses, or a cake stand.
- Choose pieces in the same finish as your table or chairs.
The Relievo Carved Drawer Chest works as a compact buffet, with six drawers for napkins, flatware and placemats and a top rated for 176 lb.
Living Room Sideboard Decor
- Combine a lamp, a stack of books and a plant.
- Under a TV, keep decor low and to the sides of the screen.
- Show collections behind glass doors.
More living room ideas: sideboard in the living room.
Seasonal Sideboard Ideas
- Spring: tulips, blossom branches, pastel ceramics.
- Summer: a bowl of lemons, shells, light linen runners.
- Fall: mini pumpkins, dried grasses, amber glass.
- Holidays: garland along the top, candles and a punch bowl.
Common Mistakes
- Too many small objects in a row.
- Art that's too small or hung too high.
- Everything the same height.
- No open space for serving.
- Lamps that are too short for the scale of the piece.
FAQ
What do you put in the middle of a sideboard?
Usually the centerpiece of the arrangement: a tray, a large bowl, or a vase of flowers, centered under the art. Or leave it clear for serving.
Should you put a runner on a sideboard?
Optional. A runner adds texture and protects the top, but the top of a beautiful wood sideboard often looks better bare.
How many items should go on a sideboard?
Usually two or three groupings of three to five items each, with open space between them.
Shop sideboards and buffets.