Reclaimed Living Room Sideboards: What Are Their Uses?

If you’re considering purchasing a reclaimed sideboard, you may wonder how to utilise it within your home. Discover below our ideas for using a sideboard and the different rooms you can put it in to enhance your space.

What Is A Sideboard?

Whether you call it a sideboard, china cabinet, or buffet, this stunningly aesthetic piece of furniture is highly functional, serving multiple purposes. 

However, the versatility of sideboards has only grown in recent years.

During the 18th century, people’s primary use of sideboards was typically the same: to store tableware, such as plates, cutlery, glasses, and napkins, within the dining room. Homeowners would usually position them close to a table, making serving platters of food efficient, which was essential when they were entertaining. 

Today, since our modern lives are expanding and the way of living has changed, we need to utilise storage even further and sideboards offer an effective solution. Because of their roomy cupboard space and selection of drawers, we can use sideboards to store a large number of items. 

Sideboards have other standard features, such as short legs and a wide and spacious surface, making it easy for us to position them beneath windows and ideal for displaying frequently used items or decorative pieces.

A reclaimed wood sideboard is even better since the material has lived another life, i.e. as part of a barn or a railway sleeper, to name but a few examples. This means that not only will the wood of your reclaimed sideboard bring history and character to your home, but it will also help to reduce your carbon footprint.

Now, continue reading to find out more uses of a sideboard other than the originally intended. 

Popular Ways To Utilise A Reclaimed Sideboard

Media Cabinet

ome homeowners like to use their sideboards to position their TV, particularly if they want it to remain out of reach of children. 

The height of a sideboard offers comfortable viewing, and the ample surface space enables plenty of room for DVD players and gaming consoles.  

Also, the drawers are handy for keeping the remotes, and the cupboards provide space to organise cables or store DVDs.

Sideboards can offer practical living room storage in many other ways, too.

For example, you could use your reclaimed sideboard to keep board games or even records. If you're a vinyl lover, a sideboard provides plenty of surface space to proudly display your record player and all your treasured music records.

Drinks Cabinet

You can place living room storage cabinets with doors in the dining room, which, as mentioned, was their common application some years ago.

In many homes, the living room is often an extension of the dining room, making it easy to use a sideboard, whether eating at the dining table or relaxing on the sofa.

So why not transform your sideboard into an elegant drinks cabinet? This will add a touch of sophistication to your dining and living room space and create an entertaining area for guests.

Hemming & Wills sells sideboards made from strong reclaimed wood, perfect for storing heavy bottles and precious glassware. 

Use the surface of your sideboard for tumblers, trays, garnishes, and, of course, alcoholic beverages. You could keep your stemware in the cupboard or consider acquiring a suspended storage unit.

Fashion your sideboard into a drinks cabinet that works for you, making it easy to enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple during dinner or a nightcap whilst watching TV.

Additionally, using your sideboard as a stylish drinks cabinet is ideal if you have children since its cupboards provide a place to safely store your alcoholic beverages when you’re not entertaining.

Tableware Storage

If you want to acquire a sideboard for its more traditional application, our Williamsburg Reclaimed Wood Sideboard is an excellent choice.

With its multiple drawers and cupboards, you’ll have plenty of space for cutlery, plates, bowls, and other tableware.

Position your reclaimed sideboard in your kitchen or dining room; the unique knots and grains of the wood will bring historic charm and quirky personality to the space.

You can also turn your sideboard into a focal point. Display your special tableware proudly and position a lamp nearby to throw light on your china or a vase of flowers to add a splash of fresh colour.

Baby and Toy Storage

A sideboard can be used for unconventional items. 

For example, consider using a sideboard to keep your baby items if you have a newborn baby.

You can organise nappies, bibs, wipes, creams, and medical supplies into separate areas of your sideboard.

Place any potentially hazardous items in higher-up drawers to prevent your infant from accessing them.

Your sideboard can evolve with your child, adapting intotoy storage for your living room.

Our Narrow Reclaimed Sideboard provides ample storage space while elevating your room's aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, the natural wood tone works well with most decor and will go towards helping you build your eco-friendly home.

You can furnish your environmentally friendly living room or bedroom with this narrow sideboard, and be confident that you're reducing your carbon footprint.

Displaying Trinkets and Photos

The flat top surface of your sideboard offers a perfect platform to display your cherished items.

For example, display framed family photos or decorative trinkets that you may have collected on your holidays or hold sentimental value.

Position your sideboard in your hallway to warmly welcome your guests, adding a personal touch and emphasising the love within your home.

The cupboards of your sideboard will provide a safe place to keep any precious items you may not want to display.

Again, consider placing a vase of flowers on your sideboard so that you and your visitors can enjoy their fresh, floral aroma as soon as you and they walk through the door.

Styling Your Sideboard

You may have questions on how to style your sideboard now that you have discovered the ways you can utilise it.

Here below are some of our tips to help you style and organise your sideboard:

• Explore unique colours and finishes to match the interior design of your room and reflect your style. Reclaimed wooden sideboards will fit into a traditional or modern space, whether you’re going for a boho vibe or a more classic look.

• Organise your sideboard into sections. For example, you can use your drawers to keep your table mats and napkins while you can house your plates and alcoholic beverages in your cupboards. Use adjustable dividers to create compartments for your napkins and napkin holders.

• Decide which items will be best stored vertically or horizontally. Consider incorporating a rack to stack your plates vertically. Place felt dividers between your dishes to add layers of protection.

• Always store glassware upright. Add a non-skid liner to prevent chips and cracks from occurring. As mentioned, a suspended storage unit provides an effective and efficient way to keep glassware safe.

• When selecting decorative items for your sideboard, combine different materials and textures to create visual interest and add depth.

• Update your sideboard’s decor to align with different seasons or occasions, keeping your focal point fresh and harmonised. For example, arrange an assortment of pumpkins on your sideboard for Halloween, then switch it up with Christmas decorations in December.

• Use your sideboard to showcase art pieces or craftwork, celebrating creativity and reflecting your personality. There’s no better way to express yourself than through the artwork you like, so select pieces that speak to you.

If you choose a sideboard from Hemming & Wills, you can be sure of its quality, craftsmanship and sustainability. So elevate your living room, dining room, bedroom, or hallway and expand your storage space by acquiring a sideboard from us.

Explore our sustainable furniture range to discover other eco-friendly pieces that complement your reclaimed sideboard.