Useful Sideboards and Consoles

Sideboards and Console shown above:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen // fifteen // sixteen // seventeen // eighteen // nineteen

Sideboards and Consoles are one of those versatile pieces of furniture that you can use in many places: a dining room, living room, stair landing, family room, behind a sofa, by a front door, hallways, in a bedroom… You can find them in every material imaginable, making them compatible in many spaces. Whether open shelved or closed, they provide extra storage for your dining room (or wherever you choose to use them), as well as a place to display some of your favorite objects.

I have shown some sculptural pieces that appeal to me above, but I thought it would also be useful to see sideboards and consoles styled in a residential setting in the images below.

* All Images from Pinterest

As you can see, there are endless possibilities in styling these pieces: you can add height variation and interest with a bench or basket beneath the console, add chairs on either side to widen the vignette, use a desk as a console, add a tablecloth for a pop of color and hidden storage underneath, add lamps, sconces, mirrors, art, flowers, sculptures, books, vases…

Because there are so many choices in the look or style for your console or sideboard, consider what other furniture items you have in the room before committing to a material or style: Do you have a rug in the space that dictates certain colors? Are the floors bare? Do you have lots of wood furniture like a dining table and chairs? If so, maybe consider introducing a new material or color, picked up from the art in the room, or drapery fabric or rug.

Color and material can be introduced through a painted piece, or metal, but also consider a skirted table that you can change over time, or an antique piece picked up inexpensively that can be painted, or refurbished to meet your needs before committing to an investment piece. Or buy a piece now to use in one room, and know that you could eventually use in another room, for instance your foyer or at the top of the stairs.

Great places to find consoles and sideboards are: 1stdibs, Chairish, Archiproducts, Mohd, Connox, and Ambientedirect. And if you are looking for sideboard and console inspiration, start with Pinterest.

If you buy things you love, you will find ways to use them over and over again in many different rooms, settings, and even different homes. If you look around, you may even find something you already own that can fill the void of a console or sideboard!