⚡ Quick Answer
A sideboard is a low, wide storage unit designed for dining rooms and living spaces — typically 120–180cm wide and 70–90cm tall, with a combination of drawers and cupboard space. It provides practical storage for dining and living room items, serves as a display surface for art, plants, and objects, and — in Singapore homes — often doubles as the most important decorative piece in the room.
The sideboard is perhaps the most underrated piece of furniture available to Singapore homeowners right now. Functional, versatile, and genuinely beautiful in quality timber or walnut, it solves a storage problem that almost every Singapore home has while simultaneously being one of the most effective ways to add character to a room.
Yet most Singapore homes do not have one — and most Singapore furniture shoppers have not considered one. This post explains what a sideboard is, what it does, and why it should be near the top of any furniture list for a BTO, HDB resale, or condo renovation.
What is a sideboard?
A sideboard — also called a buffet, credenza, or buffet cabinet — is a low, wide storage unit designed to sit against a wall in a dining room or living space. Typically 120–180cm wide, 40–50cm deep, and 70–90cm tall, it combines drawer storage for small items with cupboard space for larger pieces and provides a usable flat surface on top.
The term 'credenza' is sometimes used interchangeably with sideboard, though strictly speaking a credenza is a sideboard without legs, sitting directly on the floor. In practice, most Singapore furniture retailers use the terms interchangeably. The key defining characteristic is the horizontal format: wide, low, and wall-facing.
What does a sideboard do?
Storage — the practical case
The storage case for a sideboard is immediate. Singapore homes — particularly HDB flats — often struggle with dining room and living room clutter because there is simply nowhere to put everyday items. Table linens, candles, serving pieces, wine, stationery, remote controls, board games, and the general accumulation of daily living end up on dining tables, TV consoles, or kitchen countertops because there is no dedicated home for them.
A sideboard provides exactly that home. The drawer-and-cupboard combination suits a wide range of storage needs, and the accessible height means frequently used items — placemats, serving boards, a bottle of wine for dinner — are easy to reach without bending or reaching up.
Display — the design case
The flat top surface of a sideboard is one of the most valuable display surfaces in a home. Plants, a framed artwork, a vase, table lamp, or a considered collection of objects placed on a sideboard turn a plain wall into a composed vignette. In Singapore interiors where vertical wall space is often limited and the temptation is to hang a single large artwork and leave it at that, a sideboard creates a layered, three-dimensional composition that is more interesting and more flexible.
Room definition
In open-plan Singapore homes — where the dining area flows into the living room which flows into the kitchen — a sideboard helps define and separate zones without using a wall or partition. Positioned along the dining room wall, it anchors the dining area and gives it a sense of purpose and completeness that the same space without it lacks.
Where to put a sideboard in a Singapore home
Dining room wall
The most natural placement. A sideboard positioned on the wall opposite or adjacent to the dining table completes the room and provides storage directly relevant to the dining function — serving pieces, wine, table linens, and the like.
Living room
A sideboard in the living room can replace or supplement a TV console in rooms where the television is wall-mounted. It provides media and remote storage in the drawers and cupboards while functioning as a more design-forward alternative to a standard TV unit. In living rooms without a mounted TV, a sideboard anchors the secondary wall and provides the storage that most Singapore living rooms lack.
Entryway or corridor
In larger Singapore apartments and condos with a defined entryway, a sideboard provides storage for everyday carry items — keys, bags, mail — and acts as an immediate design statement upon entering the home. This is less common in compact HDB layouts where entry corridors are narrow, but works well in larger units.
Choosing a sideboard for a Singapore home
The most important dimension is width. Measure your intended wall carefully — a sideboard should fill the wall with intention, not sit as a small piece against a large expanse. For most HDB dining rooms, 140–160cm is a natural width. In larger spaces, 180cm is more commanding.
Height is important for visual proportion. Sideboards typically sit at 75–85cm — roughly countertop height — which is comfortable for access and creates a strong horizontal line in the room. Very low sideboards (50–60cm) create a different effect: more contemporary and minimal, but less practically accessible.
Material choice is the same as for any quality timber furniture: solid wood or a quality veneer over a solid core, with attention to joint construction and finish quality. Walnut sideboards are particularly popular in Singapore right now and work naturally in most HDB and condo colour schemes.
Sideboards at Born in Colour
Born in Colour's showroom at Tan Boon Liat carries sideboards in walnut and other timber finishes, in sizes suited to Singapore dining rooms and living spaces. Visit at 315 Outram Road, #05-05, Monday to Sunday 11am–7pm, or browse and shop at bornincolour.com with island-wide delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a sideboard, a buffet, and a credenza?
These terms are used interchangeably in most Singapore furniture retail contexts, but there are subtle distinctions. A sideboard is the broadest term for a low, wide storage unit. A buffet typically has a higher back panel or hutch component. A credenza is a sideboard without legs, sitting directly on the floor. In practice, if you are looking for a low, wide wall unit for your dining room or living room, any of these terms will surface the same category of furniture.
What size sideboard should I get for a standard HDB dining room?
For most 3- and 4-room HDB dining rooms, a sideboard in the 140–160cm width range is a natural fit. This provides substantial storage and a confident horizontal presence without overwhelming the space. In a 5-room HDB or condo dining room, 160–180cm works well. Always leave at least 60cm of clearance between the sideboard and the dining table to allow comfortable movement.
Can a sideboard replace a TV console?
Yes — in rooms with a wall-mounted television, a sideboard can serve as the base unit, providing storage for media equipment, remotes, and accessories while creating a more distinctive, design-forward alternative to a standard TV console. Ensure the sideboard has sufficient internal depth for any equipment you plan to store.
What do people put on top of a sideboard?
Common and effective sideboard top styling includes: a table lamp or pendant equivalent for ambient light; one or two plants (a trailing variety at one end, an upright at the other); a framed artwork or mirror leaned against the wall; a small sculptural object or vase; and books or trays as structural elements. The key is odd numbers and varying heights — three items of different heights and types always looks more considered than two identical items placed symmetrically.
Is a sideboard practical with young children?
Yes — in some ways a sideboard is more practical for families with young children than alternative storage. The drawers and cupboards keep breakables and hazardous items out of reach while remaining accessible to adults, and the solid top surface is robust enough to withstand daily use. Choose a sideboard with soft-close drawers and cupboard doors for quieter, safer everyday operation.
What is a sideboard — and why every Singapore home needs one
⚡ Quick Answer
A sideboard is a low, wide storage unit designed for dining rooms and living spaces — typically 120–180cm wide and 70–90cm tall, with a combination of drawers and cupboard space. It provides practical storage for dining and living room items, serves as a display surface for art, plants, and objects, and — in Singapore homes — often doubles as the most important decorative piece in the room.
The sideboard is perhaps the most underrated piece of furniture available to Singapore homeowners right now. Functional, versatile, and genuinely beautiful in quality timber or walnut, it solves a storage problem that almost every Singapore home has while simultaneously being one of the most effective ways to add character to a room.
Yet most Singapore homes do not have one — and most Singapore furniture shoppers have not considered one. This post explains what a sideboard is, what it does, and why it should be near the top of any furniture list for a BTO, HDB resale, or condo renovation.
What is a sideboard?
A sideboard — also called a buffet, credenza, or buffet cabinet — is a low, wide storage unit designed to sit against a wall in a dining room or living space. Typically 120–180cm wide, 40–50cm deep, and 70–90cm tall, it combines drawer storage for small items with cupboard space for larger pieces and provides a usable flat surface on top.
The term 'credenza' is sometimes used interchangeably with sideboard, though strictly speaking a credenza is a sideboard without legs, sitting directly on the floor. In practice, most Singapore furniture retailers use the terms interchangeably. The key defining characteristic is the horizontal format: wide, low, and wall-facing.
What does a sideboard do?
Storage — the practical case
The storage case for a sideboard is immediate. Singapore homes — particularly HDB flats — often struggle with dining room and living room clutter because there is simply nowhere to put everyday items. Table linens, candles, serving pieces, wine, stationery, remote controls, board games, and the general accumulation of daily living end up on dining tables, TV consoles, or kitchen countertops because there is no dedicated home for them.
A sideboard provides exactly that home. The drawer-and-cupboard combination suits a wide range of storage needs, and the accessible height means frequently used items — placemats, serving boards, a bottle of wine for dinner — are easy to reach without bending or reaching up.
Display — the design case
The flat top surface of a sideboard is one of the most valuable display surfaces in a home. Plants, a framed artwork, a vase, table lamp, or a considered collection of objects placed on a sideboard turn a plain wall into a composed vignette. In Singapore interiors where vertical wall space is often limited and the temptation is to hang a single large artwork and leave it at that, a sideboard creates a layered, three-dimensional composition that is more interesting and more flexible.
Room definition
In open-plan Singapore homes — where the dining area flows into the living room which flows into the kitchen — a sideboard helps define and separate zones without using a wall or partition. Positioned along the dining room wall, it anchors the dining area and gives it a sense of purpose and completeness that the same space without it lacks.
Where to put a sideboard in a Singapore home
Dining room wall
The most natural placement. A sideboard positioned on the wall opposite or adjacent to the dining table completes the room and provides storage directly relevant to the dining function — serving pieces, wine, table linens, and the like.
Living room
A sideboard in the living room can replace or supplement a TV console in rooms where the television is wall-mounted. It provides media and remote storage in the drawers and cupboards while functioning as a more design-forward alternative to a standard TV unit. In living rooms without a mounted TV, a sideboard anchors the secondary wall and provides the storage that most Singapore living rooms lack.
Entryway or corridor
In larger Singapore apartments and condos with a defined entryway, a sideboard provides storage for everyday carry items — keys, bags, mail — and acts as an immediate design statement upon entering the home. This is less common in compact HDB layouts where entry corridors are narrow, but works well in larger units.
Choosing a sideboard for a Singapore home
The most important dimension is width. Measure your intended wall carefully — a sideboard should fill the wall with intention, not sit as a small piece against a large expanse. For most HDB dining rooms, 140–160cm is a natural width. In larger spaces, 180cm is more commanding.
Height is important for visual proportion. Sideboards typically sit at 75–85cm — roughly countertop height — which is comfortable for access and creates a strong horizontal line in the room. Very low sideboards (50–60cm) create a different effect: more contemporary and minimal, but less practically accessible.
Material choice is the same as for any quality timber furniture: solid wood or a quality veneer over a solid core, with attention to joint construction and finish quality. Walnut sideboards are particularly popular in Singapore right now and work naturally in most HDB and condo colour schemes.
Sideboards at Born in Colour
Born in Colour's showroom at Tan Boon Liat carries sideboards in walnut and other timber finishes, in sizes suited to Singapore dining rooms and living spaces. Visit at 315 Outram Road, #05-05, Monday to Sunday 11am–7pm, or browse and shop at bornincolour.com with island-wide delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a sideboard, a buffet, and a credenza?
These terms are used interchangeably in most Singapore furniture retail contexts, but there are subtle distinctions. A sideboard is the broadest term for a low, wide storage unit. A buffet typically has a higher back panel or hutch component. A credenza is a sideboard without legs, sitting directly on the floor. In practice, if you are looking for a low, wide wall unit for your dining room or living room, any of these terms will surface the same category of furniture.
What size sideboard should I get for a standard HDB dining room?
For most 3- and 4-room HDB dining rooms, a sideboard in the 140–160cm width range is a natural fit. This provides substantial storage and a confident horizontal presence without overwhelming the space. In a 5-room HDB or condo dining room, 160–180cm works well. Always leave at least 60cm of clearance between the sideboard and the dining table to allow comfortable movement.
Can a sideboard replace a TV console?
Yes — in rooms with a wall-mounted television, a sideboard can serve as the base unit, providing storage for media equipment, remotes, and accessories while creating a more distinctive, design-forward alternative to a standard TV console. Ensure the sideboard has sufficient internal depth for any equipment you plan to store.
What do people put on top of a sideboard?
Common and effective sideboard top styling includes: a table lamp or pendant equivalent for ambient light; one or two plants (a trailing variety at one end, an upright at the other); a framed artwork or mirror leaned against the wall; a small sculptural object or vase; and books or trays as structural elements. The key is odd numbers and varying heights — three items of different heights and types always looks more considered than two identical items placed symmetrically.
Is a sideboard practical with young children?
Yes — in some ways a sideboard is more practical for families with young children than alternative storage. The drawers and cupboards keep breakables and hazardous items out of reach while remaining accessible to adults, and the solid top surface is robust enough to withstand daily use. Choose a sideboard with soft-close drawers and cupboard doors for quieter, safer everyday operation.