Updated 4 November 2026 · By the 10Grains team
The short answer: a small sideboard is 60 to 100 cm wide and 30 to 40 cm deep. Measure the wall, then the walkway: in a hallway go for 35 cm deep or less and keep about 90 cm clear in front. If there is no room for a door to swing open, choose sliding doors or drawers.
- Slimmest: Nordic Shaker Cabinet (30 cm deep)
- Best for a narrow hallway: Embossed Drawer Cabinet (32 cm deep, with a drawer for keys)
- Best sliding doors: Oval Tambour Sideboard
- Most storage in 80 cm: Farmhouse Green Sideboard
- Strongest: Mid-Century Tambour Sideboard (150 kg total load)
- Cleverest: Kitchen Sideboard with Tilt-Out Bin
Every home has That Spot: the bit of wall by the front door, the gap beside the dining table, the alcove that currently holds a pile of post and one lonely plant. A small sideboard turns That Spot into storage. The catch is that "small" means different things to different furniture makers, and a sideboard that is 5 cm too deep is the difference between a tidy hallway and a bruised hip.
So this guide starts with your space, not the furniture. Slide the finder to the width you have, pick a depth, and the gallery shows only the sideboards that fit. Every photo below is a real product photo, and every price is live.
Find a small sideboard that fits your space
Set the width of your wall or alcove, choose a depth limit and tick anything you can't live without. The gallery updates as you go.
Sizes come from each product's listing. Photos are shown at the same size, not to scale, so check the measurements under each photo.
What size counts as a small sideboard?
In UK shops, a sideboard about 120 cm wide or more is a full-size sideboard. Below about 100 cm you are into "small" or "compact" territory, and that is where most hallways, alcoves and small dining rooms sit. Here is what those widths look like side by side.
Tip: mark the width on the wall with masking tape before you buy. It's the cheapest way to see what fits.
Depth matters as much as width. A standard sideboard is about 40 cm deep. In a hallway, every centimetre comes off your walkway, which is why the slimmest designs here are 30 to 35 cm deep.
How do you measure for a small sideboard?
Measure the wall width and take off a few centimetres each side, so it doesn't look wedged in. Watch out for skirting boards and radiators.
Measure the walkway. From the wall to whatever is opposite (the other wall, the stairs, the table). Subtract the sideboard's depth. Try to keep about 90 cm clear.
Check the doors. A hinged door needs roughly its own width of clear floor to open fully. If that is a problem, pick sliding doors or drawers.
Check the height against light switches, window sills and radiators above it.
Check the route in. Most of these arrive flat-packed, but the Contour is delivered built, so measure doorways and the turn of the stairs.
Which small sideboard suits which room?
Narrow hallway
Up to 80 cm wide · 35 cm deep or lessKeep it shallow. A drawer for keys and an open cubby for a shoe basket do more work here than a big cupboard.
See:
Alcove
Measure, then subtract 4–6 cmAlcoves are rarely square, so measure at the back and the front. A sideboard on legs looks less crammed in.
See:
Small dining room
80–100 cm wide · 75–80 cm tallLeave room to pull chairs out: around 90 cm between the table edge and the sideboard is a good rule of thumb.
See:
Kitchen or utility
Check worktop clearancePick a wipeable finish and tall enough to work on. The tilt-out bin version hides the bin altogether.
See:
Living room, under a TV
Check the listing's TV sizeSideboards stand taller than TV units, so the screen sits higher. Fine for a dining or kitchen TV; for long sofa sessions, a low TV unit is kinder on the neck.
See:
Bedroom
Doubles as a dresserA sideboard at 75–80 cm makes a good low dresser. Pair it with a mirror above.
See:
Drawers, hinged doors or sliding doors?
- Drawers are best for small things: keys, chargers, takeaway menus you will never use. A sideboard with drawers on top and a cupboard below covers most needs.
- Hinged doors give the biggest cupboard space, but need floor space in front to open. Check this in a hallway.
- Sliding and tambour doors open within the sideboard's own width. They are the best choice where the walkway is tight, and they look very current.
- Open shelves and cubbies are useful for baskets, books or a record player, but everything on them is on show.
Legs or no legs?
A sideboard raised on legs shows more floor, so a small room feels bigger and you can vacuum underneath. A sideboard that sits on a plinth gives you more storage for its height and nothing for dust to hide behind. In this guide, the Art Deco sits highest at 22 cm off the floor, and the LED sideboard sits lowest at 5 cm.
Do you need to fix a sideboard to the wall?
For a tall, narrow piece or a home with young children, yes. Sideboards can tip if someone pulls open several drawers or climbs on them. Several in this guide include anti-tip straps or wall fixings. Our guide to wall fixings and what your wall can take explains which plugs suit plasterboard, brick and block.
Small sideboards compared
| Sideboard | Size (W × D × H, cm) | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Shaker Cabinet | 60 × 30 × 90 | doors |
| Embossed Drawer Cabinet | 60 × 32 × 82 | drawers, doors |
| 60 cm Cabinet on Metal Base | 60 × 40 × 80 | doors, on legs |
| 71 cm High Gloss Sideboard | 71 × 35 × 76 | drawers, doors |
| Art Deco Embossed Sideboard | 78 × 40 × 88 | doors, on legs |
| Push-Open Gloss Sideboard | 79 × 36 × 74 | drawers, doors |
| Oval Tambour Sideboard | 80 × 40 × 78 | sliding doors, on legs |
| Curved-Door Sideboard | 80 × 40 × 72.5 | doors, on legs |
| Sage & Oak Sideboard | 80 × 35 × 76.3 | drawers, doors, on legs |
| Fluted White & Gold Cabinet | 80 × 39.1 × 76 | doors, on legs |
| Farmhouse Green Sideboard | 80 × 40 × 90 | drawers, doors, on legs |
| Contour Black Wooden Sideboard | 80 × 35 × 80 | drawers, doors, on legs |
| Mid-Century Tambour Sideboard | 90 × 40 × 75 | sliding doors, on legs |
| Chevron Door Sideboard | 91.5 × 35 × 77.4 | doors, on legs |
| Industrial Walnut Sideboard | 100 × 35 × 88 | doors |
| LED Sideboard with Sockets | 100 × 35 × 80 | drawers, doors, sockets |
| Kitchen Sideboard with Tilt-Out Bin | 100 × 36 × 90 | drawers, doors |
Want to see the bigger ones too? Browse all sideboards and cabinets. For general weight ratings, see how to read a furniture load rating.
Small sideboards: your questions answered
What size is a small sideboard?
A small sideboard is usually 60 to 100 cm wide, 30 to 40 cm deep and 70 to 90 cm tall. Anything around 120 cm wide or more is a full-size sideboard.
How deep should a sideboard be for a hallway?
Aim for 35 cm deep or less in a hallway, and keep about 90 cm of clear walkway in front of it. The slimmest sideboards in this guide are 30 and 32 cm deep.
What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?
A sideboard has enclosed storage (cupboards and often drawers) and sits on or near the floor. A console table is a narrow table, usually with an open shelf or a single drawer, so it holds less but looks lighter.
What height should a sideboard be?
Most sideboards are 70 to 90 cm tall. Around 75 to 80 cm lines up with a standard dining table, which looks tidy in a dining room. Taller sideboards, up to about 90 cm, are easier to use as a serving surface while standing.
Do sideboards with sliding doors save space?
Yes. Sliding and tambour doors open within the sideboard's own width, so they need no clear floor in front to swing open. That makes them the best choice for narrow hallways and tight spots beside a table.
Should a small sideboard be fixed to the wall?
If it is tall, narrow or in a home with young children, fix it to the wall. Several sideboards in this guide come with anti-tip straps. Check what kind of wall you have before drilling.
