Sideboards come in widths from around 80cm to well over 180cm, and the temptation is to buy the biggest one the wall can take. In practice, a 110cm sideboard is the width that suits the largest number of UK living rooms: wide enough to store a proper amount, narrow enough to leave the room feeling open. This guide explains why, and compares the sideboard widths made in our own factory so you can choose the right one for your wall.

Why is 110cm the sweet spot for most UK living rooms?

The average UK living room is not large, and the free wall space is usually broken up by a door, a radiator, a window or the television. Once you subtract those, a clear run of 120cm to 150cm is common. A 110cm sideboard sits in that gap with a little breathing room either side, which is what makes a piece look chosen rather than squeezed in.

It is also the width at which a modern sideboard starts to feel substantial. At 80cm a cabinet reads as a hall unit; at 110cm it has enough presence to hold a lamp, a plant and a couple of framed prints on top and still look balanced.

How do the Decortie sideboard widths compare?

All of the pieces below are flat-pack, made from engineered wood with a melamine finish, with free delivery to England and Wales (Scotland delivery is £40 per order). The widths are the ones stated in each product's name.

What does a 110cm sideboard look like in a modern room?

The Gora Console Sideboard Display Unit at 110cm is our reference point for this width. It mixes closed storage with open display sections, so the everyday clutter goes behind a door while books, ceramics or a speaker sit in the open. That combination is what most people mean by a modern sideboard: not a solid box, but a piece with some rhythm to the front.

Because it is a console sideboard, the depth is modest. That is deliberate. In a UK living room a deep sideboard pushes the walkway between the sofa and the wall into awkward territory. A shallower unit keeps that route clear while still holding a surprising amount.

If you like the Gora look but have a longer wall, the Gora 180cm is the same design stretched out, and the Gora TV Stand 140cm lets you run the same finish under the television.

When should you go wider than 110cm?

120cm to 145cm: the main-wall sideboard

If your living room has one long, uninterrupted wall, a sideboard in the 120cm to 145cm range makes better use of it. The Dune 123cm is a slim, display-led design that suits a wall under a window. The Dione Sideboard at 140cm pairs oak effect with a travertine effect top, which is very much where UK sideboard colours are heading; our article on sideboard colours in 2026 goes into that shift in detail. The Clara at 142cm mixes open and closed sections in a slightly more formal way that works in a dining room as well as a lounge.

The Joji Modern Sideboard Console Unit in silky black and oak is the one to look at if you want contrast. A dark body with warm oak-effect detailing gives a living room a focal point without a lot of colour.

180cm and beyond: open-plan rooms

For a large open-plan kitchen-living space, or a dining room with a full wall to fill, the Amira 180cm, Gora 180cm and Dune 183cm give you a long, low line that visually widens the room. These are the widths to avoid in a standard-sized lounge, where they tend to swallow the wall.

When is an 80cm sideboard the right call?

Narrow hallways, a gap beside a chimney breast, or a small flat where the "living room" is also the dining room and office. The Amira 80cm comes in multiple colours and works as a compact storage unit that does not block a walkway. If you are furnishing a hallway specifically, our guide to the UK hallway covers what else that space has to do.

How do you measure for a sideboard?

• Clear wall width. Measure between the fixed obstacles, not wall to wall. Skirting, radiators and light switches all count.
• Leave 10cm to 15cm either side. A sideboard that touches a door frame or a radiator looks cramped and makes the doors harder to open.
• Check the walkway. After the sideboard is in, you still want a comfortable route past it, especially between a sofa and the wall.
• Think about what goes on top. A lamp, a mirror above, a television: a 110cm sideboard carries a lamp and a couple of objects well; a television usually wants a purpose-built stand.
• Look at the other furniture. A sideboard slightly shorter than the sofa in front of it keeps the room's proportions calm.

Sideboard or TV stand: which do you actually need?

People often search for a sideboard when what they want is a low unit for the television. The difference is height and layout. A TV stand is designed lower, with open sections for a set-top box and cable routes at the back. A sideboard is taller and storage-first. If the television is the main thing on that wall, look at our TV stands or read our TV cabinet buyer's guide. If it is a wall for storage and display, a sideboard from the sideboards and console tables collection is the better fit. Several ranges, including Gora and Dione, have matching TV stands so you can do both in the same finish.

Which 110cm sideboard should you buy?

If your clear wall is between about 120cm and 150cm, the Gora 110cm is the straightforward answer: modern, shallow enough for a UK lounge, with a mix of open and closed storage. If you have more wall, step up to the Dune 123cm, Dione 140cm or Clara 142cm. If you have less, the Amira 80cm keeps the look in a smaller footprint. Everything is made in our own factory, delivered flat-packed to UK mainland addresses for free, and you can see the pieces built up in our Cheshire showroom in Risley, which has free parking and is open Monday to Friday and on Saturdays.

Browse the full living room range to see how the sideboards sit alongside coffee tables and shelving from the same factory.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 110cm sideboard big enough for a living room?
For most UK living rooms, yes. A 110cm sideboard offers enough storage for tableware, board games or paperwork while still fitting on the wall beside a sofa or under a window. Rooms with a long free wall can take a 140cm to 180cm sideboard instead.

What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?
A console table is usually slim and open, designed for a hallway or behind a sofa. A sideboard is deeper with cupboards or shelves for storage. Many modern designs, including several from Decortie, sit between the two and are described as console sideboards because they are shallow enough for a hallway but still have storage.

Can a 110cm sideboard be used as a TV stand?
It can work for a smaller television, but a dedicated TV stand is usually a better choice because it is designed at a comfortable viewing height with space for a set-top box and cables. Decortie makes matching TV stands in the Gora and Dione ranges if you want the same finish across the room.

Are Decortie sideboards delivered assembled?
No. Our sideboards are made in our own factory from engineered wood with a melamine finish and arrive flat-packed with free delivery to England and Wales (Scotland delivery is £40 per order). You can see several designs built up at our showroom in Risley, Cheshire, which has free parking.