Some pieces of furniture go unnoticed; others organise an entire room. The sideboard and the console table belong to the second group: they store the tableware, catch the keys when you walk in, hold the lamp that warms up the living room and, above all, they are the small stage where a few objects tell the story of who we are.
In a Mediterranean home they work especially well. A natural wood piece against a whitewashed wall, a ceramic lamp with a fibre shade, a clay vase with a few olive branches… With autumn, when we spend more time indoors, it is the perfect moment to give that corner the attention it deserves.
In this guide we explain how to choose between a sideboard and a console, which measurements to respect, which materials suit the southern style and how to decorate them without clutter.
In this article
Get the look
In the photo above, a solid wood sideboard and a simple console sit alongside ceramic lamps with fabric shades. These pieces recreate the same warm atmosphere:
1. Sideboard or console: what is the difference
Although they are often confused, they do not do the same job. A console table is narrow and light, almost always on legs, designed for display rather than storage: entryways, hallways, behind the sofa or under a painting. A sideboard is deeper and has doors or drawers; it was born in the dining room for tableware and linen, but today it is also used in living rooms, bedrooms and even large entrance halls.
The key question is simple: do you need storage or just a surface? If your entryway is narrow, a 30 cm deep console will be enough. If you want to hide tablecloths, board games or chargers, go for a sideboard.
Measurements worth remembering
2. Sizes and proportions that work
A sideboard that is too small gets lost on the wall, and one that is too large overwhelms it. As a rule, the piece should take up between half and two thirds of the wall width or, if it sits behind the sofa, be no longer than the sofa. In the dining room, keep it slightly shorter than the table so the whole set can breathe.
Also think about what you will hang above it. A mirror or painting should be centred over the piece and 15-25 cm above it; its ideal width is also around two thirds of the sideboard. You will find more tips in our guide on how to hang pictures.
Get the look
A light sideboard dividing living and dining areas, a wooden table and cane chairs: this home’s formula is easy to recreate.
3. Mediterranean-style materials
Southern style calls for materials that age well and tell a story. Reclaimed teak and mango wood bring strong grain and a honey tone that pairs beautifully with whitewashed walls. Light oak is more understated and luminous. And rattan, cane or paper cord fronts visually lighten large pieces and let what you store inside breathe.
Avoid high-gloss lacquers and dark glass: they take away warmth. If you like a more rustic touch, look for aged iron or brass handles, like the one on the mango sideboard in the Sancti Petri house.
4. How to style the top: the rule of three
The top of a sideboard or console is an invitation to pile things up. To make it look curated rather than crowded, think in three heights: a tall piece (lamp, mirror or vase with branches), a medium one (a stack of books, a sculpture, a bowl) and a low one (a tray, a candle, a ceramic plate).
Group objects in odd numbers and leave at least a third of the surface empty. Mix textures —clay, glass, fibre, wood— and repeat one colour for coherence. In autumn, a few dried olive or eucalyptus branches in a clay vase are enough to change the mood.
Key idea: a table lamp on the sideboard or console is the easiest way to bring warm light to a living room or entryway on autumn evenings.
Get the look
Fibre, whitewash and a basket lamp: this rattan console sums up the Andalusian entryway. Here is how to bring that idea home:
5. The console in the entryway
In the entrance, the console is the home's first impression. The most foolproof arrangement is console + mirror + lamp or wall light: the mirror multiplies the light and lets you take a last look, and the lamp makes coming home at night feel welcoming. Underneath, a couple of fibre baskets hide shoes, bags or the dog's lead.
If your entryway is small, choose a console 25-30 cm deep with slim legs so the floor stays visible, and swap the table lamp for a wall light. You will find many more ideas in small entryways and mirrors to bring in light.
Get the look
Natural wood console, simple mirror, two fibre baskets and discreet wall lights: the entryway in the photo comes together with very few pieces.
6. The sideboard in the living and dining room
In the dining room, a sideboard is almost essential: it keeps tableware, cutlery and linen close at hand and serves as a surface for dishes and drinks when you have guests. Place it on the longest wall, facing the window if you can, so it catches the light. For more ideas for this room, take a look at our Mediterranean dining room.
In the living room, a low sideboard makes a far prettier TV unit than the usual ones, and a console behind the sofa creates a natural divide in open-plan spaces. More tips in our Mediterranean living room.
Where else it works
- Bedroom: a low sideboard doubles as a chest of drawers and a base for a mirror.
- Hallway: a narrow console with two lamps turns a passage into a corner.
- Home office: a sideboard hides papers and the printer and keeps the view clear.
- Under the stairs: a made-to-measure console uses a space that is often wasted.
7. Mistakes to avoid
The most common is filling the surface with keepsakes with no order. The second is choosing a piece out of proportion: a tiny console on a huge wall looks forgotten. People also often forget the light —a sideboard without a lamp loses half its charm— and hang the mirror or picture too high, disconnected from the furniture.
Finally, be careful about mixing too many different woods in the same room. Choose one or two tones and repeat them in frames, trays or the legs of other pieces.
Quick checklist
- A console if you need a surface; a sideboard if you need storage.
- Between half and two thirds of the wall width.
- Leave at least 90 cm of clearance in front.
- Natural wood, rattan or paper cord for Mediterranean style.
- Style in three heights and leave a third of the top empty.
- Always add a source of warm light.
- Hang the mirror or picture 15-25 cm above the piece.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?
A console is narrow (25-40 cm deep), light and designed for display; a sideboard is deeper (40-50 cm) and has doors or drawers for storage.
How high should a mirror hang above a sideboard?
Centred over the piece and about 15-25 cm above its top, so that the centre of the mirror is roughly at eye level.
Can a sideboard be used as a TV unit?
Yes. A low sideboard, 60-80 cm high, is a very decorative option: it hides devices behind its doors and keeps the TV at a comfortable height.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe the furniture we use most deserves to be the most beautiful: pieces in wood and natural fibres that organise the home and fill it with warmth at the same time. Browse our console tables for entryways and hallways too.
Because a good sideboard does more than store: it welcomes, it lights up and it tells your story.
