What's the difference between a sideboard and a console table?

In modern interiors, sideboards and console tables are often mistaken for one another due to their similar shapes and elegant wood finishes. Yet, they serve very different purposes in a home. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right piece to suit your space and lifestyle.

1. Sideboard — Practical Storage Meets Everyday Hospitality

Traditionally found in dining rooms, the sideboard was designed to store dinnerware, linens, and glassware. Today, it remains both functional and decorative, playing a key role in maintaining order and adding warmth to the space.

A sideboard typically has a deeper body (around 40–50 cm) to store plates and serving dishes, and a comfortable height (around 75–90 cm) for serving or displaying décor.

It often includes drawers, cabinet doors, or shelves, making organization easy.

In design, it feels solid and balanced — a statement piece that anchors the dining or living area.

Placed beside a dining table or along a living room wall, a sideboard offers not only storage but also a touch of sophistication and natural charm.

2. Console Table — Light and Decorative

A console table, on the other hand, focuses more on style and display than storage.

With a slimmer depth (about 30–40 cm) and slightly taller height (around 80–100 cm), it’s perfect for showcasing vases, artwork, lamps, or mirrors.

Console tables are often placed in entryways, hallways, or behind sofas, where they add structure and elegance without taking up much space.

They’re visually lighter, often with sleek lines and open designs — a perfect piece to bring balance and a touch of artistry to your interior.

3. Key Differences

4. How to Tell Them Apart

If the piece is used to store tableware or serve food, it’s a sideboard.

If it’s meant to decorate a wall or entryway, it’s a console table.

There’s no strict boundary between the two — the best choice depends on how you live and how your space flows. When selected thoughtfully, both can bring together storage, style, and natural beauty in perfect balance.