Hey everyone! So like, my family just moved into a new house and we’ve been trying to figure out furniture stuff. My other half has been obsessing over sideboards for weeks now, and honestly I didn’t even know what they were until recently lol. But after helping her research (and arguing about where to put things), I’ve actually learned loads about floating vs floor-standing sideboards.
If your also trying to decide between these two options, I totally get the struggle. Let me break down everything I’ve figured out so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through furniture websites like we did!
What Actually IS a Sideboard Anyway?
Okay so incase you’re like me and had no clue – a sideboard is basically this long, low cabinet thing that you put in your dining room or living room. People use them to store dishes, games, random stuff that doesn’t have anywhere else to go. They’re also great for putting lamps on or displaying your mum’s weird ceramic collection (every family has one, right?).
The main difference between floating and floor-standing ones is pretty obvious when you think about it. Floor-standing sideboards literally stand on the floor with legs or a solid base, while floating ones get mounted to the wall so they look like they’re… well, floating.
Floor-Standing Sideboards: The Traditional Choice
The Good Stuff (Pros)
Super Stable and Strong Floor-standing sideboards are basically tanks. You can put heavy stuff on them without worrying about them falling off the wall or anything. My mate’s family has this massive oak one that probably weighs more than me, and it holds their entire dinner set plus a huge TV. No wobbling, no stress.
Loads of Storage Space Because they don’t have to worry about wall mounting limits, these can be deeper and taller. More space = more storage, which is always good when you’ve got loads of stuff to hide away. Perfect for families who accumulate random things (so basically everyone).
Easy to Move Around If you change your mind about where you want it, you can just move it. Well, you might need help because they’re heavy, but you get what I mean. No drilling new holes in the wall or anything.
Tons of Style Options There’s literally so many different styles available. From modern sleek ones to proper traditional wooden ones like the gorgeous options at Oak Castle Furniture’s sideboard collection. You can find something that matches basically any room vibe.
The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons)
Takes Up Floor Space This is probably the biggest issue, especially if you’ve got a smaller room. They have what my design teacher calls a “footprint” – basically they take up actual floor space that you could use for other things.
Can Look Heavy/Bulky In smaller spaces, they sometimes make rooms feel more cramped. It’s like having a big solid block sitting there, you know?
Harder to Clean Under Unless you get one with proper legs (and even then), cleaning underneath is a proper pain. Dust bunnies love hiding under there, and good luck getting the hoover in that gap.
Floating Sideboards: The Modern Alternative
The Good Stuff (Pros)
Makes Rooms Look Bigger This is honestly the coolest thing about floating sideboards. Because you can see the floor underneath, rooms look way more spacious. It’s like a magic trick for small spaces.
Super Easy to Clean You can hoover or mop right underneath without having to move anything or get on your hands and knees. My mum loves this because she’s slightly obsessed with cleaning.
Looks Really Modern and Sleek If you’re going for that minimalist, contemporary look, floating sideboards are perfect. They look proper sophisticated and grown-up.
Great for Showing Off Nice Floors If you’ve got lovely wooden floors or fancy tiles, floating furniture lets you actually see them properly instead of hiding them.
The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons)
Weight Limits Are Real You can’t just chuck anything on them. Most wall mounts have weight limits, so you need to be careful about what you store. No putting your massive sound system on there without checking first.
Installation Can Be Tricky Unless you’re properly handy with tools (which I definitely am not), you’ll probably need to get someone to mount it properly. And if you get it wrong, things could literally fall off the wall.
Limited Storage Depth Because they’re mounted to the wall, they usually can’t be as deep as floor-standing ones. Less depth = less storage space for your stuff.
Wall Damage When Moving If you decide you want it somewhere else, you’re left with holes in the wall. Not the end of the world, but annoying if you’re renting or change your mind alot.
Best Use Cases: When to Choose Which
Go for Floor-Standing If:
- You’ve got loads of heavy stuff to store (like proper dinner sets, books, electronics)
- You rent your place and don’t want to drill loads of holes in walls
- You like changing furniture around regularly
- You want maximum storage space and aren’t too worried about floor space
- You’ve got a traditional or rustic style going on in your room
Choose Floating If:
- Your room is on the smaller side and you want it to feel more spacious
- You’re going for a modern, minimalist look
- You don’t need tons of storage or mostly store lighter items
- You want easy cleaning access underneath
- You’ve got beautiful floors you want to show off
My Personal Take
After helping my family with this decision (and living with both types at different relatives’ houses), I honestly think it depends totally on your situation.
If you’ve got a smaller living room and want it to feel more open, floating is definitely the way to go. But if you’re like my nan who has approximately a million pieces of china and needs somewhere to store it all, floor-standing is way more practical.
The Oak Castle Furniture sideboard collection has some really nice examples of both types if you want to see what I mean. Their solid oak ones are particularly gorgeous and would probably last forever.
Final Thoughts
Look, furniture shopping isn’t exactly the most exciting thing in the world (sorry mum), but getting it right makes such a difference to how your room feels. Whether you go floating or floor-standing, just make sure it actually works for your space and lifestyle.
Don’t just pick something because it looks cool on Instagram – think about what you actually need it for. Are you storing heavy stuff? Do you move furniture around alot? Is your room tiny? These are the questions that actually matter.
And honestly, both options can look amazing if you choose the right one for your space. My cousin has this floating sideboard that looks incredible in her modern flat, while my other mate’s traditional floor-standing one fits perfectly in their family dining room.
The most important thing is that it works for YOU and your space. Don’t let anyone tell you there’s only one “right” choice – furniture is personal, and what works in someone else’s house might be completely wrong for yours.
Hope this helps anyone else trying to figure out this whole sideboard situation. Good luck with your furniture hunting!