Many homes display a sideboard, which is a piece of furniture that has both storage and room for serving food or displaying accessories meaningful to the homeowner. Whether you purchase one brand new, second hand, or have been given one that has been passed down through the years, the cost can be expensive and depends greatly on what exactly you are looking for.
The price of sideboards can be high depending on the needs of the consumer, with costs ranging anywhere from the low hundreds to the thousands. This price varies depending on the aesthetic, style, materials used, the age of the piece, the quality, and how many years it is expected to last.
The consumer is putting their trust in this piece of furniture to hold food and storage, which means the manufacturer needs to use the best quality of material to provide a stable and reliable product. With quality comes cost and trust in the product doing what it is intended to do. Read on to learn more about how sideboards function, why they are so expensive, and why the cost is worth it.
Why Sideboards Are Expensive
There are several defining factors that go into the cost of a sideboard, many of which cause prices to increase. The main indicators of sideboard costs include:
- Material of the sideboard
- Quality of the material
- Design and craftsmanship
The wood that the piece is made from can have a significant impact on the cost. As the supply and demand of certain woods rise and fall, so does the cost of the production of furniture. The better the wood, the more a consumer is going to have to spend.
If choosing a sideboard not made from wood, the consumer has to consider the cost of the metals, plastics, fiberglass, or other materials being used. Not everything carries the same price. That fact is reflected in the fluctuation of costs you see when researching sideboards available for purchase.
Sideboards are made with the intention of lasting as long as possible. This could mean your sideboard would travel through several moves to be passed down through generations of a family. With that in mind, most manufacturers spend more on the quality of wood to increase a sideboard’s durability and allow it to stand the test of time.
Some sideboard pieces have been around since the 17th century, making them more costly. The longevity means the piece was crafted to last. Additionally, the history of the piece increases the value significantly. Individuals pride themselves on having unique pieces and nothing is more valuable than an antique piece of furniture dating back hundreds of years, or one that has been in a family for many generations.
Sideboard Materials Matter
Generally, sideboards are made from wood. There are designs made from particleboard (less expensive options) to rosewood or maple (pricier options), and everything in between.
In more modern furniture creations, people are using metal, plastics, glass, stainless steel, and fiberglass, all of which can be seen in various types of sideboards.
What Is the Purpose of a Sideboard?
As households grew, so did the need for more types of furniture to cater to the growing demands of homeowners. When space became available for separate dining rooms, the need for new functional pieces began to appear. Having a separate piece of furniture to display food or dishes, while also creating more storage came into existence, and thus the birth of the sideboard.
It is important to note that a sideboard is sometimes referred to as a buffet, however, those are two different pieces of furniture. A sideboard sits directly on the floor or has short legs while a buffet has longer legs. There are some other differences in lengths and depth, though most differentiate by the legs alone.
A sideboard can be used for a variety of reasons, including:
- Food display
- Storage
- Display for decorative items such as lamps, pictures, knick-knacks
Though originally intended for the dining room, a sideboard has become a multifunctional piece that has moved into various locations throughout the house. Anywhere that needs extra storage or display space could benefit from having a sideboard. From practical food storage to a place to display sentimental keepsakes, there are many opportunities to use sideboards.
History of a Sideboard’s Purpose
Throughout history, social status was given to those that could afford certain pieces of furniture or items for their homes. Having a sideboard in your dining room, a place where your fine china and cutlery could be stored safely, and displayed with pride, was a status most strived for.
Making their appearance in Britain in the 1600s to the 1700s, families would have their sideboards expertly carved out of the finest woods and designed to represent their desires. Though not all were artistic. Some designs were simple, having only a flat wood top with legs. After all, its very basic purpose was to be a surface to hold food and dishes for serving at meals, keeping the dining room table free for the family.
As the years progressed, more designs and styles began to appear, appealing to the needs and wants of a growing society. Though today most would rather buy their own sideboard, having it fit the style choices of their home, some individuals scour flea markets and antique stores, looking for sideboards that are hundreds of years old, sturdy, and unique with age.
Styles of Sideboards
As homeowners develop their own unique decorating styles, furniture has developed a need to expand to the demand of those growing needs. Sideboards are no exception.
Some sideboards were crafted to match a homeowner’s dining room table and other accents that may come with a dining set. If your dining set did not come with one, there are many styles on dozens of websites to help you find the perfect match.
If you do not want to match your dining set, and want a statement piece that stands out, there are options for that as well. From colorful accent pieces to modern sleek designs, there are many choices to fit your creativity and inspiration within your home.
As more and more homeowners find joy in DIY projects, they are finding ways of repurposing older pieces of furniture into unique one-of-a-kind sideboards.
Location of Sideboards
Although sideboards were originally created as a piece of furniture to use in a dining room, through the years they have moved locations in order to fit the needs and desires of the consumer.
Websites and stores are also advertising sideboards that can be used in places like living rooms, hallways, bedrooms, and kitchens. Because they have such an extensive history and can be applied in different ways, you can find them in these places and even in others if you have more creative interior decorating.
Anywhere that an individual can use some extra storage and display space, a sideboard can be utilized. They are no longer just a dining room accessory as consumers are looking for new and creative ways to store and display personal belongings and prized possessions.
Conclusion
How expensive a sideboard can be will depend greatly on what a consumer is looking for in the piece. What it is made of, the size, the age and history, and the design are all factors to consider when making the purchasing investment.
It can be worth spending the money on a sideboard that fits the uniqueness of your home and matches the functionality you are looking for. Because the price can vary, it is important that the consumer invests the time to research what they want, what materials they are looking for, and the design and style that best matches their home so they can best make a purchase according to those specifications.