ENFEITANDO... Bancadas
Use mirrors. This floating sideboard in an open-plan living-cooking area has been given the kitchen cabinet treatment with a mirrored backsplash — though purely for aesthetic purposes this time. If your sideboard is positioned to face a view of greenery or is perpendicular to windows or doors facing the garden, the mirrored effect can be especially lovely as the reflected foliage becomes part of your interior. Photo: Ensoul Ltd
Go au naturel. These sprigs of green foliage make the most of the beautifully natural wood texture in this sideboard with shelves. If you have open shelves or shelves above your sideboard, keep either the top of the sideboard or the shelves sparsely populated or they’ll compete visually. Even on a sideboard without shelves, attractive books stacked on their sides make a great display; choose your colors with Photo: West Elm UK
Let an artwork shine. Sideboards are perfect for holding pretty objects, good-looking books, stylish lamps and plants. But you can also use them as a mini stage by leaving them almost bare. Here, it’s all about the wonderful large-scale artwork on the wall, which has little to detract from it — just a low plant and delicate bowl in colors that echo the art. If you have one standout object or image, don’t be afraid to keep things simple to make the most of it. Photo: Alex Findlater Inc
Keep an eclectic collection tidy. This sturdy, rustic piece supports a packed and eclectic display. But don’t be fooled, it’s been carefully styled with an artful eye. And symmetry again comes into play, though in a slightly different way. For your own busy arrangement, choose items that provide symmetry — a trick that will make the display look pulled together rather than chaotic. In this home office, the matching table lamps on either end of the sideboard do that job, allowing a free-flowing collection of treasures in between. Photo: De Rosee Sa
Make it practical. This painted piece is positioned at the end of a dining table, making it eminently useful for holding plates and glasses. It can be tempting to put only your best dish and glassware on display, but make your sideboard part of the family by using it daily, and make your everyday tableware lovely instead. To boost the well-loved furniture effect, further combine function with beauty by creating a gallery wall above your sideboard. Pay attention to colors and frames when assembling your collection, going for some element of coherence to keep it from looking too busy. Photo: Sarah & Bendrix
Create symmetry (but not too much). This clean-lined white sideboard (made from three cabinets joined together and mounted on a wooden plinth) has been styled with confident restraint — and hidden symmetry. Though it’s not bookended with identical lamps or decorative items, there’s still a lot of balance going on here. Note how the glimmering gold artwork sets the tone and is connected to the display below by a couple of color-matched details and the sconces that punctuate the arrangement on either side. The black, glossy lamp is echoed in the picture frames, and while the greenery and tonally similar pottery are on their own, they’re a group of three — the magic number in design that creates its own balance. When arranging any display, use your eyes to decide whether there’s equal visual weight on either side, if your colors have partners and if there’s enough variety of height and shape. Photo: 2LG Studio
Treat yourself to flowers. The sideboard is the perfect place for a fresh vase of flowers or a stem or two. Make sure you have a couple of really good vases of different shapes and sizes (for varied flowers) that work with the colors in the room, and make your blooms a key part of the display. It’s a great way to vary your sideboard display weekly, as different styles of flowers will create different moods, from strong and sculptural to soft and country. Or simply opt for blooms in a striking shade that complements a large piece of art, as seen here, or a statement object. Photo: De Rosee Sa
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