Modern homeowners tend to see sideboards as a remnant of a bygone era, however, when it comes to practical storage in your living areas and bedrooms, elegant cabinetry will always be in style. Modern sideboards with stylish finishes and sleek designs are key to a well-organised room. Where space and light are a concern, designers recommend mirrored sideboards for their ability to reflect light and create the impression of a bigger and brighter room.

Mirrored furniture is a bold design choice making a clear statement of glamour and opulence with its gleaming surfaces that add a sophisticated touch to any style, whether your space is calm and neutral or maximalist and chic. A mirrored sideboard is an adaptable addition that amplifies whatever aesthetic you’ve chosen.

An elegant large sideboard with a mirror and an eye-catching table lamp placed on it.

Why Luxury Interior Designers Recommend Mirrored Sideboards

The ultimate luxury in contemporary homes is space, however it comes at a premium, and physical limits mean that there isn’t a lot you can do to create more actual space in your home. Interior designer's advice can help you create the illusion of space in your home so you can reap the benefits of an uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing home. Mirrored sideboards are a creative and impactful way to achieve this without compromising on your style. Instead, they reflect your design choices in a size-appropriate way that will not overwhelm you or your guests like a mirror wall or tall mirrored cabinet might.

A mirrored sideboard is typically the perfect size to incorporate the many benefits of mirrored furniture into your home without turning your home into a house of mirrors, while still performing the practical function of being a storage space and display surface. Designers recommend sideboards with mirrors for their adaptable beauty, their ability to add glamour and how they reflect light, giving the appearance of larger rooms with more space.

An embossed mirrored sideboard with a geometric design and beautiful artwork displayed on it.

Advantages of a Mirrored Sideboard

Mirrors naturally create the illusion of more space. Instead of a solid end to your line of vision, a reflection looks and feels like a continuation. Mirrors on the sides of the face of your sideboard will make your room feel bigger and more spacious. The association between beauty, glamour, sophistication and mirrors doesn’t end in the bedroom or the bathroom. Hollywood glamour icon Marilyn Monroe famously had a large mirror hanging above the sofas in her living room. You can subtly infer the luxurious and glamorous style with a sideboard, moderating its effect through size and design.

Dark and dingy rooms can cause discomfort or unease, and when occupied for extended periods, can affect your mood and enjoyment of the room. Reflecting both natural and synthetic light contributes to a light and airy room, with benefits to enhance spaces you want to spend time in within your home as well as your personal well-being. A sideboard that is mainly reflective is ultimately neutral.

Stylish dark mirrored sideboard displaying fine art and decorative accessories.

Disadvantages of a Mirrored Sideboard

Like all mirrored or glass furniture a sideboard with mirrors on it will need to be cleaned and polished to remove marks and smudges that can appear easily and frequently in busy homes, especially those with young children. Dirt and marks are more obvious the more mirror surfaces you have.

Although your cupboard is reflective, it may not function practically and a mirror necessitates the addition of an actual mirror preferably in another room or on a different wall. Having a mirror above your mirrored sideboard could be excessive.

You cannot ignore cracks or fractures in your mirror. Small imperfections can compromise the appearance of the surface, cheapening it. These mirrors would likely need to be replaced. Having a mirrored cabinet will greatly affect the arrangement of your other furniture. While most furniture places can be arranged liberally, more consideration needs to be put into the placement of reflective cabinets. This will also affect how you place other furniture and affect future arrangements.

Modern compact mirrored sideboard with unique glass art pieces in a modern setting.

Things to Consider When Buying

Placement

Mirrors are a simple and elegant way to bring light into a room whether it's natural light or electric lights. This is great for rooms that could benefit from more light but can be unnerving in rooms that already have very bright light or multiple windows.

The placement of your mirrored sideboard, its size and the type of mirror used can greatly impact this effect and the probability of uncomfortable glare and heat reflection. A low sideboard should be placed out of the direct line of a window and is less likely to create an uncomfortable glare or reflect as much heat into the room.

Exploring the different types

Catching your reflection in the mirror as you walk by can be great, but seeing yourself reflected in your cabinet constantly can be unnerving. Placing your sideboard out of the direct line of your seating area or strategically out of constant sight can be the solution to this issue. Exploring different types of mirrors is another solution. Tinted mirrors, fogged mirrors or tastefully distorted mirrors are still reflective while they do not have the same glare characteristics of a typical mirror.

Convenience

Although the glass and mirrors used for furnishing are somewhat tempered, your mirror finishes are still delicate and would need to be replaced should they be damaged by heat or impact. Mirrors cannot be easily repaired and may need to be replaced. This is much easier to do with simple panelled mirrors however with mirror insets or panelled mirrors it would be best to have these repairs done by a manufacturer or a manufacturer-approved artisan who can match the mirror exactly and replicate the original appearance of your cabinet without compromising the quality of the buffet.

Sizing

Sideboards are typically wider than they are tall however different designs can be modified to suit the layout of your home. Taller cabinets can narrow the Mirror type and quality can change the effect of the reflective surface while making your ceiling appear higher. A wider buffet on the other hand can make the room look wider. Consider the effect you are looking to have on your room before settling on the height and width of your cabinet.

Styling

Mirrored sideboards can be styled in a multitude of ways and can easily be integrated into any style and colour scheme, but there is also a variety of styles you can look out for. A cupboard fully finished in mirrors is a glamorous highlight for your living room adding a dazzling element to rooms that are mainly white or pastel-coloured. Mirror finishes can have an equally light, but different effect when used in combination with wood panelling, iron or stone to create a more toned-down appearance where the sideboard is a compelling feature, but not the main focus of the room.

Stunning fully mirrored sideboard with artistic pieces, reflecting the room's charm.

Latest Trends

Mirrored sideboards can elegantly complement varied styles within the same room and even host various styled accents on the cabinet itself. Buffets made of different materials are more common to avoid having an overly reflective cupboard. The combination of materials can give the cupboard a distinctive look and feel making it less neutral and more stylised.

Black mirrored sideboards

A black sideboard with mirrored surfaces creates a striking contrast of light and darkness. This is a great fit for a dark or dramatic minimalist look with clean lines, sleek furnishings and naturalistic elements like plants or wooden accents. A small departure from monochromatic chic, this ultra-modern aesthetic is subtly glamorous and reminiscent of Art Deco.

White mirrored wood sideboards

High-polished white wood and mirrors have a similar monochromatic look, but it is more stark and clinical and suited for an aesthetic with cool minimalistic features and muted colours, but mainly shades of white. White is also the ideal colour for quiet glamour toning down the dazzling effect of the mirrors in favour of a more contemporary and futuristic appearance.

Marble and metallics

Marble and metallics are naturally cool, sumptuous and texturally similar to mirrors. This combination is boldly opulent and makes a fitting addition to a plush Old Hollywood-inspired room. Contrast the solid, smooth materials of the buffet with soft textured fabrics and carpeting to complete this look.

Striking black mirrored sideboard beneath a large mirror, adorned with vintage decor.

Summing Up: How FCI London Can Help You

FCI London is an award-winning furniture store with a curated display of exclusive designer sideboards for every mood and style.

Visit our showroom (one of the biggest in London) for inspiration and a consultation with our knowledgeable interior designers to help you plan and maybe even design your own bespoke customised sideboards, perfectly built with quality materials for your home.

Our collection includes unique buffets built to impress even the most discerning of buyers from Italian designers known for their tradition of quality, durability and distinction to local artists who capture the essence of London's ever-evolving style.

Whether you have your heart set on a dazzling mirrored sideboard already or have questions you need answered before making the room-transforming decision, we’re ready to help you envision how you can make your living space, dining room, bedroom and even your entrance hall or passage a more beautiful space with a mirrored sideboard.

Book an Appointment with an FCI Sideboards Expert

From getting your proportions right to nailing your style, our design team is at your disposal to help you find the perfect sideboards. Take advantage of our free consultation service by visiting our award-winning showroom today.

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