It’s time for another ‘best of’ post, this time rounding up my favourite Scandinavian-style sideboards for the home. There’s been lots of new furniture launches recently – seen at Milan Furniture Fair and Maison & Objet – offering simple storage solutions with a lightweight, minimal look. I’ve seen a trend for functional, utilitarian designs made of tactile materials – sideboards made of lacquered steel, wire mesh and perforated metal. They’re versatile and offer a blank canvas to style with objects, whether it’s in the home office, dining room or TV area.
Muuto’s new Enfold sideboard (above) is top of my list – a versatile, functional design that fuses industrial references with a Scandinavian aesthetic. Designed by Danish designer Thomas Bentzen, the name comes from the way the ridged, lacquered steel gently enfolds the solid oak top and bottom. It’s available in two different heights, with adjustable shelves, and four colours – black, light grey, dusty green and sand yellow.
‘Enfold Sideboard came from the many factory visits that I do as a designer, prompting me to explore the aesthetic appeal of industrial objects. I wanted to translate this element into the modern home, combined with an appreciation of the Scandinavian design tradition,’ says Thomas Bentzen.
IKEA’s BESTÅ sideboard (below) is one of my favourites to source for clients. You can choose from a variety of combinations and there’s a multitude of options when it comes to doors, drawers and inserts, like this honeycomb design. Place BESTÅ on slender legs or mount a series of the units on the wall for a clean, simple look. Lifting furniture off the floor will give a greater sense of space to a room.
And so onto the round-up – here’s 12 of the best minimal, Scandinavian-style sideboards. There’s everything from affordable designs around the £100 mark to beautiful pieces over £1,000, with a focus on white-washed wood, light greys and black. You’ll notice most are lifted on slender legs, especially metal, giving the appearance that the cupboard units are floating. Many are devoid of handles, utilising push openers or sliding doors to give a super minimal, contemporary finish.
1. Morten sideboard, £499, Heal’s
2. Enfold sideboard in black by Muuto, £1,549, Clippings.com
3. Hopkins sideboard, £129, Made.com
4. BESTÅ storage combination, £205, IKEA
5. Stanford sideboard large from Content by Terence Conran, £1,199, someday designs
6. Drio oak 4 door sideboard, £675, Habitat
7. Artic vintage sideboard in white, £270.50, Maisons du Monde
8. Kabino sideboard by Normann Copenhagen, £725, Nest.co.uk
9. Grid sideboard, €2,014, Kristina Dam
10. MADE Essentials Mino sideboard, £249, Made.com
11. Oak Ligna sideboard by Ethnicraft, £1,139, Clippings.com
12. Cubo rectangular cabinet by Another Brand, £895, Clippings.com
What do you think, which Scandinavian-style sideboard catches your eye?
