How to choose a sideboard for a living room?

Among the huge assortment of furniture offered, it becomes difficult to choose a curbstone in the living room. But there are several rules, thanks to which you can minimize the risk of choosing the wrong model. You should take into account the expected size of the cabinet, its location, as well as the general style of the interior. The color of the product and the degree of illumination of the space are also important.

The sizes of the pedestals can be very diverse, it all depends on the purpose of the product and the imagination of the master. For a spacious living room in a classic style, massive chests of drawers made of natural wood are suitable. In a modern style, large wall-to-wall TV stands or an aquarium will look great. Tall and narrow models will adorn elegant rooms in the minimalist style.

The types of pedestals differ:

• By appointment. A long TV stand will differ from a chest of drawers with drawers for clothes, and an elegant cabinet with glass will become a convenient place for dishes, but not suitable for storing personal belongings;
• Based on materials. As a rule, wood with elements of metal, plastic and glass is used in the production of this type of furniture. The most elite and high-quality products are considered to be solid timber, but they are high in price and not always profitable. For example, in a modern-style living room, it is not at all necessary to purchase a carved chest of drawers made of bleached oak, when there are excellent models made of chipboard and MDF boards, covered with high-strength plastic film;

• By forms. Here, the flight of imagination of the masters is not limited, but square and round models remain classic options. Tables-pedestals of this shape have a folding mechanism and easily turn into a rectangle or an oval, respectively;
• By design. Although standard floor cabinets are classics that never go out of style, various modifications of cabinets have also gained popularity. They can be suspended, floor-standing, on legs, on casters. Transformer cabinets are especially popular for modern interiors - their increased functionality allows this furniture to be used for different purposes;
• According to the style direction. Since the curbstone is one of the decorative elements of the entire interior, it must correspond to the style of the room and fit into the overall color scheme.

The curbstones also differ in color schemes that correspond to certain styles:

• the color of natural wood is considered a classic for furniture, but do not forget about the stylish shades of the rest of the color range;
• white color is a universal design solution for any interior;
• light tones of beige, milky, pearl tones are able to visually expand the space, fill it with air;

• dark deep shades of black, wenge, chocolate will add respectability and elegance to the interior in a classic style;
• mahogany or its imitation will complement the Art Nouveau style or even become its highlight if the cabinet doors are made in the style of a mosaic stained glass window;
• gentle pastel colors, bleached oak, artificially aged wood with blue, pink, light green shades are suitable for the Provence style;
• country style directions gravitate towards natural wood and untreated metal. It can be furniture made of wood of natural shades or rattan furniture;
• when decorating a living room in colorful colors of modern styles or pop art, do not forget about the wide possibilities of photo printing - bright drawings will create a mood and fill the room with characteristic notes.

The modern market for furniture production offers a huge selection of all shapes, configurations and materials.

The main selection criterion is the purpose of the curbstone:

• hinged long for video and audio equipment as an analogue of a furniture wall in the style of minimalism;
• wide corner, with many compartments for things and dishes;
• transformers that fold out into a large dining table;
• low backlit consoles for a wall with paintings or photographs.

When choosing the model you like, pay attention to the quality of the product. The material must be strong and well-fitted, all fasteners must be present, and the mechanisms in collapsible models must work properly.

The drawers will also tell about the quality of the product: the drawers should slide freely, without effort and extraneous sounds. The handles on doors and drawers must be firmly attached, not move or wobble at the slightest pressure. No less attention should be paid to the legs of the cabinet and the bottom, the durability of the entire product depends on it.

Most often, the issue of placing this or that furniture arises in small rooms. The more spacious the living room, the more layout options. For large rooms, it is only recommended to maintain the design of the cabinet in the style direction of the living room, and also take into account that the dimensions of the product are proportional to the rest of the furniture.

The situation is more complicated when there are few square meters, and the furniture should play the role of not only decor, but also be as functional as possible. In such cases, you should pay attention to the transformer cabinets.

• Folded table-cabinet does not take up much space, it is a capacious storage of festive dishes or coffee sets, and when guests arrive, it unfolds into a voluminous dining table.

• A corner bureau can be a great workplace in a small living room. By placing such a cabinet in an empty corner, you will save space and allocate a work area. In this case, boxes or built-on shelves will be filled with working documents and stationery. This option is also ideal for small apartments in which you need to equip a place for school activities.

• A small bedside table by the sofa can replace a coffee table. It does not take up much space and can be used to store newspapers, household items, handicrafts. In the version of the coffee table, it is better to choose a bedside table on wheels, with an open space under the table top. So it will weigh less, and the wheels will allow you to move it freely.

Classic options for rectangular or square chest of drawers perfectly complement any interior and are a functional piece of furniture. They can be made in an inconspicuous execution of the minimalism style, or they can attract attention with lush decor, wood carvings and forged gilded fittings. The latter option will be a great addition to the luxury of the Baroque and Rococo styles.

A massive cabinet made of noble wood species without unnecessary decorations can serve as a decoration for a living room in a classic style. On such a curbstone, an aquarium or works of decorative art will look perfect. For example, a vase of fine workmanship or a large figurine.

In a modern-style living room, long wall-mounted TV stands and equipment are appropriate. They will create a feeling of lightness and weightlessness of the furniture wall. To enhance the airiness of the room, you should choose cabinets with an open interior space or with glass sliding doors. Glass can be sprayed in various colors, which will create an opportunity to emphasize the color scheme of the entire interior as a whole. The main requirement for hinged products is the strength of the fasteners and the wall.Make sure the furniture will be suspended from a load-bearing stable surface.

For all modern styles, without exception, furniture made of inexpensive wood-based panels, pasted over with a durable plastic film, is suitable. It can be of various colors, matte or glossy, decorated or plain. Plastic will give the product not only a stylish appearance, but also significantly increase the durability of the product.

Showcase cabinets. This option assumes a completely transparent space inside the pedestals. Glass doors and glass shelves will serve as a place to display all kinds of dear little things, figurines, photographs or awards. However, it should be borne in mind that the "showcase" in such a cabinet should be at eye level, and therefore the lower part of the cabinet can be closed. In this case, the product takes on the appearance of a sideboard, and its functionality increases.

Cabinet with a mirror. A kind of a lady's table can become a decoration not only for a bedroom or a corridor, but also take a quite worthy place in a small living room. Especially in a compact room, where the mirror will serve all family members and guests at once. In addition, mirrors visually enlarge the space.

For information on how to assemble a TV stand with your own hands, see the next video.