What size sideboard do you actually need?

Measure the available wall at floor level and at the planned top height. Note skirting boards, sockets, radiators, pipes, uneven walls and door frames. The narrowest usable measurement is more useful than the room’s most generous one.

Sketch the piece on the floor with tape or cardboard. Walk around it. A cabinet that fits mathematically can still make a room feel pinched, particularly beside a dining table or in a hallway.

A two-metre sideboard may sit beautifully along a generous wall, but it is not automatically the right scale. Look at the spaces left either side, nearby doors and the rhythm of artwork or windows above. In a recess, allow room to position and assemble the cabinet rather than designing to the wall’s theoretical maximum.

A shorter cabinet can look more intentional than one squeezed into the last available centimetre. The width should also support a sensible front layout: a very wide door or drawer can place different demands on fittings and structure.

Depth often decides whether a room remains comfortable to pass through. A shallow sideboard can preserve a useful walkway, but it cannot store the same objects as a deeper cabinet. The usable internal depth is reduced by the back, fronts and hardware.

Write down the largest item you expect to store and its dimensions. If you want drawers, include runner space and the distance needed to open them. Check handle projection too: a small detail can matter in a narrow route.

Compare the proposed height with window sills, dining tables, sofas and wall art. Consider what will sit on top and whether cables need a route. A television or heavy object needs a confirmed load and stability specification; appearance alone is not evidence that a cabinet can support it.

For everyday storage, think about how often you need the upper surface and the lowest shelf. Comfortable use depends on the people in the room, not a single standard height.

A door needs a swing arc. A drawer needs travel and hand space in front. Check adjacent furniture, bed frames, radiators and nearby doors in both positions. A flush-looking closed cabinet is little use if you cannot reach what is inside.

KR8A is developing a sideboard range within manufacturing limits. Supported dimensions, clearances and fixing guidance will be published before ordering opens. Until then, use this guide to understand your room, then follow the detailed measurement checklist.