Let’s cut to the chase: I’ve spent the last 7 years selling sideboards to people who either just moved into a new apartment, are finally clearing out their hoarded closet space, or are testing wild “what if?” hacks that pop up on TikTok. The most common question I get right after, “Do you deliver before the weekend?” is this: Can a sideboard actually work as a bookshelf? Side Board
First, let’s get one thing straight—when people ask this, they’re not just swapping furniture types for fun. They’re dealing with real, messy problems: maybe their studio apartment only has room for one big piece that does everything (store dishes, hold their kid’s chapter books, hide their work laptop), maybe they already bought a bookshelf that’s way too shallow for their oversized coffee table books, or maybe they just don’t want to drop an extra $300 on a whole new bookshelf when the sideboard in their living room is only being used to hold takeout containers.
I’m not here to say “yes” or “no” without the fine print—this is a sideboard vendor, not a TikTok trend chaser, so I’ve seen what actually works (and what ends up with a customer emailing me to return 12 of their 15 novels that toppled over). Let’s break this down like I’m chatting with a regular who just texted me from a furniture store parking lot, scrolling my website from their phone.
First, the big one: structural integrity. A lot of people think any wooden box on legs can hold books, but nope—sideboards are built for different stuff. Most standard sideboards (the ones I sell, anyway—solid pine or engineered wood with reinforced corner blocks, not the flimsy ones from big-box stores) have a weight limit. Wait, do I say weight limits to customers? Yeah, but most of them ignore it until their top shelf sags. For reference: a standard 60-inch sideboard I stock has a top surface weight limit of 150 lbs. That’s roughly 60 standard paperbacks, or 25 coffee table books. Not nothing, but definitely not enough for a full wall of encyclopedias.
Then there’s the depth. A standard sideboard is usually 18 to 24 inches deep. Most bookshelves are 12 to 15 inches deep—so that extra 3 to 9 inches? Game changer. Let’s be real: if you have a huge art book that’s 2 inches thick or a textbook that’s 1.5 feet tall, a standard bookshelf is too shallow to fit it without it sticking out like a sore thumb. A sideboard’s depth? Perfect. I’ve had a customer in Portland use her 22-inch deep sideboard to hold her collection of art history books, and she said it was way better than her old bookshelf that made her oversized monographs stick out 2 inches.
Wait, but hold on—there’s a catch with height, right? Most sideboards are 30 to 36 inches tall. A standard bookshelf is usually 70 to 80 inches tall. So if you’re thinking “use a sideboard as a full bookcase,” you’re out of luck—unless you get a low-profile sideboard and stack multiple, but that’s a different hack. If you want to use a sideboard as part of your bookshelf setup, or as an accent piece that holds your favorite visible books while storage goes elsewhere, that works. A lot of people don’t realize that their sideboard’s lower cabinet (the part with doors, not the top surface) is great for storing books too. Wait—can you put books inside the cabinet? Yeah, as long as they’re not too heavy. I’ve had a customer who stores her kid’s board books, craft supplies, and even a few small paperbacks in her sideboard’s lower cabinet, and it works because you don’t have to see the ones that are messy.
But let’s talk about the stuff that goes wrong when people wing this. I had a customer in Brooklyn email me last year saying her sideboard was “ruined” after using it as a bookshelf. What did she do? She crammed 80 hardcover books on the top surface, and they were all leaning way forward. The front edge of the sideboard’s top (the lip, right?) isn’t designed to hold that much weight leaning out. The wood started to warp, and a few books fell off and scratched the finish. That’s the mistake most people make: they don’t think about the front lip. A lot of sideboards have a small lip (1 to 2 inches) along the front to hold plates or bowls. If you pile books leaning against that lip, the weight is pulling forward, not down. So what’s the fix? Either don’t lean the books, or buy a few simple bookends (I sell these little marble ones that fit perfectly with my sideboards) to keep them upright. I told that Brooklyn customer to trim the books down a little (no, not literally—she moved the heavy hardcovers to the lower cabinet and put paperbacks on the top), and she wrote back a week later saying it was perfect.
Another thing: style. I sell sideboards in all kinds of styles—modern, farmhouse, mid-century, even boho with woven doors. So this is subjective, but if you want your bookshelf to blend in, a sideboard works way better than a plain metal or particleboard bookshelf. My mid-century sideboards have that tapered leg look, so if you put a few art books on top, it looks like it’s supposed to be there, not like you grabbed a random piece of furniture for storage. I had a interior designer client use my sideboards in a living room instead of a built-in bookshelf, and she said it gave the space a more “lived-in, curated” feel instead of the generic look of a big bookshelf. She stacked a mix of books, small plants, and ceramic vases on top, and it’s way more functional than a standard bookshelf because she can close the doors on the stuff she doesn’t want guests to see.
Wait, but what about people who have super heavy books? Like, textbook collections or old encyclopedias that weigh 5 lbs each? Then a sideboard’s top surface might not be enough. Let’s do the math: 60-inch sideboard top is 150 lbs. If each encyclopedia is 5 lbs, that’s 30 books. Most full bookshelves can hold up to 300 lbs total, so a sideboard is half that, but if you’re only storing a few favorite heavy books, that’s fine. The lower cabinet is actually better for heavy books because the weight is distributed on the floor, not hanging off the top surface. So if you have a set of encyclopedias, put them in the lower cabinet of the sideboard, not on top. That way, you don’t risk warping the wood or damaging the finish.
Also, let’s talk about small spaces. I can’t stress this enough—if you live in a studio apartment or a tiny 1-bed, a sideboard that doubles as a bookshelf is a lifesaver. My 48-inch sideboard is perfect for a studio: it holds my customer’s dishes, their work laptop, and 20-25 books on top. No need for a separate bookshelf that takes up 3 feet of floor space. A lot of people don’t realize that sideboards are narrower than most bookshelves? Wait, no—wait, a standard bookshelf is 36 inches wide, a sideboard is usually 48 to 60 inches wide. So it’s actually wider, but shorter. So it fits against a wall, doesn’t block a doorway, and has the extra surface for other stuff.
But let’s get real about the cons, because I’m not here to sell you something that will make your home look messy. The biggest downside is height. If you need to store a lot of books, a sideboard alone can’t hold a full collection. My sideboards are 36 inches tall, so the top plus the lower cabinet is roughly 60 inches of storage. A standard bookshelf is 80 inches, so that’s 20 inches less. So if you have 100 books, a sideboard plus a small bookshelf might be enough, but a sideboard alone won’t do it. Another con: some sideboards are made of engineered wood, which is weaker than solid wood. If you buy a cheap sideboard from a big-box store, don’t use it as a bookshelf—its weight limit is like 50 lbs, so it will sag or break. That’s why I only sell solid wood or reinforced engineered wood sideboards, because I know they can handle the weight.
Wait, I had a customer in Austin who used two of my 36-inch sideboards stacked on each other? No, wait, she put a narrow sideboard on top of a taller buffet (which is just a taller sideboard, by the way). She said it made a 72-inch tall bookshelf that was perfect for her collection of fantasy novels. That’s a hack I never thought of, but it works. Just make sure they’re secured to the wall, because two pieces of furniture on top of each other can tip. I always tell my customers to use wall anchors for anything over 30 inches tall, so that’s a safe rule for this hack too.
Another thing: finishes. If you’re using a light-colored sideboard, you have to be careful with book covers. Paperback covers can bleed, especially if they’re placed on the sideboard for a long time. I tell my customers to put a thin cloth or a piece of shelf liner on the top surface before piling books on it. That way, you don’t get blue or red stains on the white or oak finish. It’s a small step, but it prevents the kind of damage that makes customers email me upset.
Let’s circle back to the original question: Can a sideboard be used as a bookshelf? The answer is yes, but only if you adjust how you use it. It’s not a replacement for a full-sized bookshelf, but it’s a perfect secondary storage piece, especially in small spaces. If you’re only storing 20-30 books, or using it to display your favorite books alongside other decor, it works great. If you have a huge collection of heavy books, you’ll need to pair it with another storage piece, or stick to using the lower cabinet for the heaviest stuff.
Now, if you’re thinking about trying this hack (or buying a sideboard that works as a bookshelf), here’s my quick guide: First, measure your books. Make sure the sideboard is deep enough for your tallest or widest books. Second, check the weight limit. I list the weight limit for every sideboard on my website, so don’t ignore that—even if you love a piece, if it only holds 50 lbs, it’s not going to work for books. Third, add bookends. They’re cheap, and they prevent books from leaning and damaging the sideboard. Fourth, clean the top surface first, maybe add a shelf liner to prevent stains.
At the end of the day, I don’t sell sideboards just to hold plates and bowls. I sell furniture that works for your life, and if your life needs a piece that stores dishes and books, that’s my jam. If you’re in the market for a sideboard that can double as a bookshelf, or want more tips on picking the right size or style for your space, feel free to reach out to my team for a chat. We can help you figure out exactly what you need, no pressure, just real advice from a sideboard vendor who’s seen it all.
Wait, one last funny story: Last month, a customer brought in her collection of 1980s sci-fi paperbacks to show me, and said she used her old hand-me-down sideboard as a bookshelf for years, but it sagged so bad the books looked like they were melting. She bought one of my reinforced pine sideboards, put the heavy books in the lower cabinet, and the paperbacks on top with bookends. She texted me a photo a week later, and it looked like it was supposed to be in a home decor magazine. That’s the win I love—helping people make their space work for them, not against them.
Melamine Dining Table So to wrap this up: Can a sideboard be used as a bookshelf? Sure, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all. It’s a flexible, space-saving option that works for small collections, curated displays, or adding extra storage to a room that already has a full bookshelf. Just make sure you’re picking a sideboard that’s built to handle the weight, measuring for your books, and taking simple steps to protect the finish. If you’re ready to find a sideboard that fits your storage needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements and find the perfect piece for your home.
References
- National Association of Home Builders. (2022). "Space-Saving Furniture for Small Living Spaces." Home Innovation Research Series.
- American Society of Interior Designers. (2021). "Furniture Weight Load Guidelines for Residential Use." ASID Professional Practice Report.
- Woodworks Association. (2023). "Structural Integrity of Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood Furniture." Wood Industry Safety & Standards Bulletin.
Bazou Wenyuan Furniture Co., Ltd.
Bazou Wenyuan Furniture Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional side board manufacturers and suppliers in China, also supports customized service. We warmly welcome you to wholesale bulk advanced side board from our factory. If you have any enquiry about quotation, please feel free to email us.
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