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How Tall Should a Lamp Be on a Sideboard? (Explained)

Lighting is one of the most essential elements in your house. So, lamps can create an aesthetic source of lighting in your living room or dining room on a sideboard.

Putting a lamp on a sideboard is entirely optional for you. But most people like to put one or two lamps on sideboards.

You have to keep in mind that a lamp can only increase to beauty of a room if it is of the correct size. Too tall or too short lamps can be unsymmetrical with other furniture.

So, knowing the right size of the lamp is necessary. This article will tell you how tall a lamp should be on a sideboard.

How tall should a lamp be on a sideboard?

A lamp on a sideboard should be 36 to 40 inches tall. The height should also match the size of the sideboard. If the lamp is in the dining room or living room, the height should be at eye level when people are seated. If there are other lamps in the room, all lamps’ sizes should be the same.

The height of a lamp on a sideboard also depends on the wall height of the room. If you have a taller wall, you should choose a taller lamp. But if you have a shorter wall, you should choose a shorter lamp.

The height should also match the height of the sideboard. If the sideboard is too tall, you can add a shorter lamp to balance the total height to eye level. But if the sideboard is too short, choose a taller lamp on it.

What size lamp for the sideboard?

Right size lamp on the sideboard can create a symmetrical look among the furniture in your room. The height, width, and overall height combination is important to arrange a lamp on the sideboard. The height of a lamp on a sideboard can be 36 to 40 inches on average.

The width of the lamp base and lampshade should match in a 1:2 ratio. If the lamp base is 5 inches, then the lampshade should be 10 inches or a little more. This ratio will make the lamp look symmetrical.

The height of the lamp should be suitable to eye level. The size of the lampshade should be at eye level when people sit on the sofa or couch.

If the height is shorter, you can increase the height by putting some books under the lamp. Thus the lamp can be suitably sized for the sideboard.

How tall should buffet lamps be?

Generally, buffet lamps are 30 to 40 inches tall. The height might change according to the height of the buffet. If the height of the buffet is too long, the lamp should be short. For example, people use 24 inches lamp if the buffet is comparatively longer.

How tall buffet lamps should depend on some factors. For example, the overall height of the lamp should be at the height so that the lampshade is at eye level when people sit. Besides, the height of the buffet lamp should be such that other lamps’ height matches with it.

Moreover, if the buffet has more than one lamp, the lamps should be of the same height. So, you need to consider other furniture’s size if you want to decide your buffet lamp height.

Do you need two lamps on a buffet?

It’s not compulsory to put two lamps on a buffet. But you can place two lamps on both sides of the buffet to look symmetrical or to style. One lamp is enough if you decorate the buffet well with other things.

You may also decorate the buffet with two lamps. But you have to keep in mind that the lamps must not look random. The height of the two lamps should be the same. The design of the two lamps should be similar or close to each other.

Moreover, if you use two lamps on a buffet, make sure to place them as far as possible from each other. If two lamps are too close to each other, the buffet will look messy. So, you can use two lamps on a buffet, but it’s optional.

What’s the difference between a sideboard and a buffet?

Sideboards and buffets are often thought to be the same. Even, they are interchangeable also. But they are not similar completely. They have some unique differences that you might notice. Let’s see the differences between a sideboard and a buffet.

Definition:

By definition, a sideboard and a buffet are pretty similar. But the intention is different in the way there are being used. A sideboard is a piece of spacious storage furniture. Generally, the sideboard has low legs and cabinets touching the floor.

But a buffet is a piece of furniture with long and low storage space. It has larger cabinets.

Placement:

Another difference is the place where you keep the furniture. A sideboard is generally held in the living room. Contrarily, you can find a buffet in the dining room. A sideboard and a buffet are interchangeable.

Storage:

What you put in the storage of furniture also defines it. For example, in sideboard storage or drawer you can put anything like books, magazines, board games, etc. Contrarily, in a buffet, you can put serving wares, plates, spoons, etc.

Do lamps have to match in a living room?

All lamps in a living room don’t have to match compulsorily. But you should maintain some factors if you use more than one lamp in a living room.

Firstly, you should choose lamps with similar or close heights.

Besides, the light reflected by the shades should be similar. Because multicolor shades can decrease the symmetrical look of your living room. The lamps don’t need to be identical. But the design should be close to one another.

The material and shape of the lamps should also match one another. If you use random lamps in your living room, the room will look weird. For maintaining an elegant look in your living room, you shouldn’t choose random lamps.

What to put under a lamp to make it taller?

Sometimes, the lamp’s height isn’t tall enough. You might need to increase the height to put it at an eye level. So, you need to put something under the lamp. Here are some suggestions you can follow to put something under the lamp.

  • You can put the same colored wooden block under the lamp to make it taller.
  • You can put some books under the lamp.
  • You can put a tripod under the lamp to increase its height.

How tall should a sideboard be?

A sideboard should be 34 to 40 inches on average. Generally, sideboards are as tall as the kitchen counter. A kitchen counter is generally 36 inches tall. That means a sideboard should be 36 inches or close to it.

A sideboard’s height should be such that you can match your height. If you choose a too tall sideboard, it won’t be convenient when you use it. If you use a too short sideboard, it will look unsymmetrical. So, the height should be at your height’s level.

Another essential factor is other furniture’s height. The height of the sideboard should match the other furniture’s height. Similar heights will make the room look symmetrical.