Highboards for the Dining Room — Dimensions, Solutions, Ideas
A highboard is a piece of furniture that typically stands between 100 cm and 130 cm high, sitting between a classic sideboard and a tall cabinet, serving in the dining room as functional storage for crockery, glassware, and table linen.
Planning a dining room requires careful coordination of walkways, seating, and storage. A well-planned highboard acts in the room like an orderly toolbox – everything has its dedicated place without the unit itself getting in the way. For seamless assembly and optimal integration into the space, exact dimensions, hardware fittings, and harmony with the rest of the interior are crucial.
Dimensions and Proportions: Choosing the Right Depth and Width
In the dining room, the depth of the furniture is often the most critical dimension. When chairs are pushed back, the unit must not obstruct the walkway. A clearance of at least 80 cm, ideally 90 cm, should be planned between the edge of the dining table and the unit.
For narrow rooms or thoroughfares, models with a shallow depth are required. A highboard with a 30 cm depth or 35 cm depth offers sufficient space for standard dinner plates (Ø 26 cm) and glasses without protruding far into the room. Deeper tableware, such as large serving platters or soup tureens, usually requires a depth of 40 cm or more.
Width also varies considerably depending on the available wall area. Narrow versions with a 50 cm width are suitable for small alcoves. If slightly more space is available, models with a 70 cm width or 75 cm width provide a solid middle ground. They generally feature two doors or a combination of doors and drawers. When planning multiple storage units in a room, it is worth reviewing available highboard dimensions to match your specific layout.
Materials and Finishes
Most modern flat-pack carcasses are made from melamine-faced chipboard or from MDF (medium-density fibreboard) for profiled fronts. These materials are warp-resistant and easy to clean.
Visually, wood decors or solid colour surfaces often dominate. A finish such as Wotan Oak brings a warm wood look to the room and is forgiving when it comes to light dust accumulation. A highboard in black, on the other hand, creates a bold, industrial, or contemporary accent, but requires deliberate lighting planning in the room since dark furniture absorbs light.
Assembly: Construction, Fittings, and Tools
Self-assembly of a highboard requires a methodical approach. Most designs rely on standardised connecting fittings. The carcass is generally held together using cam lock connectors and wooden dowels.
Required Tools
For smooth assembly, the following tools should be on hand:
- Cordless screwdriver with torque control
- Bits: PZ (Pozidriv) or PH (Phillips) in sizes 2 and 3, depending on the supplied screws
- Rubber mallet for the dowels
- Spirit level for levelling the carcass
- Screwdriver for fine-tuning the hinges
Fitting Doors and Drawers
Doors are usually attached to the carcass using a concealed cup hinge. The standard drilling diameter in the wood for the hinge cup is 35 mm. Depending on the door position on the cabinet, different overlay types are used. If the door fully covers the side panel of the carcass, it is a full overlay. If the door shares a central dividing wall with another door, a half overlay is used. After installation, the doors can be precisely aligned in height, depth, and lateral tilt using the adjustment screws on the hinge arm.
If the furniture features drawers, these run on side-mounted or concealed runners. A basic roller runner is practical, whereas ball-bearing runners or undermount runners often offer higher load capacities and smoother operation. If a full-extension runner is used, the drawer can be pulled out 100% from the cabinet – ideal for reaching cutlery right at the back.
Pure assembly time for a medium-sized highboard is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for an experienced DIYer. Important: from a certain height combined with a shallow depth (for example, 120 cm high and only 30 cm deep), the unit must strictly be anchored to the wall with anti-tip brackets.
Coordination with Dining Room Decor
A highboard rarely stands alone. The visual connection to the dining table and particularly the seating defines the atmosphere of the room. Crisp contrasts or seamless transitions set the tone.
If dark furniture or a black carcass is chosen, colourful seating can brighten the arrangement. Dining chairs in yellow or dining chairs in turquoise create a strong, warm-to-cool contrast against dark surfaces or cool concrete effects.
If the room is meant to feel calmer and more monochromatic, neutral shades are ideal. Modern dining chairs with metal sled frames or slim wooden legs blend discreetly into the overall aesthetic. In particular, dining chairs in grey harmonise excellently with wood finishes such as Wotan Oak or Sonoma Oak, as the cool grey visually balances the warm, yellowish wood tones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the minimum depth a dining room highboard should have?
To store standard dinner plates, a depth of at least 30 cm is required. For bulkier items such as large bowls or serving platters, a depth of 35 cm to 40 cm is advisable.
How do I properly adjust the doors on a highboard?
Adjustment is carried out via the three screws on the cup hinge. The rear screw regulates the distance to the carcass (gap), the front screw (often an eccentric screw) adjusts the lateral tilt left or right, and the screws on the mounting plate adjust the door in height.
Does a highboard need to be fixed to the wall?
Yes, especially when the furniture is shallow and tall (for example, 30 cm deep and over 100 cm high). When drawers are pulled out or doors are opened, the centre of gravity shifts forward. An anti-tip bracket, usually a small metal bracket with a wall plug and screw, must be fitted.