Side Table Buying Guide: Shapes, Heights and Materials

To choose a side table that works, start with height: the top should sit level with your sofa or chair arm, or up to about 5cm below it. Then choose a shape based on where it will stand: round for walkways, square for corners, rectangular for narrow gaps. Finally, pick a material that suits how the room is used, from easy care laminate and metal in busy family rooms to wood, glass or marble in quieter spaces.

Those three decisions narrow the options considerably. Our modern side tables UK sale range covers every shape and material mentioned in this guide, so you can compare them once you know what you are looking for.

Start With Height

Height affects comfort more than any other detail. If a table is too low, you lean over to reach it; too high, and it blocks your arm and looks awkward beside the sofa.

How to measure

Measure from the floor to the top of the arm of the seat the table will serve. Do not measure to the cushion. Then look for a table within about 5cm of that figure, either level or slightly below.

Typical ranges

• Low, around 40cm to 48cm: modern low back sofas, modular seating and floor cushions.
• Standard, around 50cm to 58cm: most British sofas and armchairs.
• Tall, around 60cm to 70cm: traditional sofas with high rolled arms, wing chairs and beds.

If one table serves two seats with different arm heights, such as a sofa and an armchair at an angle, aim for the lower of the two. Reaching up slightly is more comfortable than reaching down.

Choose a Shape for the Space

Shape decides how the table sits among the furniture around it, so it helps to picture the whole arrangement. Our modern living room furniture UK collection is a useful reference for how different shapes work beside sofas, chairs and coffee tables.

Round

Round tables have no corners, so they are easy to walk around and kinder to shins and small children. They soften rooms full of straight lines and suit walkways, bay windows and the gap between two chairs. In a tight corner, though, the curve leaves unused space against the walls.

Square

Square tables fill corners efficiently and suit sofas with straight, boxy arms. They feel orderly and work well in matching pairs. Their corners can be a nuisance in narrow routes.

Rectangular

A rectangular table, set with its long side against the sofa, slips into narrow gaps between a sofa and a wall. It offers a generous surface without pushing far into the room.

C shaped

The base slides under the sofa and the top reaches over the seat. It is useful for laptops, meals and very small rooms, since it uses almost no extra floor space.

Nesting

Two or three tables that tuck inside one another give you extra surfaces when guests visit. They suit flexible living rooms where the furniture moves around.

Size the Top Correctly

A top of 40cm to 50cm across holds a lamp, a drink and a book. If the table is mainly for a drink and a phone, 30cm to 35cm is enough. Beside a corner sofa, where one table serves two seats, 55cm to 60cm is more useful.

Always leave a clear walkway of at least 60cm where people pass. Marking the table outline on the floor with masking tape is the simplest way to check this before ordering.

Compare the Materials

Wood

Solid wood and wood veneer bring warmth and suit almost any room. Oak is pale to honey toned and hard wearing; walnut is darker and richer. Wood needs coasters for hot drinks and should sit a little away from radiators.

Glass

Glass lets the floor show through, which makes small rooms feel larger. It wipes clean easily but shows fingerprints. Look for toughened safety glass and secure tops in homes with children.

Metal

Powder coated steel and brass effect frames are strong, slim and easy to clean. Metal suits industrial, modern and mid century rooms and pairs well with wood or glass tops.

Marble and stone

Marble gives weight and a refined look. It is cool to the touch and very stable, but it is porous, so spills of wine, coffee and citrus should be wiped promptly. A sealed finish helps.

High gloss

Gloss lacquer reflects light and brightens a room. It is easy to wipe but shows dust and fingerprints, especially in darker colours.

Rattan and natural fibres

Rattan and woven designs are light and textured. They suit relaxed, coastal and Scandinavian rooms but are less robust under heavy use.

Storage or No Storage?

A drawer hides remotes, chargers and coasters. A lower shelf holds books, magazines or a basket. A plain table with no storage looks lighter and lets more of the floor show.

A good test is to look at what currently clutters the arm of your sofa or the floor beside it. If there is a regular pile of small items, choose a drawer. If you only need a surface for a drink in the evening, a simpler design keeps the room calmer.

If the table will sit at the end of a sofa as a substantial piece, our modern end tables UK often include drawers and cupboards for more storage.

Stability and Floors

Many British homes, especially older terraces and cottages, have floors that are not completely level. Four legs with adjustable feet cope best. A single pedestal base needs a broad, heavy foot so it does not tip when someone leans on the edge.

Felt pads under the feet protect wooden, laminate and tiled floors from scratches. On thick carpet, a table with a solid base or wider feet will sit more steadily than one on slim legs.

Think About Lighting

Side tables often carry lamps, so the two should be chosen together. A taller table raises the lamp shade, spreading light further across a sofa. A lower table works with a taller lamp to reach the same height.

As a general guide, the bottom of the lamp shade should sit roughly at eye level when you are seated. Our table lamps UK sale include a range of heights to match different tables. Think about where the lead will run too; a table near a socket avoids cables crossing the floor.

Matching the Table to the Room

Your side table does not need to match your coffee table, but it should share something with the room: a wood tone, a metal finish or a colour. That link makes the room feel planned rather than collected at random.

Names can be confusing, since the same table may be listed as a side table, end table or lamp table. Our guide to UK side table, end table and lamp table terms explains how each name is used.

The same approach applies in bedrooms, where a side table can stand in for a bedside cabinet. Our practical checklist for choosing bedside tables in UK bedrooms covers height and storage from a bedroom perspective.

Side Tables in Smaller Rooms

Many British living rooms, particularly in flats and terraced houses, leave very little space beside the sofa. In these rooms, the side table has to work harder and take up less.

Visual weight matters as much as size. A table on slim legs, or one with a glass or open shelf, lets the floor show underneath and feels lighter than a solid block of the same dimensions. Pale finishes that are close to your wall colour also help a table recede.

Think vertically, too. A taller, narrower table with a shelf below gives you two surfaces from a small footprint. Where there is no room at all, a C shaped table or a tray that sits over the sofa arm keeps a drink within reach without adding anything to the floor.

Finally, resist the urge to fill every gap. One well chosen side table at the busier end of the sofa is usually better than a matching pair squeezed into a narrow room.

A Quick Checklist Before Ordering

• Measure the arm height of the seat the table will serve.
• Measure the floor space and check a 60cm walkway remains.
• Choose a shape for the position: round, square, rectangular, C shaped or nesting.
• Choose a material that suits how the room is used.
• Decide whether you need a drawer, a shelf or neither.
• Check the base type suits your floor.
• Consider which lamp, if any, will sit on top.

You can browse the full range at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high should a side table be?

Level with the arm of your sofa or chair, or up to about 5cm below. Most fall between 45cm and 65cm high.

Which side table shape is best for a small room?

Round tables are easy to walk around, and C shaped tables use almost no extra floor space. Glass tops also help a small room feel more open.

What is the most durable material for a side table?

Metal frames, lacquered wood and laminate cope well with everyday use. Marble is very sturdy but needs prompt cleaning of spills to avoid staining.

Should my side table match my coffee table?

Not necessarily. Sharing one element, such as a wood tone or metal finish, is usually enough to make the pieces feel connected.