A plinth side table works well in a reading corner because its solid, grounded form is stable enough to hold a hot drink and a stack of books, it has no legs to catch your feet, and it looks calm beside an armchair. The strongest choices sit between 45 and 55 centimetres high, have a top at least 35 centimetres across and are made from a material that copes with the occasional mug ring.
A plinth table is essentially a block or drum: a top that runs straight down to the floor without visible legs. Within our range of modern side tables UK sale you will find cylinders, cubes and pedestal shapes that follow this idea, and each one suits a slightly different kind of reading nook.
Reading corners tend to be small, often squeezed into the space beside a window, at the turn of a staircase or between a chimney breast and an alcove. In those spots, a table with four splayed legs takes up more floor than its top suggests, and the legs can clash with the feet of the chair. A plinth occupies exactly its own footprint, so it slots tightly against the chair without creating awkward gaps. It also sits comfortably alongside other pieces of modern living room furniture UK, because its simple outline does not compete with the shapes around it.
The weight matters too. When you reach for a cup without looking up from the page, a heavy table does not slide or wobble. Because the mass is low and evenly distributed, plinths are very difficult to knock over, which is reassuring if the corner sees children or pets passing through.
Round plinths are the most forgiving in tight corners. With no sharp edges, they let you get in and out of the chair easily and are kinder on shins. They pair especially well with curved chairs and boucle or velvet upholstery.
Square plinths sit flush against walls and the straight sides of a chair. They suit more architectural rooms and work well in pairs either side of a window seat. Check the corners are gently radiused if you have young children.
A plinth that narrows towards the middle or the base gives a little more toe room while keeping the solid look. These are a good compromise if your chair has a deep seat and you tend to sit with your feet tucked in.
Vertical grooves around the sides add texture and catch the light from a nearby lamp. They bring interest to a quiet corner without needing any additional decoration on the table.
Marble, travertine and other stones are the classic plinth materials. They are heavy, cool to the touch and quietly luxurious. They are also porous to varying degrees, so they benefit from a coaster and regular sealing if you drink tea or coffee while reading.
Oak, ash and walnut feel warmer and softer in a reading space. A wooden plinth is lighter than stone, which makes it easier to move when you rearrange the room, and the grain gives the piece natural character.
These offer the sculptural shape of stone at a lower weight. They look striking in minimal schemes, though the surface can chip if knocked, so position them away from doorways.
A glossy plinth reflects light around a dim corner, which can be useful in rooms that face north. It does show fingerprints, so a matt or satin finish may be more practical if the table is touched often.
Measure the arm height of your reading chair before you choose. The table top should sit level with the arm or a few centimetres below it, so your hand falls naturally onto the surface. For most lounge chairs this lands between 45 and 55 centimetres.
For diameter or width, aim for a top large enough to hold a mug, a book lying flat and perhaps a pair of glasses. That usually means 35 to 45 centimetres. Anything smaller becomes a perch for a single cup; anything much larger starts to crowd the chair.
Leave a small gap of a few centimetres between the table and the chair so you can slide your hand down the side to retrieve a dropped bookmark, and so the upholstery is not rubbed by the table edge.
A reading corner is a partnership between the seat and the surface beside it. Low, enveloping tub chairs UK sit beautifully next to a drum plinth because the two curves echo each other. Taller wingback styles call for a slightly higher table, so the top does not disappear below the arm.
If you want a little more room to stretch out, a footstool in a matching fabric extends the corner without adding visual clutter. Choosing all three at the same time makes it easier to balance their heights and colours.
Because plinth tables have a compact top, you may prefer to keep it clear of a lamp base and light the corner from above or behind instead. A floor lamp positioned behind the shoulder you do not turn pages with tends to give the most comfortable reading light, falling across the page without creating shadows from your hand.
Our selection of modern floor lamps UK includes arc, tripod and slim column designs that sit neatly behind a reading chair. For a wider look at how lamps are used in British homes, our report on how UK households use floor lamps offers useful context.
A plinth already has strong presence, so less is more on top. A short stack of current reads, a small bowl for reading glasses and a coaster are usually enough. A trailing plant can soften a stone plinth beautifully, though make sure the pot has a saucer so water does not mark the surface.
Consider the floor too. A small round rug beneath the chair and table ties the two together and defines the corner as its own zone, which is helpful in open plan rooms where the reading spot shares space with a dining table or television.
Sculptural plinths often photograph beautifully with a single vase on top, but a reading corner asks more of the surface. If the top is under 30 centimetres across, you will find yourself balancing a mug on a paperback. Check the usable diameter rather than the overall size, as some designs have a raised lip or bevelled edge that reduces the flat area.
A slender plinth beside a deep, generously upholstered armchair can look lost, while a broad stone drum next to a delicate occasional chair can overwhelm it. Aim for a table whose width is roughly a third to a half of the chair’s width, and whose visual weight sits in balance with the upholstery.
Because a plinth meets the floor across its whole base, it shows every slope and uneven board. Older UK houses rarely have truly level floors, so check whether the base has small adjustable feet or felt pads that can compensate. A table that rocks slightly on a Victorian floorboard will quickly become irritating.
Think about which hand you reach with and whether you sit upright or curled up with your legs tucked beneath you. Most people find it easiest to have the table on the side of their dominant hand. If you tend to sit sideways in the chair, a slightly taller plinth may be more comfortable than one matched precisely to the arm height.
It is tempting to choose a dramatic travertine block seen in a large apartment, but in a modest corner a smaller drum in warm wood often does the job better and leaves the space feeling calm. Measure first, then let the corner guide the choice.
Stone plinths can weigh a good deal. On older suspended timber floors this is rarely a concern for a single small table, but it is worth placing felt pads underneath to protect floorboards and make adjustments easier.
Many reading corners sit beside a window with a radiator below. Keep wooden plinths a short distance from direct heat to avoid drying and movement in the timber, and avoid placing a dark lacquered plinth in strong afternoon sun, where the finish may fade over time.
Wipe stone with a soft damp cloth and a pH neutral cleaner, never anything acidic. Dust wood with a dry microfibre cloth and use a suitable wax occasionally. Painted and plaster finishes generally only need a light dusting.
To explore plinth and pedestal tables alongside chairs and lighting, visit Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
It is a side table with a solid base that runs straight from the top to the floor, with no separate legs. Common shapes include cylinders, cubes and tapered pedestals.
Yes. Their weight and low centre of gravity make them very stable, and the absence of legs makes them easy to clean around. Use coasters on porous stone to avoid marks.
Aim for a top that sits level with the chair arm or slightly below it, usually 45 to 55 centimetres from the floor.
It can if the top is wide enough, but in a reading corner many people prefer a floor lamp so the table stays free for books and drinks.
A round wooden or plaster effect plinth is lighter and easier to position in tight spaces, while stone adds more weight and stability if the corner is busy.
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