In a small lounge, the most useful side tables with storage are compact designs with a drawer and a lower shelf, slim cabinets with a door, and nests or C shaped tables that tuck away when not in use. Look for a footprint of around 40 to 50cm, a height level with your sofa arm, and storage that keeps everyday clutter such as remotes, chargers and magazines out of sight. One table that combines surface and storage almost always does more for a small room than two pieces that do one job each.
We carry a wide choice of modern side tables UK sale with drawers, shelves and cupboards, and they are designed to sit alongside the sofas and coffee tables in our living room furniture UK range. Below, we look at the designs that work hardest in compact spaces and how to choose the right one for your room.
Small living rooms are common across the UK, from terraced houses and new build homes to city flats and converted lofts. In these spaces, clutter has nowhere to hide. A few remotes, a charger cable, yesterday’s post and a stack of books can make a compact room feel crowded.
Adding a separate storage unit is often not an option because there is simply no wall space left after the sofa, TV and radiator are in place. A side table with built in storage solves two problems at once: it gives you a surface beside the sofa and a hidden home for the things that would otherwise collect on it.
A drawer is the simplest and most versatile option. It hides small items completely and keeps the top clear. A single drawer suits remotes, chargers, coasters, glasses and notebooks. Look for smooth runners and a drawer depth that fits a phone charger plug.
Combining a drawer with an open lower shelf gives you two kinds of storage. The drawer hides small clutter while the shelf holds books, a basket of throws or a few magazines. This is often the most practical design for a busy lounge.
A small cabinet with a door hides everything, including items that are not attractive to look at. It is a good choice if you want a very tidy look. The trade off is a slightly heavier appearance, so it suits rooms where the side table sits in a corner rather than in a sightline.
Tables with two or three open tiers are visually light and easy to access. They work well for displaying books and objects, but anything stored on them is on show, so they suit people who keep things tidy.
Some side tables have a hinged top revealing storage inside. These are useful for bulkier items such as spare blankets or games, although you need to clear the top each time you open it.
Before choosing, measure three things. First, the height of your sofa or chair arm, so the table top sits level or just below. Second, the space between the sofa and the nearest wall, door or radiator, so the table does not block anything. Third, the walkway in front of the table, so you are not squeezing past it every time you leave the room.
In a small lounge, a table around 40 to 50cm wide and deep is usually enough. Anything larger can start to dominate. Also check drawer and door clearance: a drawer needs space in front to open fully, and a cabinet door needs room to swing.
Storage side tables work best alongside other compact storage ideas. Wall shelves above the sofa, a slim bookcase in an alcove and baskets under a console all help keep the floor clear. Our living room storage furniture UK range includes compact pieces that complement a side table without overwhelming the room.
For magazines, newspapers and the reading that tends to pile up, a dedicated rack beside the sofa keeps the side table top clear. Our magazine racks UK are slim enough to slide alongside a chair or sofa end.
The natural spot is at the end of the sofa, but in a small lounge it can pay to think differently. A storage side table beside a single armchair can create a reading corner while keeping the sofa ends clear. In a room with a corner sofa, a table in the corner position can work, though access can be awkward, so a lift top or open shelf is easier to use there than a drawer.
If the room doubles as a workspace, a storage side table near the sofa can hold a laptop and chargers at the end of the day, keeping work out of sight during the evening.
Storage is only helpful if it stays organised. A few habits keep a side table drawer working well:
Many of the same principles apply to small bedrooms, where a bedside cabinet must balance surface and storage in a tight space. Our guide to fitting a bedside cabinet in a small UK room has useful ideas that translate well to the lounge. For a clearer understanding of how side, end and lamp tables differ, our explainer on UK side table and end table terms is a helpful reference.
The material of a storage side table affects both how it looks and how much space it seems to take up.
Pale wood such as light oak or ash feels warm without heaviness. It suits Scandinavian and relaxed modern schemes and hides dust better than dark finishes.
White or light grey high gloss reflects light around the room, which helps in lounges with small windows. Gloss fronts on drawers and cabinets look sleek and are easy to wipe clean.
Glass tops on a storage base keep the upper part of the table visually light while the drawer or shelf below does the practical work. Toughened glass is the sensible choice.
Metal frames with wooden or glass shelves are slim and strong. Open metal designs work well where you want storage but do not want a solid box beside the sofa.
Rattan and woven finishes add texture and a softer, more relaxed feel. Woven drawer fronts also let you see roughly what is inside without opening them.
Whatever you choose, try to repeat the material elsewhere in the room, perhaps in a picture frame, a lamp base or the legs of a coffee table. This simple repetition helps a small lounge look coordinated rather than filled with unrelated pieces.
The most frequent mistake is choosing a table that is too deep. A deep cabinet beside a compact sofa can jut into the room and narrow the walkway. Another is choosing storage that does not match what you own: a drawer too shallow for chargers or a shelf too low for books. Finally, avoid filling the top as well as the storage. The point of a storage table is to keep the surface clear.
The right storage side table does a surprising amount for a small living room. It gives you a surface where you need it, hides the clutter that makes a room feel cramped, and helps every piece of furniture earn its place. Measure carefully, choose a design that matches what you need to store, and keep the top simple.
You can explore compact storage side tables and other space saving pieces at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
A table around 40 to 50cm wide and deep usually works well. Check that its height matches your sofa arm and that it leaves a comfortable walkway.
A drawer hides small clutter, while a shelf suits books and baskets. A design with both often gives the most flexibility in a small room.
Not if you choose carefully. Designs on raised legs, in light finishes and with rounded edges keep the room feeling open while adding storage.
In very small lounges, two storage side tables can replace a coffee table and free up floor space in the centre of the room.
Sharing a flat changes how you think about furniture. The living room has to work…
Metal and high gloss side tables can both look modern and last well, but they…
A reading corner needs only a few things: a comfortable chair, good light and somewhere…
Open plan living is sociable and bright by day, but without walls to define each…
C shaped side tables and lamp tables both sit beside your seating, but they do…
Choosing side tables for a detached home is less about squeezing furniture into tight corners…
This website uses cookies.