The side tables with wireless charging that are most worth living with are the ones where the technology is discreet, the charging area sits where your hand naturally falls, and the piece still works well as a table. In practice that means a stable top at sofa arm or mattress height, a charging pad set flush into the surface or neatly housed in a drawer or shelf, a single tidy power cable at the back, and ideally a spare USB port for a second device. Check that the charger supports the Qi standard, which most current phones use.
Wireless charging furniture has moved on from being a novelty. For many households it is now a sensible way to cut down on trailing leads and the nightly hunt for a charger. If you are browsing, our modern side tables UK collection is a good place to compare charging designs with conventional ones.
Most of us charge a phone every day, and the places we do it are usually the sofa and the bed. A side table with integrated charging puts the charger exactly where it is needed, without a cable draped over the arm of the sofa or across the bedside.
The benefits are mostly practical:
Charging tables suit most rooms, though they are particularly useful in older properties where sockets are rarely where you need them. Seen within our wider modern living room furniture UK sale range, they sit comfortably alongside sofas, TV units and shelving.
The cleanest design has the wireless charger set into the table top so that it sits flush with the surface. Often there is only a subtle marking, a small inset circle or a slight change in finish to show where to place the phone. This is the most discreet option and suits minimal, contemporary rooms.
Some designs hide the charger entirely beneath a thin top, charging through the wood or laminate. These look like ordinary tables, which many people prefer. The surface must be thin enough for the charger to work reliably, and the charging spot needs to be clearly indicated so you can find it in the dark.
Another approach puts the charging pad inside a drawer or on a lower shelf. This keeps the top completely clear and hides the phone away, which can be helpful if you want to reduce the temptation to scroll late at night.
Many charging tables also include one or more USB ports, usually on the side or front edge. These are useful for headphones, tablets, smart watches and older phones that do not support wireless charging.
A few tables include a standard UK plug socket as well. This is handy for a laptop charger or a lamp, though it does mean one more cable running from the table.
Most current smartphones support Qi wireless charging. If your phone is a few years old, check the manufacturer's information to confirm. Smart watches and earbuds may need their own specific chargers, so a USB port is a useful backup.
The charging spot should be where your hand naturally rests when you put your phone down. On a sofa side table, that is usually towards the front corner nearest the seat. On a bedside table, it is the edge closest to the bed. If the spot sits at the back, behind a lamp, you will find it awkward to use every day.
A good charging table has a single, neatly routed power cable. Look for a cable exit at the back, near the floor, and enough cable length to reach your socket without an extension lead stretched across the room.
The table still needs to be a good table. A stable base, a durable top and the right height for your sofa or bed matter as much as the charging technology. A wobbly table with excellent charging is still a wobbly table.
Many chargers have a small light to show that charging is working. In a living room this is rarely a problem, but in a bedroom a bright light can be distracting. Look for a soft indicator, or one that switches off once charging begins.
A few everyday factors can slow or interrupt wireless charging.
Charging side tables come in many of the same styles as conventional tables.
Wooden tops hide charging hardware well and give a warm, natural look. Oak and walnut finishes suit most living rooms and bedrooms.
Gloss tables suit modern rooms and are easy to wipe clean. The charging spot is often marked by a subtle inset.
Metal frames with wooden or composite tops are a common format for charging tables, because the frame can be slim while the top holds the charger. Glass tops are less common because the hardware would be visible through them.
Bedrooms are one of the most natural places for a charging table. A bedside cabinet with wireless charging removes the need for a cable running across the bed and makes it easy to put the phone down last thing at night.
If you would rather not have a phone within arm's reach, choose a design with the charger inside a drawer, so the phone can charge out of sight. Our bedside cabinets UK sale include a range of styles to consider alongside charging designs.
A side table usually holds a lamp as well as a phone, so plan for both. A slim lamp leaves more room for the charging spot. A lamp with its own USB port adds another charging point without extra hardware on the table. Our modern table lamps UK include compact designs that sit comfortably beside a charging area.
Keep the lamp cable and the table cable tidy by running them together down the back leg and securing them with a small clip.
Many people now work from the sofa at least some of the time. A charging side table keeps a phone topped up during the working day and gives you a stable surface for a mug or notebook. For more on making the living room work as a part time office, our article on working from the sofa in UK homes has practical ideas.
A charging side table makes most sense if you regularly charge your phone in the same spot, dislike visible cables or have sockets in awkward places. It makes less sense if you prefer fast wired charging, use several devices that need specific chargers, or move your furniture around often and would rather not be tied to a socket.
If you decide a conventional table suits you better, a slim wireless charging pad placed on any side table offers some of the same convenience. You can explore all of our side table designs, with and without charging, at Furniture in Fashion.
They work with phones that support Qi wireless charging, which includes most current models. Check your phone's specifications if you are unsure.
Yes. The table needs a single power cable running to a wall socket to power the charger.
Slim cases are usually fine. Thick, metal backed or wallet style cases can block or slow charging.
Chargers that meet recognised UK safety standards are designed for everyday use. Keep the charging area clear of metal objects and avoid covering it.
A standalone wireless charging pad placed on the surface is the simplest option. Under surface chargers are available too, but whether they work depends on the material and thickness of the top.
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