To measure up for a lamp table, you need four figures: the height of the sofa or chair arm, the depth of that seat, the width of floor available beside it, and the clear walkway you must keep. A lamp table should sit level with the arm or up to 5cm below it, be no deeper than the seat beside it, and leave at least 60cm of passage around it. Add the base width of your lamp to the list as well, because the table top needs to be wider than the lamp with some room to spare.
With those four or five numbers written down, choosing becomes much easier. You can quickly rule out designs that would be too tall, too deep or too wide, and focus on the ones that fit. Our range of modern end tables UK lists dimensions for every piece, so you can compare directly against your notes.
A lamp table is a small table whose main job is to hold a lamp at the side of a seat. In most British homes it doubles as a place for a drink, a phone or a book. The term overlaps heavily with side table and end table, and many people use them interchangeably.
What sets a lamp table apart in practice is that it is planned around lighting. That means its height needs to work not just for reaching a cup, but for placing the lamp shade at the right level for reading. It also sits within a wider scheme, so it is worth glancing at our modern living room furniture UK sale to see how lamp tables relate to sofas, chairs and storage.
Sit on the sofa or chair as you normally would. Measure from the floor to the top of the arm at the point where your hand naturally rests. This is your key height.
A lamp table that sits level with this point, or up to 5cm below, is comfortable to reach. If it sits higher than the arm, you will find yourself lifting your elbow awkwardly. If it sits much lower, you will lean over the side.
For armless sofas and chairs, measure the seat height instead, from the floor to the top of the cushion when it is compressed by sitting. Add 10cm to 15cm to find a comfortable table height.
Some modern sofas have low, wide arms. Some traditional chairs have high, rolled arms. In both cases, the rule still applies, but check that the lamp itself will sit at a sensible height above it. That brings us to the next measurement.
For comfortable reading, the bottom of the lamp shade is usually best at roughly eye level when you are seated. For most adults on a standard sofa, that tends to be somewhere around 95cm to 110cm from the floor, though it varies with seat height and your own height.
Add the table height to the lamp height, measured from the base to the bottom of the shade. If the total puts the shade far above your eye line, the light will shine down onto the top of your head rather than onto your book. If the total puts it below, you will see the bulb when you look across. Adjust by choosing a taller or shorter lamp, or a slightly different table height.
Our modern table lamps UK sale range lists overall height for each design, which makes this calculation straightforward.
Measure the sofa or chair from the very back to the front edge of the arm. A lamp table should not be deeper than this. If it is, it will project beyond the front of the seat and become something to bump into.
In most living rooms, a table that stops a few centimetres short of the front of the arm looks neat and feels safe. Round tables are slightly more forgiving here, because there are no corners projecting forward.
Now measure the space beside the sofa or chair: from the side of the arm to the nearest obstruction. That might be a wall, a radiator, a window, a bookcase or a door.
Subtract a few centimetres on each side so the table is not wedged in. A gap of 5cm to 10cm between the table and the arm, and at least the same again on the far side, keeps things looking deliberate.
This is the measurement most often overlooked. If the lamp table sits on a route people walk through, such as the path from the door to the window or from the sofa to the kitchen, you need to keep a clear passage.
In many British terraced houses and flats, living rooms have doors in awkward places. Open the door fully and check it does not hit the table or the lamp shade. Shades are easy to forget because they sit above the table footprint.
Measure the base of your lamp. The table top should be wider than this with room left over for at least a cup and a phone. As a guide:
Also consider the shade. A wide drum shade can overhang a small table, which looks unbalanced and may catch on passing shoulders. As a loose rule, the shade should not be dramatically wider than the table top.
Using masking tape, mark the footprint of the table on the floor. Then sit down and reach for the space. Walk past it. Open nearby doors. Leave the tape in place for a day or two. This simple step catches problems that numbers alone miss.
A larger sofa can take a slightly larger lamp table, typically 45cm to 55cm across. If you have space at both ends, two tables create balance.
Keep tables compact, generally 35cm to 45cm across, so the arrangement does not look top heavy.
An armchair usually needs a smaller table than a sofa. A slim round table or a tall narrow design often works best.
The open end of a corner sofa is the natural spot for a lamp table. Avoid wedging one into the inside corner, where it is hard to reach from either side.
Because lamp tables are all about light, the finish of the table can work with the lamp. Gloss and glass surfaces reflect lamplight and help brighten a dim corner. Wood and stone absorb more light and create a warmer, softer pool. If your living room is dark, our high gloss side and lamp tables UK are worth a look for their reflective quality.
When searching, you will see lamp tables, side tables and end tables used in overlapping ways. Our guide to lamp table, side table and end table terms in UK homes sets out how each is usually defined, which can make browsing a little clearer.
When you have your measurements, you can browse our full range at Furniture in Fashion and filter by the size that suits your room.
Level with the arm of the sofa or chair, or up to 5cm below it. For most sofas, that means somewhere between 50cm and 65cm.
Wide enough to hold the lamp base with room for a drink. For most living rooms, a top of 40cm to 50cm across works well.
Ideally not by much. A shade that overhangs the table significantly can look unbalanced and may catch on passers by.
Measure the seat height and add 10cm to 15cm. That gives a comfortable reach height for most people.
The terms overlap a great deal. A lamp table is simply a side table chosen and positioned primarily to hold a lamp.
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