In a small living room, use nesting tables as a flexible alternative to a fixed coffee table or a pair of side tables. Keep the set stacked beside the sofa or in a corner for everyday use, then pull out the smaller tables when guests arrive or when you need an extra surface for a drink, a laptop or a plate. Choose slim legs and light or transparent finishes so the set does not feel heavy, and make sure the largest table works on its own as a side table.
We stock a wide range of modern nest of tables UK in wood, glass, gloss, marble and metal. Here is how to get the most from a set in a compact room.
Small living rooms rarely have space for everything we would like. A full size coffee table can make it hard to walk between the sofa and the TV, and two side tables may leave no room for a reading chair. Nesting tables solve that by changing size with your needs.
Most of the time, a set takes up the space of one table. When you need more surface, it expands. When you are done, it tucks away again. That flexibility makes them a natural fit alongside other compact modern living room furniture UK sale pieces in flats and terraced homes.
Place the set in front of the sofa, with the tables staggered slightly so each top is partly visible. You get the surface of a coffee table with the option to separate the pieces when you need floor space, for example for children playing or for exercise.
Keep the set stacked at one end of the sofa, with a lamp on the largest top. When someone sits at the other end, slide the smallest table out to sit beside them.
Use the largest table beside the sofa, the middle one beside an armchair and the smallest by the window as a plant stand. The pieces share a finish, so the room feels coordinated even though the tables are apart.
When friends visit, pull out the tables and place one beside each seat. Everyone has somewhere for a drink without crowding round a single coffee table.
The tallest table can hold a laptop for a short task on the sofa, while the smallest holds a cup. It is not a substitute for a proper desk, but it is useful for checking emails or paying a bill.
The largest table sets the footprint of the whole set, so start there.
Square and rectangular sets nest neatly and fit against walls or into corners. Round sets have no corners to bump into and soften a room with a lot of straight lines. Some designs combine a round largest table with smaller tables that pull out in different directions, which works well in the centre of a room.
Look at how the tables nest. Some slide in from the front, others from the side. In a tight spot beside a sofa, a set that slides out sideways may be easier to use than one that needs pulling forward.
Glass tops are almost invisible, which makes them especially useful in small rooms. You see the floor and rug beneath, so the room feels larger. Our glass nest of tables UK sale include clear, smoked and frosted options on slim frames.
Wooden sets bring warmth and work well in traditional and Scandinavian rooms. Choose pale woods such as oak or ash in rooms with limited daylight, and look for slim legs rather than solid sides.
Gloss reflects light and is easy to wipe. White and pale grey gloss feel light in small spaces.
Slim metal frames are strong and visually light. They suit industrial and contemporary rooms, and pair well with glass or marble tops.
Marble or marble effect tops add a touch of luxury. They are heavier, so check you are happy lifting the smaller tables in and out.
In a small room, placement is everything. A few guidelines help:
Pairing nesting tables with a slim, low TV unit also helps a small room, as it keeps sightlines open and leaves more of the floor visible.
In slightly larger rooms, nesting tables and a coffee table can work side by side. A compact coffee table in the centre holds books and remotes, while a nesting set at the end of the sofa provides flexible side surfaces. If you go down this route, keep finishes related so the room does not feel busy. Our modern coffee tables UK include many designs that share materials with our nesting sets.
For ideas on arranging a coffee table around corner seating, which is common in smaller living rooms, see our guide to coordinating corner sofas and coffee tables in UK homes. And if media furniture is crowding the room, our article on choosing a two tone TV unit for a small UK room covers how to keep it compact.
When stacked, only the top table is fully visible, so treat it as you would a side table. A lamp, a small plant or a candle and one or two books are enough. Leave the smaller tables clear so they can be pulled out quickly without moving things first.
Staggering the tables slightly, so the edges of the lower tops show, adds depth and makes the set look intentional. On a glass set, this layering effect is particularly attractive.
If you spread the tables across the room, give each one a light touch: a cup and coaster on one, a plant on another, a stack of books on the third. Repeating a material or colour across the accessories, such as a set of ceramic coasters, ties the pieces together.
Nesting tables are flexible, but they are not always the right choice. If you need a lot of concealed storage, a side table with drawers or a coffee table with shelves may serve you better. If the room is used mainly by one or two people who rarely need extra surfaces, a single side table could be simpler. And very low sets can be a trip hazard in rooms with young children, so choose a stable, rounded design if that is a concern.
In a small living room, nesting tables offer flexibility that fixed furniture cannot match. Keep them stacked for everyday use, separate them when you need more surface, and choose slim, light finishes that keep the room open. Explore our full range at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Yes. A low set placed in front of the sofa gives you the surface of a coffee table, with the option to separate the tables when you need more floor space.
A set of two is slimmer and simpler. A set of three is more flexible but needs a little more depth to slide the tables in and out.
For use beside a sofa, the tallest table should be around 50cm to 60cm. For use as a coffee table, a lower set of 40cm to 45cm is more comfortable.
Glass is a strong choice for small rooms because it lets you see the floor beneath, which helps the space feel larger and lighter.
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