Choose a round side table if you want a softer shape that is easy to move around, suits tight spaces and keeps a room feeling open. Choose a side table with storage if you need somewhere to hide everyday items and keep surfaces clear. Round tables win on flow and visual lightness; storage tables win on tidiness and practicality. Some designs offer both, with a round top above a shelf or small cupboard.
Both options are common sights in British living rooms, and both have clear strengths. The right choice depends on the size of your room, how you live in it and what the table needs to do day to day. Our collection of modern side tables UK sale includes round, square and storage designs side by side, so here is how to weigh one against the other.
Round tables have no corners, which makes them easier to live with in busy or compact rooms. You can walk past one without catching a hip or a bag, and children are less likely to bump into a sharp edge. That gentle outline also softens a room full of rectangular pieces such as sofas, TV units and bookcases.
Visually, round tables tend to feel lighter. A circular top on a slim pedestal or three legs leaves more floor visible, which helps a small room appear more spacious. In open plan homes, a round table can mark the edge of a seating area without forming a hard boundary.
Round side tables also adapt to more positions. They sit comfortably at the end of a sofa, between two chairs, beside a bed or in a corner where a square table might feel wedged in.
A side table with storage, whether a drawer, a cupboard or a lower shelf, is about keeping things in order. Most of us accumulate small items around the sofa: remotes, chargers, coasters, magazines and the occasional pair of glasses. A storage table gives them a home, so the top stays clear for a drink or a lamp.
Storage tables are usually square or rectangular because that shape makes the best use of internal space. They tend to look more substantial, which can be an advantage in larger rooms where a slender table might seem lost. They also offer a stable base for a lamp.
Storage side tables sit within the wider family of modern living room furniture UK, and they are particularly useful when the room lacks a sideboard or cabinet.
A round table of a given width generally feels smaller than a square one, because the curved edge removes the corners. In a tight gap, a round table is often easier to fit and to walk past. A storage table takes up a little more visual and physical space but returns it as storage capacity.
Round tables are excellent for drinks, books and decorative pieces. Storage tables add the ability to hide clutter. If you find yourself constantly tidying the area beside the sofa, storage is likely to be the more useful choice.
Round tables suit relaxed, contemporary, mid century and Scandinavian rooms particularly well. Storage tables suit tailored, traditional and minimal schemes. Both come in a wide range of materials, so style rarely rules either option out.
Storage tables are usually very stable thanks to their boxier construction. Round pedestal tables are stable when well weighted, but check the base if you plan to place a tall lamp on top.
You do not always have to choose. Many designs combine a round top with storage below: a lower shelf, a small drum cupboard or a single drawer tucked under the top. These offer the soft shape of a round table and a degree of practicality. They are well worth considering if you like the look of a round table but know that small items tend to gather around your sofa.
Another approach is to use one of each. A round table at one end of the sofa and a storage table at the other gives balance and variety. Keep their heights similar and choose materials that relate to each other, perhaps the same wood tone or metal finish.
Before deciding, look at what else is in the room. If you already have plenty of storage in a sideboard, TV unit or cabinets from our modern storage furniture UK sale, the side table can focus on shape and style. If storage is scarce, a side table with drawers or a cupboard adds useful capacity without needing a larger piece.
Consider the coffee table too. A rectangular coffee table pairs nicely with a round side table for contrast. A round coffee table may look best with a square storage side table to avoid too many curves. Our modern end tables UK include a variety of shapes to help you balance the arrangement.
For a clearer picture of how different small tables are described and used, see our guide to side, end and lamp tables explained for UK homes. And if the table will also serve as a bedside, our bedside table checklist for UK bedrooms covers storage needs in detail.
Whichever you choose, the same basic rules apply. The tabletop should sit roughly level with the arm of the sofa or chair, or a little lower. Leave enough space around the table to walk comfortably, and check that doors and drawers can open fully. For storage tables, make sure the drawer or cupboard can be reached easily from the seat, otherwise it may go unused.
For round tables, a diameter of 40 to 50 centimetres suits most living rooms. For storage tables, check internal dimensions as well as external ones, so you know what will actually fit inside.
It is worth imagining how each type of table will feel after a few months of everyday use. A round table tends to stay looking tidy only if you keep the top fairly clear. Because there is nowhere to hide things, it can gather a growing pile of post, chargers and cups unless you are disciplined. On the other hand, it is quick to clean around and easy to move when you vacuum.
A storage table hides clutter well, but drawers and cupboards have a way of filling up. A quick sort every few weeks keeps the contents useful rather than becoming a catch all for odds and ends. Storage tables are heavier to move, so choose their position carefully from the start.
Round side tables look their best with a simple, layered arrangement: a small lamp or vase, a book and perhaps a candle. Grouping items in odds, such as three objects of varying heights, gives a relaxed, considered look on a circular top.
Storage tables offer a broader canvas. A pair of matching lamps on storage tables either side of a sofa creates a classic, balanced look. On a single table, a lamp at the back with a small tray at the front keeps things orderly. If the table has an open lower shelf, use it for a neat stack of books or a woven basket rather than loose items.
Whichever you choose, leave some of the surface clear. A side table that is completely covered loses its usefulness as a place to set down a drink.
Ask yourself three questions. Is space or flow your biggest concern? If so, lean towards round. Do small items tend to clutter the area beside your seating? If so, lean towards storage. Would you like a little of both? Then look for a hybrid design or pair one of each.
You can explore round, storage and hybrid side tables at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days.
They often are, because their curved edges are easier to walk around and they tend to feel visually lighter than square designs of a similar size.
Yes. Many round designs include a lower shelf, a small drawer or a drum style cupboard, giving you both a soft shape and somewhere to keep small items.
Matching tables create a symmetrical, formal look, while mixing a round and a storage table can feel more relaxed. If you mix them, keep their heights similar.
A side table with storage helps keep remotes and chargers tidy, while a round table reduces the risk of bumps. A round table with a lower shelf offers a balance of both.
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