For a busy household, look for a side table with a wide, stable base, a wipeable and scratch resistant top, rounded or softened edges and a little concealed storage. Metal frames, sealed hardwoods, high gloss and toughened glass all cope well with daily use. A raised lip on the top helps contain spills, and a height that matches the sofa arm makes the table easier to use without leaning or stretching.
Those are the essentials. Our range of modern side tables UK includes many designs built with these qualities in mind, and below we look at each one in more detail.
Before looking at materials or shapes, picture an ordinary weekday. Who sits beside the table? What lands on it? Mugs of tea, homework, a laptop, a toddler’s snack, a phone on charge, the dog’s lead. In many homes, a side table is used far more often than the coffee table, because it is the surface closest to where people sit.
That routine tells you which features matter most. A household with young children needs edges and stability. One with teenagers needs space for devices and a cable route. One with pets needs a finish that shrugs off paw prints and the odd wagging tail. Considering the side table alongside your other modern living room furniture UK sale pieces also helps you see where it will take the most traffic.
A side table that wobbles or tips is the biggest concern in a lively home. Look for:
Test a table by pressing on one edge of the top. If it lifts or rocks easily, it is unlikely to survive a child pulling themselves up on it.
The tabletop takes the most punishment, so it is worth choosing carefully.
Wood with a good lacquer or oil finish resists water rings and is easy to wipe. Small scratches can often be buffed or touched in. Oak is a durable choice; walnut shows marks a little more but ages well.
Powder coated metal is tough, easy to clean and resists heat from mugs. It suits industrial and contemporary rooms. Our metal side tables UK sale include tray top designs with a raised rim that are especially practical.
Gloss finishes wipe clean very easily and reflect light, though they show fingerprints. They suit households where tables get a quick wipe each evening.
Toughened glass is stronger than standard glass and simple to clean. It is less forgiving of grubby hands, so it may suit homes with older children better than those with toddlers.
Stone is heavy and stable, but genuine marble can stain from coffee, wine and fruit juice. Sealed stone or marble effect finishes offer the look with less worry.
In a home with young children, sharp corners at head height are a genuine concern. Round tables avoid the issue altogether. If you prefer a square shape, look for rounded corners or softened edges. Corner protectors are an option, but choosing the right shape from the start looks neater.
Edges matter for spills too. A slight raised lip around the top stops a knocked cup from emptying straight onto the carpet. Tray top tables are particularly good here.
A side table that is too low makes people reach down and over the sofa arm to put a cup down, which is when spills happen. One that is too high is awkward to use from a seated position. Aim for the tabletop to be level with or just below the arm of the sofa or chair, usually 50cm to 60cm.
Also consider the height in relation to children. A table at toddler grabbing height may become a climbing frame. Very low tables, such as nest tables pulled out on the floor, can become a step. Stable designs reduce the risk, and keeping heavy objects off the table edge helps too.
Busy households accumulate small things: remotes, chargers, colouring pens, hair bobbles, receipts. A side table with a drawer or a lower shelf gives these somewhere to go other than the top.
If devices are charged beside the sofa, look for a table with a cable hole or an open back, so wires do not trail across the top.
Dogs and cats bring their own considerations. Tables with long legs and open frames are less likely to be bumped by a large dog walking past. Solid bases or drum shapes leave no gap for a cat to curl up behind cables. Finishes that hide hair and paw prints, such as mid tone woods or matt metal, look tidier between cleans than very dark gloss or glass.
If your pet tends to knock things over, keep lamps on wider bases and position the table so that tails and noses are not at tabletop height on their usual route through the room.
Even a sturdy table will take knocks if it sits in the wrong place. Keep side tables out of the main path through the room, away from door swings and clear of the gap between the sofa and coffee table where people step through. Leave a little space between the table and the sofa so it is not jolted every time someone sits down.
In a busy room, a side table and a coffee table often share the load. If the coffee table holds the snacks and games, the side table can be kept for drinks and the lamp. Our modern coffee tables UK include designs with storage and tough finishes that work well alongside a family side table.
In a household like this, no surface stays flawless forever. The question is whether it ages in a way you are happy with. Wood develops a patina and small marks blend in over time. Metal can be touched up. Glass and gloss stay looking new but show every smear. Think about which kind of wear you mind least.
It also helps to choose a table that suits more than one room. Family needs change, and a sturdy side table that moves from living room to bedroom to home office later on is a sensible long term choice.
Busy households often mean a steady stream of guests: grandparents, school friends, neighbours dropping in. Extra people need extra surfaces, and a single side table can quickly become overloaded. A pair of matching tables, one at each end of the sofa, spreads the load. Alternatively, a small stool or a lightweight table that can be carried across the room gives a visitor somewhere to put a cup without reaching across others.
Older visitors in particular may lean on a side table when getting up from a low sofa, so stability matters here as much as it does for toddlers. A heavier base and a firm top give everyone a little more confidence.
A side table works best when the seating beside it is equally practical. If you are reconsidering the whole arrangement, our guide to choosing a sofa for a UK home with young children covers fabrics, frames and layouts that complement a sturdy side table.
For a busy home, prioritise stability, a wipeable surface, softened edges and a little hidden storage. Choose a height that matches your seating, place the table out of the main path, and pick a finish whose wear you can live with. You can explore durable side tables and coffee tables at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days.
Powder coated metal and sealed hardwood are among the most durable for everyday use. Both resist knocks well, and wood can often be refreshed if it marks.
Toughened glass is much stronger than standard glass and breaks into small, blunt pieces if it fails. It shows fingerprints, so it often suits homes with older children best.
Choose a table with a wide base and some weight, keep heavy items towards the centre and make sure the feet sit level on the floor.
A drawer or shelf is very useful in a busy home. It keeps remotes, chargers and small items off the top and out of reach of young children.
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.