Landlords should look for side tables that are sturdy, easy to clean, neutral in style and simple to replace if needed. A solid frame, a wipeable finish, rounded or softened corners and a size that suits a typical rental lounge will cover most requirements. Avoid delicate materials, fussy detailing and anything that relies on careful handling, because a rental side table needs to cope with a variety of tenants and routines over several years.
A side table may seem a minor item on a furnishing list, yet it is one of the pieces tenants use every day. Our range of modern side tables UK includes many practical designs that meet these criteria while still helping a property present well in photographs and viewings. It should also sit comfortably within the rest of your living room furniture UK sale package, so the room reads as one considered scheme.
Understanding daily use helps you choose well. In most rented homes, a side table holds hot drinks, phones, chargers, remote controls and a lamp. In flats where the lounge doubles as a workspace, it may hold a laptop in the evening. In shared houses, it may be used by several people with different habits.
That means the table needs to withstand heat, moisture, knocks and regular cleaning. It also needs a stable base, as it will be bumped by bags, vacuum cleaners and feet more often than in an owner occupied home.
For landlords, the strongest choice is usually one that keeps working without attention. Look closely at the construction. A table with legs fixed firmly into a solid top, or a well secured pedestal base, will stay steady far longer than a lightweight design held together with small fixings.
Metal frames are particularly robust. Our metal side tables UK selection includes powder coated designs that resist chipping and cope well with daily knocks. Combined with a wooden or laminate top, they offer a good balance of strength and warmth.
Solid wood and good quality veneers are also durable, and small scratches can often be touched up between tenancies. Very thin glass, delicate legs and unsealed natural materials are less suited to rental use.
A finish that wipes clean quickly saves time at inspections and check out. Sealed wood, laminate, lacquer and powder coated metal all handle spills and cleaning sprays well. High gloss finishes clean easily, though they show fingerprints and fine scratches more readily, so they suit properties aimed at professionals more than busy family lets.
Natural marble and stone look appealing but are porous, and acidic drinks can leave marks that are hard to remove. Unless the property is a premium let with tenants who expect such materials, they are usually better avoided. Similarly, oiled or waxed wood needs periodic care that tenants may not provide.
A furnished rental needs to appeal to as many prospective tenants as possible. Neutral finishes and simple shapes make that easier. Oak tones, white, grey and black are dependable, since they sit comfortably with most sofas, rugs and curtains a tenant might add.
Simple, modern designs also photograph well, which matters for online listings. A clean side table with a lamp beside a neutral sofa makes a lounge look complete and cared for, helping the property stand out without relying on bold styling.
Consistency across the furniture helps too. When choosing the wider furniture package, picking a side table in the same finish as the coffee table or TV unit gives the room a coordinated look that tenants appreciate.
Rental lounges vary widely, but many are compact. A side table that is too large will dominate a small room and get in the way, while one that is too small looks lost and cannot hold a lamp and a mug together. Measure the space beside the sofa, including the height of the sofa arm, and choose a table that fits comfortably with room to walk past.
In studio flats and small one bedroom properties, a round side table on slim legs is often the most practical, as it is easy to move around and does not create awkward corners.
Safety should guide your choice as much as appearance. A few points are worth checking:
Keeping a note of the product details and any labels with your property records makes it easier to demonstrate compliance if questions arise.
Storage drawers and cupboards are appreciated by tenants, especially in properties with limited built in storage. However, moving parts are more likely to wear over time. If you choose a table with a drawer, look for smooth runners and a stop that prevents the drawer from pulling out completely.
An open lower shelf is a good compromise. It adds useful space for books or baskets without any parts that can break, and it is quick to wipe clean between tenancies.
Consider how the table will be maintained over its life. Designs that arrive fully or mostly assembled reduce the chance of fixings loosening over time. If assembly is required, keep the instructions and any spare fixings with the property file.
Choosing a design from a well established range also helps if you need to replace a damaged table, since you are more likely to find the same or a very similar piece later. Matching replacements keep the inventory consistent.
Side tables in a rental are not only for the lounge. Tenants expect somewhere to put a phone, glass of water and lamp beside the bed. Our modern bedside cabinets UK sale include compact designs with drawers that suit most rental bedrooms, and choosing them in the same finish as the lounge side tables gives the property a unified feel.
In shared houses, communal lounges see heavier use from several occupants. Prioritise robust frames and very durable finishes here. It may also be worth providing more than one side table so that different housemates have a surface beside their seat, reducing the temptation to put drinks on the floor or sofa arms.
In individual rooms within an HMO, a side table may double as a bedside table or small desk surface, so a slightly larger, steady design is often more useful.
Different rental markets call for slightly different choices. A city centre flat aimed at young professionals may benefit from a more contemporary side table, perhaps in black metal and smoked glass, which suits the expectations of that market. A suburban family let needs robust, rounded designs that cope with children and frequent cleaning. Student accommodation calls for the most hardwearing options available, with very simple construction and finishes that tolerate heavy use.
Thinking about who is most likely to rent the property helps you balance appearance and durability. It also helps when writing the listing, since furniture that clearly suits the intended tenant makes the home easier to picture as their own.
Every piece of furniture in a rental will show some wear over time, and it is worth choosing with that in mind. Darker woods and mid tones hide minor scuffs better than very pale or very glossy finishes. Matt and satin surfaces disguise fine scratches more effectively than high shine lacquer.
Between tenancies, a quick check of each side table for loose legs, sticking drawers or surface damage allows small repairs to be made before they become larger problems. Keeping a little touch up pen or furniture wax for wood finishes can extend the life of a table considerably.
Include each side table in your inventory with a clear photograph and a note of its condition at the start of each tenancy. This makes check out simpler and helps resolve any disputes about wear and damage fairly.
For more ideas on furnishing rented properties, our article on TV unit ideas for a rented UK flat looks at durable, neutral choices for the main lounge wall. When you are ready to furnish, the range at Furniture in Fashion covers practical side tables in a variety of finishes, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Powder coated metal frames combined with sealed wood or laminate tops are very hardwearing and easy to clean between tenancies.
Not necessarily. Toughened glass can work well, particularly in professional lets, though it shows fingerprints and needs more frequent cleaning.
Plain wood, metal or glass tables generally do not. Any upholstered elements, such as padded tops, should carry the appropriate fire safety labelling for furnished lets.
At least one in the lounge beside the main seat, plus one bedside table or cabinet per bedroom. Shared houses may benefit from more in communal areas.
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