Side tables with nesting designs work in bedrooms because they give you a flexible surface that can expand when you need it and shrink back into one footprint when you do not. Use a nesting pair beside the bed as a bedside table, with the smaller table pulled out to hold a book or a cup of tea. Use a set at the end of the bed or beside a chair to create a dressing or reading spot. Choose a set whose tallest table sits close to mattress height and whose finish suits the rest of your bedroom.
Nesting tables are usually thought of as living room furniture, brought out when guests arrive. In a bedroom, they solve a different problem: how to have enough surface without filling a small room with bulky cabinets. Our range of modern nest of tables UK sale includes designs that work just as well beside a bed as beside a sofa.
Many British bedrooms are compact, particularly second and third bedrooms in terraced houses, new builds and flats. A traditional bedside cabinet takes up a fixed amount of floor space whether you need it or not. A nesting set gives you options.
During the day, the tables can sit stacked as a single neat unit. In the evening, the smaller table slides out to hold a phone, glasses or a hot drink, leaving the larger top free for a lamp. When you have guests staying, the extra tables can move to other parts of the room or even to another room entirely.
They also offer a visual lightness that suits bedrooms. Most nesting tables have slim legs and open bases, so you can see the floor beneath them. That makes a small room feel more spacious than one furnished with solid cabinets.
Because nesting tables are traditionally part of the modern living room furniture UK family, they often have a more relaxed, less formal look than matching bedroom suites. That can bring a welcome individuality to a bedroom scheme.
This is the most common bedroom use, and it works well with a little planning.
The largest table should sit at roughly the same height as the top of your mattress, or slightly below. This lets you reach the surface comfortably from bed. Measure your bed height before buying, since divan beds, ottoman beds and low platform beds vary considerably. A surface that sits too high feels awkward to reach, while one that sits too low means fumbling for your alarm in the morning.
Position the set so the smaller tables pull out towards the bed rather than towards a walkway. This keeps the extra surface within reach and stops it blocking your route to the door.
The top table needs to be large and stable enough to hold a bedside lamp. Choose a lamp with a modest base, or consider a wall light above the bed if the tabletop is small.
A nesting set at the foot of the bed, or beside a blanket box, offers a place to set down a tray of breakfast, folded clothes or a laptop. In a guest room, it gives visitors somewhere to put their belongings without the need for a chest of drawers.
If you have a reading chair in your bedroom, a nesting set beside it creates a small reading corner. The larger table holds a lamp and the smaller one holds a book or cup.
In a room without space for a full dressing table, a nesting set beside a full length mirror can hold jewellery, skincare and a small vanity mirror. Pull out the smaller tables while you get ready, and tuck them away afterwards.
In a child’s shared room or a guest room with twin beds, a nesting set between the beds can provide a surface for each person when needed, then stack away to free up floor space.
The finish of your nesting tables should relate to the rest of your bedroom furniture, though it does not need to match exactly.
Wood: Oak, walnut and painted timber suit most bedrooms and feel warm and restful. A wooden set can bridge different styles, sitting comfortably beside both modern and traditional beds.
Glass: Clear or smoked glass keeps a small bedroom feeling open. Glass nesting tables with a chrome or black metal frame suit contemporary schemes.
High gloss: White or grey gloss reflects light and suits modern bedrooms with fitted wardrobes in a similar finish.
Metal: Brass or black metal frames with marble or glass tops add a boutique hotel feel.
Marble: A marble topped set looks elegant but is heavier, so it suits a fixed position rather than one where you move the tables often.
A bedside surface handles different items from a living room table: glasses of water, phones on charge, hand cream, medication and reading glasses. A few practical points help.
If storage is important to you, a nesting set may work best on one side of the bed with a cabinet on the other. Our range of modern bedside cabinets UK sale includes compact designs that pair well with an open nesting set. Mixing the two can look deliberate if they share a colour or material.
The style of your bed frame has a strong influence on which nesting tables will look right beside it.
Upholstered beds: A fabric headboard in velvet, linen or bouclé pairs well with nesting tables in wood or brass and glass. The hard surface of the tables contrasts nicely with the softness of the headboard.
Wooden beds: Try to stay within the same family of tones, or choose a deliberate contrast such as a black metal set beside a pale oak bed. Two woods that are close but not quite matching can look accidental.
Metal beds: A metal frame suits nesting tables with slim legs that echo its lines. Glass tops keep the overall look light.
Ottoman and divan beds: These tend to sit higher than platform beds, so check that the tallest nesting table reaches a comfortable height. Some sets are designed lower for living rooms, which can feel awkward beside a tall bed.
If you have a pair of nesting sets, one each side of the bed, symmetry gives a calm, hotel style finish. In a room where the bed sits against one wall, a single set on the open side may be all you need.
Bedroom styling should feel restful. Keep the top table simple with a lamp, a small plant or flowers, and one personal item such as a framed photograph. Leave the smaller tables mostly clear so they are ready to use.
Coordinate with textiles on the bed. If your bedding is in soft neutrals, a wooden or glass set keeps the calm mood. If your bedding is rich and colourful, a black or brass set can provide a crisp contrast.
Repeat the material elsewhere in the room, such as a matching mirror frame or a wooden picture ledge, so the tables feel part of the scheme. For more ideas on creating a coordinated room, explore our full range of modern bedroom furniture UK.
If you want a broader checklist before choosing any bedside surface, our article on what to look for in a bedside table for UK bedrooms covers height, storage, stability and finish, and our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms explains how to work out the right size for your bed.
At Furniture in Fashion, we offer nesting tables in a wide range of materials and finishes, along with bedroom furniture to suit every size of room, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Yes. Choose a set where the tallest table sits close to mattress height, and position it so the smaller tables pull out towards the bed.
They can be. Use a small tray or lidded box on top for loose items, or pair the set with a bedside cabinet on the other side of the bed if you need more storage.
A two piece set with a compact top is often enough. Measure the space between the bed and the wall, and allow room for the smaller table to slide out.
Not exactly. They look best when they share a material or colour with something else in the room, such as the bed frame, a mirror or a chest of drawers.
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