Choose a side table with storage if the space beside your sofa regularly fills with remotes, chargers, magazines and post, and you want somewhere to put them out of sight. Choose a drum side table if your surfaces are already fairly clear and you want a rounded, sculptural shape that softens the room. If you need both, look for a drum table with a lift off lid or a hidden compartment inside.
Both types sit within our modern side tables UK sale range. The right one depends less on style and more on how you actually use the space around your seating.
A storage side table is any small table designed to hold things below its top. The main types are:
Storage tables are usually square or rectangular, which makes the most of the space inside. They tend to look orderly and practical, and they sit well against a wall or into the corner beside a sofa.
A drum side table is a cylindrical table, often as wide as it is tall or close to it, with a solid body that reaches the floor or sits on a low base. The name comes from the shape, which resembles a drum.
Drum tables come in many materials: wood, metal, rattan, upholstered fabric, ceramic and lacquered finishes. Some are solid; others are hollow with a removable lid. Their rounded shape has no corners, which makes them easy to walk past and kind to children’s heads and adult shins.
Drum tables bring a sense of weight and calm to a room. They anchor a seating area visually without the hard edges of a square table. Looking through our wider modern living room furniture UK collection helps you see how each shape sits alongside sofas, coffee tables and units.
A storage table makes the most of a corner. Its square shape fits neatly against two walls or into the gap between a sofa and a wall, and you gain hidden space without adding to the footprint.
A drum table takes up roughly the same floor area as a square table of the same width, but it feels smaller because the curve gives a softer outline. It is the better option in a walkway or anywhere people move around the table rather than past it.
In a very narrow room, a slim rectangular storage table often wins, because it can be shallow while still holding plenty. Drum tables need their full diameter in every direction.
This is where the two differ most clearly. A storage table deals with clutter directly. A drawer swallows remotes, glasses, chargers and coasters, leaving the top clear. In small living rooms, where every surface tends to collect things, that can make a real difference to how calm the space feels.
A drum table without storage relies on you keeping clutter elsewhere. If you already have a TV unit or sideboard nearby, that may not matter. If the side table is the main surface by the sofa, you may find a drum table soon becomes cluttered on top.
Some households solve this with separate storage, such as one of our modern magazine racks UK beside the sofa, which keeps reading material tidy while the drum table stays clear.
Drum tables have an advantage in homes with toddlers: there are no corners. A solid drum also leaves no gap underneath for small hands, toys or pets to get into.
Storage tables can still be family friendly. Look for rounded corners, soft close drawers that will not trap fingers, and a solid back so the table can stand against a wall. Drawers are also a sensible place to keep small items such as batteries or medicine out of reach, though a locking cupboard elsewhere is safer for anything hazardous.
Stability matters in both cases. Drum tables are naturally stable thanks to their wide, low centre of gravity. Tall, narrow storage tables should be heavy enough not to tip when a drawer is pulled out fully.
Storage tables look practical and tailored. In oak or walnut, they feel traditional or mid century. In high gloss or painted finishes, they look modern and neat. They suit rooms where function is valued as much as form.
Drum tables are more sculptural. A fluted wooden drum adds texture; a lacquered drum in green or terracotta brings colour; a rattan drum feels relaxed and coastal. They work well in rooms where you want one piece to soften the hard lines of a sofa, a TV unit and a rug.
Both types can hold a lamp, but the top size differs. Storage tables usually have square tops of 40cm to 50cm, which hold a lamp, a drink and a book comfortably. Drum tables can have smaller tops, sometimes 35cm to 40cm, because the body is designed to be part of the look.
If the side table will carry a lamp, measure the lamp base and leave enough space for a cup. On a drum table, choose a lamp with a slim base so the top does not feel crowded. Think about cables too; a storage table with a cutout at the back hides the lead neatly, while a solid drum may need the lead routed down one side.
The usual rule applies: choose a table whose top is level with your sofa arm or up to about 5cm below. Measure from the floor to the top of the arm.
Drum tables are often lower and wider than storage tables, which can suit modern low sofas. Storage tables vary more in height and can be taller, which suits traditional sofas and armchairs. If you are pairing a drum table with a high armed sofa, check that the table is tall enough to be useful.
Storage tables need materials that cope with drawers and doors being opened every day. Solid wood and good quality veneer are durable and develop character over time. Lacquered and high gloss MDF give smooth, modern fronts and hide joints neatly. Metal frames with wooden drawers suit industrial rooms and stay rigid when a drawer is pulled out.
Drum tables are more about surface and texture. Fluted or ribbed wood catches the light and adds detail without colour. Lacquered and painted drums let you introduce a strong shade in a small dose. Rattan and woven drums are light enough to move easily and suit conservatories and relaxed living rooms. Upholstered drums, in boucle or velvet, feel soft and work in bedrooms and children’s rooms.
Whichever you choose, check that the finish suits the spot. A drum table beside a sunny window may fade over time if it is painted in a strong colour, and a storage table beside a radiator is best made from veneer or MDF rather than solid timber, which can move with heat.
Some drum tables have a lid that lifts off to reveal storage inside, or a door built into the curve. These give you the softer shape of a drum and somewhere to hide everyday items.
The storage space inside is usually less organised than a drawer, so it suits larger items such as throws, cushions or children’s toys rather than small things you need to find quickly. Even so, it can be a sensible compromise in a small living room or a child’s bedroom.
If you need significant hidden storage beyond what a side table can offer, our living room storage furniture UK range includes cabinets and units that keep a room clear.
Storage side tables make good bedside tables, particularly in rooms where a full bedside cabinet would be too bulky. A drawer for glasses and a phone charger, plus a shelf for books, covers most needs.
Drum tables suit bedrooms, reading corners and hallways where you want a softer form. In a child’s room, an upholstered drum can double as a small seat.
If you are comparing table types by name, our guide to side table, end table and lamp table terms in the UK explains how each is used.
You can browse the full range at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Yes. They are stable, have no corners and are easy to walk around. Without storage, they work best where clutter is already kept elsewhere.
Often, yes. A drawer keeps small items off the surface, which helps a compact room feel calmer. A slim rectangular design also fits narrow gaps well.
Yes. Some drum tables have lift off lids or doors in the curve. They suit larger items better than small ones that need to be found quickly.
Drum tables are usually safer because they have no corners and no gap underneath. Storage tables with rounded corners and soft close drawers are also a good choice.
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