Side Tables for New Homeowners: What to Look For

When you have just bought a home, the list of furniture to choose can feel endless. Side tables are a sensible early purchase because they are useful from the first day and adapt as your plans change. In this guide we explain what to look for in a side table for a new home, starting with one versatile piece rather than furnishing every room at once. We cover choosing a middle ground size that suits both sofas and beds, durable materials that cope with the busy weeks of moving in, the construction details that separate a steady table from a wobbly one, and why a drawer or shelf is worth having. We also look at neutral finishes that travel between rooms, the many places a side table helps beyond the living room, how living with the space first leads to better decisions, a sensible order of purchases and simple care habits from day one....