The best side tables with built in magazine racks keep reading material upright and easy to reach from your seat, hold a typical pile of magazines and newspapers without sagging, and still leave a clear top for drinks. Look for a rack that faces the sofa, slots or dividers that stop thin titles slumping, and a frame sturdy enough to take the weight of a full rack without wobbling.<\/p>\n
Magazine racks used to be separate items placed on the floor beside an armchair. Combining one with a side table tidies that clutter into a single piece and frees the floor. Within our range of modern side tables UK sale<\/a> you will find designs with slatted racks, open pockets and divided shelves, each suiting a different reading habit.<\/p>\n Most living rooms gather reading material: weekend supplements, catalogues, interiors titles, puzzle books and the occasional novel. Without a home, these end up stacked on the coffee table or sliding off the arm of the sofa. A rack built into a side table gives everything a single, defined place, close to where you actually read.<\/p>\n It also saves floor space. A freestanding rack needs its own footprint, and in compact UK lounges that space is precious. Building the rack into the table makes better use of the vertical space beneath the top.<\/p>\n A slotted or slatted rack fixed to one side of the table frame, usually facing the seat. Magazines stand upright with their covers visible, which makes it easy to pick out the right one. These work best when the table sits beside a sofa arm.<\/p>\n A sling, basket or slatted shelf beneath the top holds magazines lying flat or loosely stacked. This style is quieter visually and suits tables that are seen from several directions.<\/p>\n Two or three vertical compartments let you separate newspapers from magazines, or keep the children’s comics apart from your reading. They are useful in busy family rooms.<\/p>\n Some tables pair a rack with a small drawer for remotes, glasses and pens, giving a complete reading station in one piece.<\/p>\n A rack that is too shallow lets taller magazines flop over. Aim for slots at least 20 centimetres deep, with dividers spaced closely enough to hold thin titles upright. Wider gaps suit thicker publications and hardback books.<\/p>\n Paper is heavier than it looks. A full rack of glossy magazines adds noticeable weight to one side of the table. Check that the rack is fixed into the main frame rather than hung from the underside of the top, and that the table stays level when loaded.<\/p>\n The rack is only useful if you can reach it without getting up. Side mounted racks should face the sofa. Under shelf racks should sit high enough that you do not need to bend to the floor.<\/p>\n The rack should add storage without shrinking the usable surface. A top of 35 to 45 centimetres still allows room for a mug and a lamp.<\/p>\n Wooden racks look warm and classic. Slatted oak or walnut designs suit traditional and mid century rooms. Rounded edges on the slats prevent covers from catching.<\/p>\n Steel and brass wire racks have a lighter, more open look. They suit modern and industrial schemes and are very slim, which helps in small rooms. Check for smooth welds so magazines are not scratched.<\/p>\n Woven racks bring texture and a relaxed feel, working well in garden rooms and conservatories. They are lighter than wood but can loosen over time if overloaded.<\/p>\n A wooden top on a metal frame with a leather or canvas sling rack offers an attractive combination of strength and softness.<\/p>\n The natural spot is at the end of the sofa nearest where you usually sit, or beside a reading chair. If you read in bed, a rack table makes a practical bedside alternative. In a conservatory or garden room, it gives a spot for gardening magazines and seed catalogues.<\/p>\n Avoid placing the rack side directly against a radiator, where paper can curl and dry out, and keep it away from damp external walls in older homes. If the table sits in a sunny window, rotate the reading material occasionally to stop covers fading unevenly.<\/p>\n For wider room planning, our modern living room furniture UK<\/a> collection includes tables, chairs and storage that work together around a reading spot.<\/p>\n A built in rack encourages order, but it can also become a place where old issues pile up indefinitely. Set yourself a simple rule: when a new issue arrives, the oldest one goes. Recycle supplements and catalogues each week. If you want to keep particular editions, store them in a bookcase rather than the table rack.<\/p>\n It also helps to decide what the rack is for. Some people keep only current magazines; others use it for the newspaper, a puzzle book and the TV guide. A clear purpose stops the rack drifting into general clutter.<\/p>\n If you read many titles or keep back issues, a side table rack may simply be too small. A freestanding design from our range of magazine racks UK<\/a> holds more and can be placed wherever it suits. For larger collections, modern bookcases UK<\/a> provide permanent shelving, with magazine files on the lower shelves keeping everything neat.<\/p>\nWhy Choose a Table With a Rack?<\/h3>\n
The Main Designs<\/h3>\n
Side mounted racks<\/h3>\n
Under shelf racks<\/h3>\n
Divided pockets<\/h3>\n
Rack and drawer combinations<\/h3>\n
What Separates Good Designs From Poor Ones<\/h3>\n
Rack depth and spacing<\/h3>\n
Strength<\/h3>\n
Access from the seat<\/h3>\n
Top space<\/h3>\n
Materials and Finishes<\/h3>\n
Solid wood and veneer<\/h3>\n
Metal<\/h3>\n
Rattan and cane<\/h3>\n
Mixed materials<\/h3>\n
Where to Place a Magazine Rack Side Table<\/h3>\n
Keeping the Rack Tidy<\/h3>\n
When a Separate Rack or Shelving Works Better<\/h3>\n