For most open plan spaces, a side table should be roughly level with the sofa arm, or up to about 5 cm lower, and between 45 and 60 cm across beside a full size or corner sofa. Next to an armchair, 35 to 45 cm is usually enough. The table should be no deeper than the sofa itself, and you should keep a comfortable walkway of around 60 to 90 cm on any side people pass. Open plan rooms can take slightly larger tables than closed lounges, because each piece is read against a bigger backdrop, but the height rule stays the same.<\/p>\n
Those are starting points, not fixed rules. The right size for your home depends on the sofa, the size of the room and how the space flows between living, dining and kitchen areas. Below, we explain how to arrive at the right figure, using the same thinking we apply when helping customers choose from our modern side tables UK<\/a> collection at Furniture in Fashion.<\/p>\n A side table exists to serve a seat, so every measurement begins there. Measure the height of the sofa arm from the floor, the depth of the sofa from front to back and the height of the seat. If the sofa has no arms, as with some modular designs, use the seat height plus around 15 to 20 cm as a guide for a comfortable reach.<\/p>\n The style of the sofa matters too. A low, deep, lounging sofa suits a lower and broader table. A more upright sofa with high arms suits a taller, slimmer table. Before choosing any occasional pieces, it can help to look at the room as a whole; our living room furniture UK sale<\/a> collection shows how sofas, tables and storage relate in scale.<\/p>\n Height is the measurement people notice most in daily use. When you sit down and reach for a mug, your hand should fall naturally onto the table top. If the table is too high, you lift your arm awkwardly. Too low, and you lean over the arm each time.<\/p>\n Aim for a table top that sits at arm height or slightly below. In an open plan room, staying at or under arm height has another benefit: it keeps sightlines clear from the kitchen and dining area. A table that rises above the sofa breaks the long view across the room, which is often the very thing that makes open plan living feel spacious.<\/p>\n Width is where open plan rooms differ most from smaller lounges. In a compact sitting room, a narrow table avoids crowding. In a large, open space, a tiny table beside a substantial sofa can look like an afterthought.<\/p>\n Round tables often look smaller than square tables of the same width, because the corners are cut away. If you like a round design but want it to hold its own, consider going a size up.<\/p>\n A side table should not stick out beyond the front of the sofa. When it does, it catches knees and gets in the way of anyone sitting down. In an open plan room where people frequently walk past the seating area, this is especially noticeable.<\/p>\n Measure the depth of the sofa and choose a table that sits within that line. If the table is square or rectangular, align its front edge roughly with the front of the sofa arm. A round table should sit so its widest point does not project further than the arm.<\/p>\n Open plan spaces present a particular challenge: each piece of furniture is seen not only against its own zone but against the entire room, including kitchen units, dining furniture and often a wall of glazing. Small objects can look lost, while slightly larger ones hold the space.<\/p>\n A useful test is to stand at the far end of the room, perhaps at the kitchen sink or the dining table, and look back at the seating area. Does the side table register as a clear, deliberate piece? If it barely reads from there, it may be undersized for the space. Cutting a cardboard template to the size of a potential table and placing it beside the sofa makes this check quick and easy.<\/p>\n In a closed lounge, a single side table is often enough. In open plan rooms, a pair at either end of the sofa helps define the seating zone and gives it a symmetrical, finished frame. This is particularly effective when the sofa floats in the room rather than sitting against a wall.<\/p>\n The pair does not need to match exactly. Two tables in the same height but different shapes, or the same shape in different finishes, can look more relaxed. What matters is that both sit at a similar height so the frame feels balanced.<\/p>\n Many open plan layouts place the sofa in the middle of the room, with its back facing the kitchen or dining area. Side tables at each end help anchor it so it does not look stranded.<\/p>\n You can also add a slim table behind the sofa. This acts as a soft divider between zones and gives the back of the sofa a finished look when viewed from the kitchen. A table here should be no taller than the sofa back and narrow enough to leave a comfortable walkway behind it. Our modern end tables UK<\/a> range includes slimmer designs that suit these positions, as well as the classic placement at the end of a sofa.<\/p>\n Corner sofas are common in open plan homes because they create a strong, sociable seating zone. They also raise the question of where the side table should go. The open end of the sofa, where someone sits facing the room, is the most useful position. The inside corner is hard to reach and usually better served by a lamp or by leaving it clear.<\/p>\n If the corner sofa is large, a broader table at the open end, perhaps 50 to 60 cm across, balances its mass. A second, smaller table at the other end can be useful if both ends are used regularly.<\/p>\n Open plan rooms are thoroughfares. People walk from the kitchen to the garden doors, from the hallway to the dining table and back. Side tables should never pinch these routes.<\/p>\n As a general guide, keep around 60 cm for a secondary path and closer to 90 cm for a main route, such as the way from the kitchen to the sofa. Where space is tight, round tables are friendlier to pass than square ones, and tables with slim legs feel less obstructive than solid blocks.<\/p>\n A side table often holds a lamp, which affects the size you need. A lamp base requires a stable surface with some space around it for a drink or a book. If the table is very small, the lamp takes over and the table stops being useful for anything else.<\/p>\n In large rooms, it can help to move the main light source off the table altogether. A floor lamp positioned beside or behind the sofa frees the table top while providing reading light. Our modern floor lamps UK<\/a> range includes arc and slim column designs that sit neatly beside a side table without crowding it.<\/p>\n The same principle of matching table height to the seat or bed beside it applies throughout the home. If you are planning bedrooms at the same time, our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms<\/a> uses a very similar approach based on mattress height. And if you are unsure whether you need a side table, end table or lamp table, our explanation of how UK side tables, end tables and lamp tables differ<\/a> clarifies the terms retailers use.<\/p>\n The most common mistake in open plan homes is choosing a table that is too small. It looks fine in isolation but disappears against a big sofa and a wide room. The second is ignoring height and buying a table that rises well above the sofa arm, which blocks views across the space.<\/p>\n Another is forgetting to check walkways. A table that fits on paper can still feel cramped if it sits on the main route through the room. Mark the table outline on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day before committing.<\/p>\nStart With the Sofa, Not the Table<\/h3>\n
Getting the Height Right<\/h3>\n
Choosing the Width and Diameter<\/h3>\n
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Depth and Projection<\/h3>\n
Scale Against the Whole Room<\/h3>\n
One Table or Two?<\/h3>\n
Floating Sofas and Back of Sofa Tables<\/h3>\n
Corner Sofas in Open Plan Rooms<\/h3>\n
Leaving Space to Move<\/h3>\n
Thinking About Lighting<\/h3>\n
Other Rooms Follow Similar Rules<\/h3>\n
Common Sizing Mistakes<\/h3>\n