Home / Living Room / Side & Occasional Tables

Side & Occasional Tables

4,210 items from 47 of the retailers we track

Frequently Asked Questions

Level with the arm of the sofa or chair beside it, or up to 5 cm lower, which usually means 50–65 cm. At that height a glass is within easy reach and a lamp sits at a comfortable reading level. A table noticeably higher than the arm feels awkward to use, while one much lower forces you to lean over to put anything down.

An occasional table is any small, movable table used as the moment requires: side tables, nesting tables, lamp tables and drinks tables all count. The name describes its role rather than a shape. In practice, it is the table you move beside a guest's chair, carry onto the terrace or pull up next to the sofa for an evening.

Not at all. Two different tables either side of a sofa often feel more relaxed than a matching pair, provided their heights are similar. Tie them together through one shared element, such as a repeated material, colour or matching lamps. Matching pairs suit symmetrical, formal rooms, especially either side of a sofa facing a fireplace.

Enough that every seat has a surface within arm's reach. That usually means one at each end of the sofa, or one end table plus a lamp table, and one beside each armchair. In a small room, a C-shaped table that slides over the sofa arm can serve one seat without taking up floor space.

For a drink and a phone, a top of 30–40 cm across is enough. If the table will also carry a table lamp, allow at least 45 cm so the lamp base and a cup fit without crowding. Stability matters as much as size: pedestal tables with a narrow base can tip if leaned on, so check the base is heavy or wide.

For smaller rooms and anyone who entertains, yes. A set of two or three gives you one table day to day and extra surfaces for guests, then tucks back into the footprint of one. Look for legs that slide past one another smoothly, and tops in a material that resists rings and heat marks, as the smaller tables are often used for drinks.

Side & Occasional Tables

Popular searches

Design Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

Side & Occasional Tables

Popular searches

Design Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall should a side table be?+

What is an occasional table?+

Do side tables need to match?+

How many side tables does a living room need?+

What size side table top do I need?+

Are nesting tables worth buying?+