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A side or lamp table is the small piece that makes a living room work - somewhere to rest a cup of tea, a book or a phone within easy reach of the sofa or armchair, and a natural home for a lamp. Our range spans compact tables for tight corners, nests that tuck away, and designs with a drawer or shelf for tidy storage, in oak, walnut, painted, oak-effect, glass and metal-frame finishes to match the way you live.
Below you will find simple guidance on getting the height, size and placement right, so your table looks in proportion and earns its keep beside every seat - with fast UK delivery and 30-day returns on every order.
Height is the measurement that matters most. As a rule, choose a side table roughly level with the arm of your sofa or chair, or a few centimetres below, so a drink or a book is easy to reach without looking down on it. Most sofa arms sit around 55 to 65cm from the floor, which is a good target range for a companion table. If the table is mainly there to hold a lamp, a little taller is fine so the light falls nicely for reading.
Keep the tabletop in proportion to the seat beside it - a slim armchair suits a smaller table, while a large corner sofa can carry something more generous.
If the table is home to a lamp, think about the pairing as a whole. A taller, slimmer lamp suits a lower table, while a compact lamp balances a taller one, and the base should not overwhelm the surface - leave room for a drink alongside. Position the table so the flex reaches a socket tidily, and for reading, aim for the bottom of the shade to sit around eye level when you are seated. A drawer in a lamp table is handy for hiding a trailing cable or a book.
Each finish sets a different tone. Solid and oak-effect wood is warm and forgiving of everyday knocks; painted finishes suit country and coastal rooms; glass tops keep a small space feeling open; and metal frames add a contemporary or industrial edge. In a family room, rounded corners and wipe-clean surfaces make life easier, and a shelf or drawer keeps clutter off the top. Use a coaster or a tray to protect wood and glass from cups and heat.
Aim for a table roughly level with the arm of your sofa or chair, or a few centimetres below - usually around 55 to 65cm. This keeps a drink or book easy to reach without looking down on it.
They overlap - both are small occasional tables placed beside seating. A lamp table is simply one chosen mainly to hold a lamp, so it is often a touch taller so the light falls nicely for reading.
Look at round designs, glass tops and nests of tables. Round shapes ease circulation, glass keeps the room feeling open, and nests free up floor space when the extra surfaces are not in use.
Many do. A drawer or lower shelf is ideal for keeping remotes, coasters, reading glasses and a book close to hand but tidy. The exact storage is listed on each product page.
Keep it in proportion to the seat beside it - a slim armchair suits a smaller table, while a large corner sofa can carry something more generous. Leave room on top for a lamp and a drink together.
We deliver across the UK, carefully packed, and every side and lamp table is covered by our 30-day returns policy so you can be confident it is right for your room.
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