Of all the furniture in your living room, the side table is the one you use most often. Your cup, your book, your phone: everything lands on it within easy reach from your usual spot on the sofa.
The height determines how comfortable it will be. Then come the shape and the material. In this article, we’ll look at all three, along with the dimensions.
Start with the armrest
Make the top of your side table level with the armrest of your sofa, or at most five centimetres lower. That way, you can set down your cup with your arm relaxed by your side.
So measure that armrest first. On most sofas, it is between 55 and 65 centimetres.
| Your sofa | Armrest | Table height |
|---|---|---|
| Low lounge or without armrests | up to 45 cm | 38 to 45 cm |
| Classic sofa | 55 to 60 cm | 50 to 58 cm |
| Sofa with sturdy armrests | 60 to 68 cm | 60 to 65 cm |
The Ebe by PTMD shows how that works out. The round high stands at 64 centimetres and is suitable for a sofa with sturdy armrests. The round low stands at 55 centimetres and suits a lower model. Both are our best-selling side tables this quarter.
If you have a low lounge or a sofa without armrests, a more compact size works well. The Essy by Starfurn comes in 38 and 45 centimetres, bringing you just above the seat.
The top can stay small. A top with a diameter of Ø30 to Ø50 can hold a lamp, a glass and a book, which is all you need when reaching from the sofa.
The shape follows what is around it
Round gets in the way of nothing. That makes a round table the most convenient choice along a walkway, next to a corner sofa or in a room with a lot of movement. The Javina by PTMD in Ø52 is a great example of this.
Rectangular wins in narrow spaces. The rectangular Ebe is 25 centimetres deep, so it fits between a sofa and a wall where a round table would ask too much.
Organic adds character. A suar wood disc with its natural edge has its own unique pattern, so every piece is different.
The material determines the weight in the room
Marble provides calm and substance. A marble top draws the eye downwards and holds a busy corner together. In black, it does this most effectively.
Travertine is softer in tone, with open veins that catch the light. The Numa by Starfurn is solid travertine, while the Morris combines a travertine top with a mango wood base.
Mango wood brings warmth. A table turned from a single block lets the grain continue around the base.
Metal keeps things light. You can easily pick up a slim iron table and move it in one motion.
Abaca and teak add texture and suit an interior with lots of natural materials.
Rule of thumb
With a narrow base, pay attention to the weight of the top. Marble and travertine are sturdy on their own. Metal and woven fibre are light, so they are best placed on a rug or against a piece of furniture.
Read which natural stone suits you
A set of two
Two small tables give you more freedom than one large model. You can push them together to create a single surface for a tray or place them separately next to two seating areas.
The wooden set of two by J-Line works this way, with two heights that slide under each other. There are also sets of three and four, allowing you to fill an entire corner with tables that remain part of the same family.
Where else it fits in
- Next to the armchair with a table lamp on top. That gives you light at reading height plus a place for your book.
- By the bed as a replacement for a bedside table. A round top with a diameter of Ø30 to Ø40 is enough here.
- In the hallway for keys and a vase. Choose a tall model here, so you can use it while standing.
- In the corner of the living room with a plant on top. Height lifts the greenery to eye level from your chair.
What goes on top
Keep half of the top free. That is the space where your cup, your phone or your book lands, and that is exactly what the table is there for.
On the other half, the same arrangement as on the coffee table works: one object with height, one with texture and one flat surface underneath. A candle holder, a small bowl and a book is already a complete arrangement.
Read about the three-layer rule
Look for yourself in three steps
- Measure the armrest of your sofa and choose that height, or five centimetres lower.
- Choose the shape: round along a walkway, rectangular against a wall.
- Let the material follow your intuition.
Unsure about the height or how it will look with your sofa? Feel free to send us a message with a photo of the corner, and we’ll help you figure it out.