Main Types of Occasional Tables and How to Choose One

A table is one of the key pieces of furniture and this name is not limited to a dining table or writing table. Occasional tables come in many sizes and styles and serve multiple functions, like being the platform for coffee, and drinks, as well as bedside tables and end tables ideal for holding a book, pair of glasses, phone or else. Some occasional tables have a clear function, while others are versatile and could serve an array of purposes. The FurnitureCart guide reveals today the essential types of tables and gives a few ideas on how to choose the right one for your home.

What is an occasional table?

Tables known as so, have no designated, defined or specific use. However, on the other side, it means that due to their relatively small size and versatility, they can be moved and used in different rooms, and sometimes with different functions.

Coffee/Cocktail Table

The largest out of the range, it is a low-sitting table, that sometimes has a lower shelf or a pair of drawers for additional storage. A coffee table serves as a centerpiece of your living room, and it performs a practical role as a surface for holding items like books, magazines, and electronic tablets, and an aesthetic role while adding to the style. Its primary purpose is for resting drinks.

End Table

End tables also called lamp tables or side tables, are placed usually next to a sofa or an armchair, it is a small table that serves as a surface for holding decorative accents such as candles or picture frames, or again, your phone, tablet and glasses close at hand. They are convenient tables for putting drinks, and also for holding table lighting with dim light for relaxing before bed.

Bedside Table

More commonly referred to as a nightstand, a bedside table is an essential furniture piece of a bedroom. They come with a classic table look option or with a practical storage function – complete with drawers or shelves. As an option, you can buy a bedside table and a decorative basket to place underneath for keeping extra staff.

Nesting Table

Nesting tables usually come in a set of two or three tables and have staggered heights, so they easily ‘nest’ together. Best for small spaces, they can be used instead of a large coffee table. You can scatter them around to provide enough surface for drinks and nibbles when required and tuck them away when you need more space in a room.

Console Table

Used in any room and sitting ideally behind a sofa, console tables are truly versatile in their functions. From the entryway to the bedroom, they are used for displaying photographs, storing useful bits and pieces and many more. Being slim, space-saving and waist-high, most console tables have drawers for keys, stationery, and minor things, that work well for a well-furnished hall.

How to make a right choice

The key to choosing the right occasional furniture is to make sure all the main furniture pieces (like living room set, bedroom set, and entryway furniture) are in place first, and you can obviously distinguish the space available and what is missing for your daily activities in this room.

Here’s the tip: If you noticed that there are piles of magazines and cups crowding next to your corner sofa or bed side, it is high time to look for a side table that could become a handy surface for the things you use and need at hand.