Side tables

No interior composition is complete without stylish accessories. Take the side tables: today they are the focus of home design. Combining functionality and excellent aesthetic perception, they stand out noticeably against the background of magazine counterparts, have a number of features and advantages.

A side table is a special accessory, a kind of addition to upholstered furniture, a distinctive feature of which is its high height and compactness compared to coffee and magazine counterparts. The height often reaches the level of the armrests of upholstered furniture.

These tables are narrow, but quite functional and have a number of advantages, among which they stand out:

• production from various raw materials, including materials of natural and artificial origin, which gives a lot of possibilities for design and allows you to successfully fit the model into any style of interior composition;
• beautiful appearance with an emphasis on functionality: regardless of the type of raw materials, the tables are comfortable and allow you to place various objects on the surface of the tabletop - from a table lamp to a laptop;

• design mobility: such tables can be placed on the sides of the sofa, armchairs, in front of upholstered furniture, a fireplace, in the center of the room or in the corner, if you need to free up space in the room;
• compactness of products: with a minimum of occupied space, they contribute to the organization of a recreation area or are a support for the working atmosphere;
• versatility of products: they can be independent single accents of the furnishings or make up an ensemble, located symmetrically on the two sides of the sofa, harmonious with the support of furniture of a similar style in large sizes;

• compatibility with different forms of furniture: depending on the type of texture, shade, complexity of the design and the chosen style, they are the final touch of the furnishings, hinting at the delicate taste of the owners of the house and creating an atmosphere of home comfort;
• an abundance of colors: they are distinguished by a rich color palette, which allows you to emphasize the uniqueness of the interior through noble or rich shades, saving the room from an abundance of dark spots, adding light to it;
• the ability to visually change the space of a room, increasing it through the use of light shades and medium-sized decorative elements, diverting attention from the design features of the room (unsightly protrusions, niches, visually obscuring the usable area);

• versatility of location: this furniture is appropriate in apartments, country houses, relevant in offices, home libraries, living rooms;
• a rich model range, which allows you to buy a product in the same style as the existing furniture, choose the same finish and texture, creating a harmonious ensemble of furnishings;

• practicality and reliability of structures: in most cases they are stable, have strong supports and are not susceptible to damage due to accidental mechanical stress;
• a wide range of costs, so that buyers have the opportunity to purchase the option they like, taking into account their preferences and available budget.

Such tables are capable of replacing a dining analogue for one or two places: they conveniently move to the sofa, are equal in height to conventional models, so lunch or lunch with such accessories will not be accompanied by discomfort.These style additions perfectly zone the space, defining the area of ​​the recreation area, often covering the problematic section of the wall (for example, with torn wallpaper or a stain that has eaten into the pattern of the wall covering).

Despite a lot of positive qualities, the side tables have several disadvantages:

• they are far from always functional if creative thought prevails over purpose;
• in budget models they are distinguished by the simplicity of the texture, which often spoils the overall design idea;
• sometimes they have supports that are not equipped with protection against damage to the floor covering (they scratch the surface);

• in models with rotating wheels, they require careful selection of carpet, otherwise the pile impedes the mobility of the accessories and leads to their breakage;
• sometimes they have sharp decorative elements, which, if accidentally touched, can injure the skin;
• having a solid look and being made of expensive material, they are distinguished by a high price, which is not affordable for an ordinary buyer, which forces them to look for budget options.

The range of products can be conditionally divided into two groups:

• strictly functional;
• a mix of aesthetics and functionality.

Some models are not particularly beautiful and represent a kind of elongated rough stools. Such a vision of style is reflected in the demand: such products are capricious in combination with furniture and rarely have a positive customer assessment.

Other companies care about the versatility of the combination, paying attention to design, providing a carved finish, curved legs, an original shape that is convenient for use and placement anywhere in the room. Most of the models are equipped with stands, additional drawers.

Today they have lost their relevance, giving way to significant products, which include:

• high metal models of a round shape with forging, a glass tabletop, a round openwork stand, fixing the supports;

• model-chest - a kind of high box, which has a large capacity and laconic shape;

• a laconic table with a double-sided table top;

• semicircular wooden model with four legs, contrasting table top;

• a product in the form of a round elongated stool, having a glass table top, framed by a wood edging, equipped with a stand of a smaller diameter;

• table-pedestal on wheels with a pull-out top drawer or shelves at the bottom.

The model can be movable, add-on, located on the armrests of the sofa. The transformer model looks original. This design can represent a tabletop, a rising top, or a variant of two tables hidden in one. During transformation, the working surface can increase in size (in a roll-out model).

In the production of side tables, brands use different materials. The most demanded raw materials are wood, its substitutes, metal, rattan, plastic, glass.

Each type of material has its own strengths and weaknesses, allows furniture to look special, bringing lightness or massiveness to the interior.

• For example, wood reliable, does not have a hollow structure, therefore the models are heavy and stable. The material is environmentally friendly, during the operation of the table it does not emit toxins, but it is difficult to whiten it, therefore, the products are often made in natural colors.

• MDF lighter than wood, these tables do not create a feeling of heaviness.The surface lends itself to painting, pasting, varnishing, therefore, models from this material are distinguished by a wide variety of shades, often playing up an interesting texture. The surface covered with a film is resistant to moisture, it is easier to care for it.

• Plastic is a modern material that is widely used in decoration. It is worth noting that it is in demand among brands that save on the quality of products: if plastic is acceptable in finishing, it is not suitable as the main material: it is fragile, lightweight, unstable, and can crack under mechanical shock.

• Glass thicker than plastic, it can visually add lightness to the structure, used as a decoration or work surface. Glass models look attractive, especially when combined with a wooden or metal frame.
• Metal - durable material that looks beautiful, used in the form of hollow tubes, which does not weigh down the weight of the tables. These include fixings, frame, legs and decorative elements.

The color palette of the models does not have strict restrictions, although natural shades of various wood species are more often noticeable in it. The emphasis is often made on the nobility of the texture: this way the product looks more expensive, more solid and easily fits into any interior setting. The neutral shades favored by modern style include white and gray tones. Black is more often the complement or color of the metal. The color range is inherent in plastic models: tables can be finished in blue, red, orange, green.

Design decisions are based on shape, decor, appropriate shade and combination of different materials. An interesting technique is the emphasis on the texture of the table.

The surface can be:

• matte;
• glossy;
• embossed;
• rough.

Often, the rate is divided into an unusual shape. Wooden models are emphasized with gilding, carved edging, curly legs and forged handles. Classic options are often similar to carved stools with a pull-out top drawer decorated with metal forging.

Transformers have no decorations: the design is modest and is expressed in the texture of the surface or the shape of the side faces. Some models resemble children's tables, others resemble bar stools.

The parameters of the models of the side tables are varied.

They can be conditionally divided into two groups:

• small;
• moderate to medium.

The first products are often miniature and do not exceed 40x50 cm, 50x50 cm in length and width, 55 cm in height. Products of the second group may have a table top 20-50 cm larger. The dimensions allow for a comfortable placement of accessories in rooms with small dimensions of the usable area, which is especially important for small-sized rooms.

The modern furniture industry is booming. The brands compete with each other to achieve a unique look that is recognizable to customers. Domestic manufacturers and brands of Italy have achieved great success in the production of this furniture. To understand what side tables look like, you can refer to examples of companies verified by real purchases, marked with positive customer reviews.

These brands include:

• Ikea - a line of functional add-on and classic no-frills models made of wood, metal, glass, plastic;
• Bonaldo - models in a modern style with an emphasis on functionality;
• FlexForm - creative models of a round shape on a massive support and a round base, decorated with edging that prevents objects from falling off the table;
• Meridiani - minimalist round designs with a metal frame, a combination of wood and glass (often marble) countertops.

To appreciate the relevance and significance of models in the interior, you can pay attention to beautiful examples of furnishings. This will help you understand how the products fit into a particular design.

A classic style wooden sofa table with a massive top, a drawer, a sturdy shelf and powerful round legs will successfully fit into the interior if it complements a sofa with leather upholstery in the same range as the table finish.

A modest wooden table with a bottom shelf, simple legs and slats on the sides looks appropriate next to a coffee-colored sofa if you put a table lamp on the table top with a finish to match the sofa's upholstery.

A chest table with forging elements, metal decor and a lock will dilute the laconic light interior, emphasizing the brightness of the design if its shade matches the material of the furniture legs.

A table made of combined materials with a round wooden top, a round bottom shelf, carved legs and forging harmoniously looks next to a sofa decorated with finishes of the same color and style.

The model "Stump" will appeal to fans of eco style: it can be placed next to the chair, placing a pot with a live flower on the surface.

You can learn how to make a do-it-yourself side table from the video.