Even when it’s pint-sized, the power of a table can’t be overlooked. In fact, if you have a design dilemma, chances are, a small table can fix it. From small end tables to small console tables, these petite sidekicks come in all shapes and sizes, making it easy to find one that transforms any problem spot into a polished spot. Ahead, we spotlight the many different small table options available and share tips for picking the best one to suit your needs!
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Small Side Tables
What constitutes a small side table? Generally, small side tables have a surface area of under 10 inches. Most often, these tables have round tops supported by a center pedestal, but they can come in square shapes with four standard legs, as well as plinth or column designs. If you’re on the hunt for a small living room side table, try using the term “drinks table” in your search. Drink tables are essentially the smallest of small side tables. They’re sized to host a drink and not much else.
Despite the name “drinks table,” these wee workhorses can be used just about anywhere. Try using one next to a freestanding tub in a primary bathroom. Or use one in lieu of a nightstand in a small bedroom. When styling one of these small tables with seating, consider stationing it in front of a settee or loveseat rather than next to it. It gives the table a bit more presence and adds functionality in the event a coffee table isn’t nearby. (It’s an especially smart technique if you’re styling a settee in a hallway nook or a chair in a bay window.)
One more tip for a standout small table? Opt for a piece with a little bit of a flash factor. Mixed materials like wood and marble or an eye-catching finish like metallic metal can prevent your table from fading into the background.
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Small Console Tables
Small console tables aren’t the easiest pieces to source, but they’re worth the hunt if you’re working with a living space that has smaller proportions. Generally, small console tables are the same height as standard consoles, measuring about 30 to 36 inches high, but have a shorter length — typically, 24 inches long or less. It’s also possible to locate consoles with reduced depths to make passing by them in tight areas easier.
Use a small console table in tight entryways where you want to create extra functionality. Consoles’ heights make them a better option than a standard table since they don’t require you to bend down to place anything on them. Their open area underneath is also ideal for placing baskets and bins that can be used for storing things you routinely drop in an entry, such as shoes or scarves. While you can always use a stand-alone basket in an entry, a small console anchors it and makes it look more intentional.
Another time you want might to use a small console is in a living room if you have a sofa or chair pushed up against a wall. If you have space for a table next to it, a console can provide more interest than a standard table thanks to its height. Additionally, consoles generally have flush tops and sides, meaning that they’ll look more natural pushed flat against a wall. Style one with a piece of art hung over the top to create a vignette that feels intentional and unique, perfect for making you look like a styling expert.
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Small Coffee Tables
Whether you have a small living room dominated by a large sectional or you simply have an undersized living room where everything needs to be scaled smaller, a small coffee table is sometimes a necessity. If you’re shopping for a small coffee table, keep your sights set on tables that measure about 14 inches to 20 inches round or square. If you need a smaller rectangular table, be on the lookout for one that has a length under 35 inches or so.
Small coffee tables are ideal for being paired with sectional sofas. Often, a sectional’s L-shape creates a small square in which to place a coffee table. Larger tables, meant to accommodate a standard 80-inch sofa with no chaise bump-out are too big to fit in the space. Small coffee tables can better fit the area and still allow room for you to easily access the sofa’s seating.
Another scenario you might also consider using small coffee tables is if you’re shopping for nightstands for a low or floor-skimming platform bed. Since coffee tables are lower than standard nightstands, small coffee tables may better suit the height of your bed. Their small circumference keeps the scale right, however. If opting to go this route, you may want to avoid tables that look too much like traditional coffee tables with four legs. Instead, opt for drum styles or plinth styles.
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Small Game Tables
While a small game table can be used in a small game room, their true magic powers actually come out in a larger room. If you have an oversized living room that has a nook that’s not naturally filled by the main seating arrangement, consider dropping a small game table into it. Style it with ottomans or dining chairs and you’ve created instant interest. Try the same technique if you find yourself with extra space around the perimeter of a room as well. A two-person game table pushed against a wall and styled with two chairs can feel intentional, especially when styled with a piece or artwork over the top.
Small Wall-Mounted tables
You can’t have a discussion about tiny tables without mentioning the wall-mounted table or desk. These levitating surfaces can create a table out of thin air. Best of all, depending on how high you hang one you can create a desk, nightstand, side table, console, or bar. Among the most innovative ways to use one? Hang one in a cozy kitchen to create a breakfast or dining bar of sorts. Styled with bar stools you have a tiny table with mighty powers.
Tips for Shopping for Small Tables
- When looking for small end tables for the living room or bedroom, try using the phrase “drinks table.”
- The smallest end tables on the market are likely to be pedestal or plinth styles.
- If you need an extremely small console, consider a wall-mounted design.
- When looking for small nightstands to complement a low bed, consider small coffee tables which tend to be a better match height-wise than standard nightstands.
Lead photo by Crystal Blackshaw Interiors / Photo by Dustin Forest
