How To Place An Occasional Table

As the name suggests, occasional tables don’t have a specific or defined function. There are lots thoughts on how to place an occasional table in your home and really none of them are wrong. These are small and decorative tables used for styling throughout your home.

Occasional tables are designed to complement the style and furniture in a room. There are plenty of considerations and things to look for when you’re making your choice. Here we look at places for your occasional tables and how they can be used.

In the hallway

Whether it’s as a statement table along your entry wall or as an end table, the hallway is a popular choice for placement. Firstly you need to make sure you have plenty of space between the table and the wall opposite so you’re not closing in the space to walk through. Next you will need to measure the length of the wall so there’s no overhang. Equally the table shouldn’t be so short that it looks lost in a long hall.

A console table is considered an occasional table and is most commonly styled with decorate items. Hallways really aren’t living spaces as such as so it offers minimal functionality. Most people use console tables as somewhere to leave their keys and phone when they entre the house. The rest of the space is free for styling with lamps, accent pieces and your other favourite décor.

As an end table, you could consider placement next to the doorway to hold a pot plant or smaller floral arrangement. Otherwise you could use your occasional table next to a statement armchair if room permits.

In the living room

Occasional tables are probably most seen in the living room as side tables or end tables. Placed on each side of a couch or armchair, the best way to style is with table lamps, photo frames or plants. You can choose matching tables or different designs within the same theme to add contrast. Consider tables with varying heights and widths for a more contemporary look.

Smaller tables look beautiful by a window holding indoor plants or to showcase your favourite family memories in frames. Our favourite look is an occasional table by an armchair with a striking floor lamp and a place to pop your cup of coffee while reading a good book. This is a much more intimate approach to styling occasional tables.

In terms of size, end tables placed next to seating furniture should be no higher than the height of the arm of the furniture and no lower than the height of the seat. Otherwise you risk the level of functionality they provide as well as the aesthetic of unusual sizing.

If your sofa does not sit against the wall or is positioned with the back facing other living spaces, an occasional table or console table is an ideal fix for this problem. Place a table behind the sofa and pop one or two lamps on it for accent lighting. You could also use it against the wall as a console table if your sofa sits away from the wall but faces forward.

Again, sofa tables should be no higher than the back of the sofa to avoid imbalance in the room.

As a coffee table

A coffee table is also essentially an occasional table or at least you could argue it is. Not all coffee tables are created equally and come in a range of sizes and shapes. Traditional coffee tables are rectangular and sit right in front of your couch. These days you can buy nests of coffee tables that can be split for multi-purposing.

Typically coffee tables are used for holding your tv remotes, styling with magazines or ornaments, or move around to create a place to pop a drink onto. Some people like to have a coffee table centered for a more formal look while others prefer the less organised look by fanning a group of tables out to create different levels of height and function.

Of course it’s important to consider the décor and theme of your room before rushing out to buy something new. Make sure you know how to place an occasional table before making an on the spot purchase. For instance, a modern, chrome and glass occasional table can look right out of place next to traditional style timber furniture. Take note of the other furnishings in the room and look for occasional tables made from similar materials and finishes.

In the bedroom

Occasional tables can help complete a functional bedroom. They’re most commonly used to hold lamps and clocks, and your specs or keys. Some people prefer to style tables next to the bed more formally with decorative pieces like a floral arrangement.

As a bedside table or night stand, occasional tables should flank the head of the bed either side. Matching pairs generally look best and present the room in a completed view. It’s important to make sure that your side tables aren’t too low so that you can’t reach over to put something down or turn off the lamp. If they’re too high they will look out of place and make the bed feel lower.

You could also use a wider and shallower occasional table at the end of the bed as a place to place a handbag or to sit on to put shoes on. Some occasional tables have cushioned surfaces for this very purpose and present like long stools.

It is very much a current trend to use nests of tables in the bedroom. These can be stacked away cleanly or fanned out and used to display smaller accent pieces.

In the home office

Plenty of people find themselves now working from home and styling for at-home offices has increased exponentially in recent times. Depending on the size of your room, occasional tables can be very functional in the office.

Try using an occasional table as an end table next to seating furniture such as a sofa or chair. Another great idea is to put one next to a window for a live potted plant or by the bookcase to display a smaller table lamp or photo of a special memory.

Outdoor occasional tables

Not all outdoor tables have to be huge dining tables. Sometimes you don’t need such large pieces or a full suite to freshen up your outdoor space. A simple outdoor side table with one or two outdoor chairs creates a beautiful spot to chill out and enjoy a beverage. Styling is super simple here too and you don’t really need to put a great deal of thought into how to place an occasional table outside. It’s more about the aesthetic you want to create and the scene of garden vs functional relaxation space.

Remember, House & Garden stocks a beautiful range of occasional tables including coffee tables, console tables, side tables, sideboards and buffets. We make it easier to show you how to place an occasional table in your home.