Side table styling ideas for an elevated home

A side table may be small, but it has serious style potential. More than a place to rest your coffee, when styled correctly, a contemporary side table can completely transform your living room or lounge area into an elevated space.

It offers a place to show off your creative flair, experiment with personal style, and display some of your favourite things for when visitors come to call. But what’s the best way to style a side table? 

That’s where we can help. In this styling guide, we’ll show you how to curate a beautiful side table arrangement, with tips and tricks from our expert team, as well as sharing our favourite contemporary side table and nesting table picks. 

How to choose the right side table for your living space 

The key considerations you need to keep in mind when picking out the perfect side table for your home are:

• Space and room layout: How much space are you working with? Do you have room for a side table next to each sofa? Or are you looking for one statement piece? If you’re tight on space, we’d recommend something narrow like our tall Union side tables in white marble. Or, if you’re blessed with a little more wiggle room, you could opt for something a little chunkier, like our Lily Marble Top Side Table. 

• Materials: Keep in mind if you’d prefer a particular material for your side tables. Here at Atkin and Thyme, we have a wide variety of tables hand-crafted in marble, granite, oak, brass, glass and more. Each one has a different look and feel, so think about what you’d like to see in your living space. 

• Style: Choose a side table design that speaks to your personal style. Like a traditional look? Go for our classic, square-shaped Flint Granite Side Table. Prefer something more contemporary? Our unique Lucy Side Table Green Marble Finish is sure to make an impression. 

• Storage: Don’t forget to be practical! If you’re always on the lookout for more storage options, why not invest in a side table with drawers to hide away the clutter, like our handy Henley Side Table. 

Side tables vs. nesting tables

In function, both tables have the same purpose: a handy surface space in your living room or lounge area. The key difference is that whilst a side table is typically sold as just one piece of furniture, nesting tables are a set. Typically featuring two or three tables, each table decreases in size so they can neatly “nest” under one another, for a space-saving solution. 

Nesting tables are particularly beneficial in smaller spaces. This way, you can keep them tucked together when you don’t need them and unstack them when guests come to visit. Who says you can’t host in small spaces?

Styling tips for your side tables and nesting tables

Now, let’s explore some of our best-kept side table styling secrets to turn an everyday corner of your home into a beautifully curated design moment.

Add some life with a vase of flowers

One way to instantly add some personality - and elegance - to your side table is with a vase of fresh flowers. Whilst a vase offers structure and dimension to your table, the florals bring a soft, natural element. We love using interesting, organic-shaped vases, like the white curved ceramic on top of our Lizzy Side Table here. The white flowers are equally charming, bringing a peaceful energy to the space. If white isn’t your thing, you could opt for some bright tulips or sunflowers to add a pop of colour to your living room.   

Top tip: Worried about the upkeep? Go artificial! There are so many realistic-looking indoor flowers out there that nobody would know the difference between real and faux. Your secret is safe with us… 

Stack some coffee table books

Need a conversation starter? Coffee table books are a brilliant way to add visual interest to your side table. You could add just a single book, or try stacking a few of your favourites, like we’ve done here with our Honeycomb Side Table. The key to making this feel personal to your space is choosing books that you genuinely want to read or reflect your passions, whether that’s travel, gardening, horse riding or golf. Plus, it gives your house guests something to flick through whilst you’re busy hosting! 

Add a warm glow with a table lamp 

Table lamps make for excellent accessories on side and nesting tables. We particularly like sculptural shapes, like this beautiful globe lamp on our Jude Fluted Marble Side Table. When switched on, lamps bring a warm, cosy glow to your living room, perfect for curling up next to with a good book.  

Top tip: Is your side table too far away from a plug socket? Get a wireless lamp instead. They look just as good, are easy to charge, and even eliminate messy wires from your living room space. Win-win.

Create some ambience with candles

Another way to light up your side table is with a lovely scented candle. They make for easy accessories even when not lit, and can totally transform the ambience of your space with a single strike of a match. We love scented candles that fill homes with beautiful fragrances, such as vanilla, sandalwood, and fresh citrus. 

Three rules that designers use when decorating

1. Playing with different heights

Experimenting with different heights is an excellent design tactic for creating more depth, dimension, and even movement across your surfaces. This is because, rather than everything looking flat, varying heights create visual interest. To put this into practice on your side table, try positioning some smaller ornaments, such as candles and trinket dishes, next to taller objects, like vases and lamps. The finished look should feel balanced and harmonious. 

2. The rule of three

Ever heard someone referring to the “rule of three” in interior design, but you’re not quite sure what it actually means? Put simply, this design technique means grouping objects in threes to create an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. This tried-and-tested approach, whether it’s for artwork on your walls or indeed ornaments on your nesting tables, is particularly effective for bringing balance to your space. Don’t believe us? Try comparing three objects vs. four on your side table, and see which version you prefer. 

3. Stick to a cohesive colour palette

Another foolproof way of ensuring visual harmony is by using the same colour palette for your accessories. Whilst this may seem obvious, it can be easy to get distracted by one statement ornament that doesn’t fit in with the rest of your living room colour scheme and throw the whole balance off. Instead, try to stick to the same colour families, such as earthtones (olive greens, warm browns, and terracotta), or varying pastels. This way, you can use more than one tone but still achieve a cohesive look. 

Who knew a side table could be so trendy? With these side table styling ideas, you can invite a little piece of luxury into your home and curate a beautiful corner that oozes with contemporary flair and timeless elegance.