If you've ever gone furniture shopping and come home more confused than ever before, don't feel like you're alone. Without even going into styles of furniture, figuring out the difference between one table and another can be a nightmare. Take lowly end tables, for instance. In the old days, end tables came in pairs, usually sold in a set with a matching coffee table. Easy enough. Put one end table on each end of the sofa, plug in a lamp on each and center the coffee table in front. 1950s basic décor.
Somewhere along the line, however, everything became more complex. Some blame the conversation pit era; that crafty sofa that didn't really have an end. Venerable end tables simply had nowhere to go. Coffee tables were suddenly on their own, placed in the center of the pit so visitors had a place to put their drinks while they, well, conversed.
End Table With Shelves
Today, end tables have made a comeback. No longer sold automatically in pairs with a coffee table, they have struck out on their own, joined by accent tables, occasional tables, drum tables, side tables... the list goes on and on and on.
Even though it's easier to find lovely end tables for the home than ever before, knowing exactly what constitutes an end table has become much more difficult.
To help you sort it all out, here are some basics:
End Tables: Though they've been separated from their coffee table siblings, end tables usually come in pairs still. They are designed to go at the end of each side of a sofa or next to a set of chairs and can have drawers for storage and lower shelves for use as a display space. They are large enough to hold a lamp and some knick-knacks.
Accent Tables: Accent tables are usually sold individually. They are a little splashier in appearance and are supposed to "accent" the décor in your room. As such, they come in many different shapes and finishes, including drum tables, drop leaf tables and tilt tops. They can be used in place of end tables, particularly if you just want a table on one side of the sofa or loveseat.
Chairside Tables: End tables can be used as chairside tables, of course. The only difference is the chairside table often has a smaller footprint and is sized to place next to a recliner or chair. Smaller end tables can do the same thing, offering you flexibility in your room designs.
Nesting tables: If you entertain frequently, nesting tables make great end tables as well. The different sized tables tuck under one another when not in use and pull out as needed to add more table space when you have guests over.
Tray tables: If you're not planning to add a lamp to the end tables in your living room, you can opt for tray tables instead. These have easy to remove trays that you can use for serving food or beverages. The rest of the time, tray tables look just like end tables.
The good news is that you can use whatever you like in your rooms these days. There's no need to be locked in the 1950s with the traditional end tables and coffee table set. Use your imagination and find ones that look wonderful in your home, no matter what others call them.