When decorating a small home or decorating on a budget, there is one key to keep in mind - multi-functional. The more functions one piece of furniture can serve the fewer pieces of furniture you will need (great for a smaller home) and the fewer pieces of furniture you will have to buy (great for those watching their budget).

End Table With Shelves

When you go room by room in your home, you will be able to quickly make a list of furniture essentials. For example, in the living room you will want a sofa, chair, end tables, entertainment center and maybe a coffee table. Then your mind may wander to all the little things you need to put away somewhere in this room. You may think that means you need to add other items to your list, that are storage options for this room. But, why not allow the furniture you already have to do this job? Many end tables and coffee tables come with storage areas. By using this kind of end tables you can take that extra piece of furniture off the list, saving space and money.

End Table With Shelves

The most common multi-functional pieces in the living room are end tables. There are so many varieties of end tables it is no surprise.

When it comes to storage, there are some with shelves, drawers, or a combination of the two, so you can pack a variety of things away in this space.

Next, there are end tables that can serve other functions.

Many end tables have lift tops. These can serve a number of purposes. First, if you happen to be short table space for a family meal, the end tables tops can be lifted up, and locked in place to offer more counter space. These are also a great solution for game nights, when you don't want to bring out the rickety card table.

Other end tables have fold out tops. These offer even more tabletop space for games that use a lot of pieces or for a few people to have a place to set their plates and drinks.

Some end tables appreciate the fact that you have a lot of small things that you need to put away. Often people have a TV guide, pens, remote controls and other items that they set on end tables. All it takes is one incorrect motion of a hand and you're crawling behind the sofa looking for that pen or remote. Instead, look for end tables with lips. These have edges that curve up, so if you knock the items on the tabletop around, they will only roll to the edge and stop. This is much easier than going on the archeology dig that could be happening under the sofa.

These are often not thought of as the super heroes of furniture, but they often can be, changing shapes to suit the need of any living space as well as offering the extra, much needed, storage space that lets you feel as if your living room is larger than it really is.

End Tables - They Have Many Lives

End Table With Shelves