Occasional Furniture

Occasional Furniture

Occasional Furniture FAQs

What is an occasional table?

An occasional table is essentially any small table designed for versatile use throughout your home. It’s the kind of furniture that's there when you need it, doing all sorts of jobs without taking centre stage. The term covers a range of pieces including coffee tables that sit in front of your sofa, lamp tables positioned beside your favourite armchair, console tables that work perfectly in hallways or behind sofas, and nest of tables that tuck away when not in use. They work in living rooms, hallways, bedrooms, or even dining spaces, fitting around how you use your interior space. These are the practical pieces that hold your cup of tea, display family photos, keep books and magazines tidy, or provide a spot to set down your phone. At Lees Furnishers, we stock occasional tables in materials ranging from solid oak and walnut to contemporary ceramic, marble, and glass; each bringing its own character to your space.

What different types of occasional tables are there?

Occasional tables come in several distinct styles each designed for different spaces and purposes in your home. Coffee tables are the centrepiece of most living rooms, sitting at the heart of your seating area and providing a surface for drinks, snacks, books and remote controls. Lamp tables, sometimes called side tables or end tables, are smaller pieces that sit beside sofas and armchairs; perfect for placing a reading lamp, your morning coffee, or keeping your phone within easy reach. Console tables are typically taller and narrower, designed to fit against walls in hallways or behind sofas, offering a practical place for keys and post whilst giving you space to display photos or decorative items. Nest of tables are particularly clever for smaller homes. These sets of two or three tables slot together for compact storage but can be separated when you need extra surface space for guests or activities. 

What is the 2/3 rule for coffee tables?

The 2/3 rule is a simple interior design guideline suggesting that your coffee table should be roughly two-thirds the length of your sofa. This creates a balanced, proportional look that feels right in the space without the table appearing lost or overwhelming. For example, if your sofa measures 180cm long, a coffee table around 120cm would hit that sweet spot, leaving enough visual breathing room on either side whilst still providing plenty of usable surface area. That said, rules like this are really just helpful starting points rather than strict requirements. Your room layout, the size of your seating arrangement, and how you actually use the space matter just as much. If you have a smaller living room or an L-shaped sofa configuration, you might find a more compact table or even nest of tables work better for your needs. At Lees Furnishers, our team can help you work out what size and style will suit your particular space.