Side Tables

Mother of pearl is the iridescent inner layer of a shell. On these tables, small pieces of it are applied by hand over an engineered wood frame in mosaic, chequered, striped, grid and floral patterns, so expect some variation in colour and texture. The product pages state the shell is harvested in Vietnam. 

Shape decides where a table works. Cylinder designs such as the Solea, Ely and Ivo read as a solid column and suit a narrow gap. The Chris is a drum on a gold-finished base, the Enki has an hourglass profile, and the Tiffany is the widest inlay design at 48cm and the lowest at 36cm. 

Weight capacity runs from 30kg on the Leif and Solea to 100kg on the Tiffany, and many hold 60kg. The inlay tables arrive ready to use. Keep them indoors, dust with a soft cloth, dry spills straight away and avoid harsh chemicals and direct sun. For inlay on other pieces, browse our mother of pearl furniture . 

The Ingrid and Verena are sold as porcelain side tables, with a marble-look sintered stone top 50cm across on an MDF base finished in ash veneer. Choose a natural or walnut base. The Ingrid stands 46cm high and the Verena 55cm, the tallest table in this collection. 

The product pages describe the top as easy to clean and wear-resistant, with high stain resistance. Heat resistance is not listed, so put a coaster under hot mugs. Capacity is 20kg, which covers a lamp and a few books. Both tables are for indoor use and need assembly. Instructions are included, the manual recommends two people, and our in-home assembly service covers the Sydney metro area. 

Concrete is the only material here made for outdoor use. The Valencia is a lightweight concrete table, 37cm wide and 45cm high, in white or antique white, and it arrives fully assembled. The Rissa has a black square top, 45cm wide and 42cm high. Both are listed for indoor and outdoor use. 

The Ashford is concrete with a hydro-dipped travertine effect, so you get the look of travertine without natural stone. It is 41cm high, needs assembly and is best on a covered patio or shaded balcony. Concrete is porous, so wipe spills quickly. The Rissa and Ashford pages advise a penetrating, UV-resistant sealer every few months and a cover when the table is not in use. For terrazzo and more travertine-look designs, see our outdoor concrete tables . 

Measure your armrest first. A side table should sit level with it or slightly lower, so you can reach it without lifting your arm. A low-arm lounge suits the shorter designs here, while a higher arm calls for the 50cm and 55cm tables. 

For a corner side table, a 35cm to 38cm design fits between a sofa arm and the wall without crowding the walkway, and round or cylinder profiles have no edges to catch a shin. A 40cm to 50cm table gives room for a lamp, a book and a cup at the end of a longer sofa. 

Echo something already in the room. Inlay picks up metallic lamp bases and mirror frames, a stone top suits a stone benchtop, and concrete sits well with natural-fibre rugs . A patterned inlay table beside a plain timber coffee table gives the eye somewhere to land. Beside an accent chair , a 35cm design keeps the proportions right. A matching pair either side of the sofa keeps the layout symmetrical, which suits a room centred on a TV unit . 

Need drawers or a matching pair for the bedroom? See our bedside tables .