Vern Yip's Tips for Choosing Side Tables

Just about any table that sits to the side of a piece of furniture can be considered a side table. You'll most often find one in a living room, by a sofa or chair. But depending on its height, you can also use one as a nightstand or as a coffee table in a small room. Side tables are a great place to add color or texture. Here are some pointers for finding one (or two or three) for your space.

If you're using it with a chair or sofa, a side table works best when it's no lower than an inch or two below the arm of the seat it's next to. A standard sofa arm is around 24 inches tall, so aim for a table about that height. If you're pairing a table with a chair that has a shorter arm, or if you want to use the table as a stool, pick one that's more like 16 to 20 inches. If it's going to serve as an entryway piece, choose one that's 27 to 30 inches tall. Journey Trading Co. Houston 18"-H x 16"-diameter table, $480, allmodern.com

Side table widths and diameters vary a lot too, from 10 inches (or sometimes even less) and up, but I like a surface width that's at least 18 inches across. Anything smaller isn't quite as functional. If you're putting a standard-sized lamp on the table, you'll need one that's at least 22 inches in diameter. Arland 26"W x 26"D x 24"H table, $299, broyhillfurniture.com for stores

For a living room with a lot of upholstered pieces, I like side tables that are sleek and simple. The table's clean lines balance out the other furniture's softness. Some smart choices: glass, acrylic, metal and wood without much carving. If your furniture is modern, you can go with something more ornate. Adams 23"-H x 18"-diameter table, $349, roomandboard.com