The Art of the Petite Table: Side Tables at Home

Stefani Stein
Aug 1
4 min read

Updated: Sep 2

A well-placed drinks table is more than a convenient perch for a cocktail or coffee cup. It is an accent of intention, a punctuation mark in the language of a room. These small-scale companions often go unnoticed in the hierarchy of design, yet they are essential and transformative layers in a room—offering rhythm, character, and a sense of welcome.

From beside to fireside to between two linen-covered armchairs, these tables carry with them a sense of warmth. A place to rest a glass, a novel, a small vase of flowers. The elegance lies in their restraint: compact, sculptural, and often whimsical, they hold space without demanding it.

Various side tables in wood and metal, featuring turned legs, in a variety of materials, shapes and finishes.

How to Choose and Use Cocktail Tables

We call them drink tables, martini tables, cocktail tables or drink drops, but really, they're gestures of hospitality. A small surface to make space for living well. Choose one that reflects your rhythm, your materials, your mood. Let it become part of the ritual.

Living room with patterned armchair, gray curtains, and a textural tiled fireplace. A cozy sofa with colorful cushions and a marble coffee table add to the warm ambiance. — Photography by Sam Frost, Styling by Lisa Rowe

Consider Placement Thoughtfully

A drinks table should be within easy reach of where someone might sit or linger. Think of it as a companion to conversation or quiet moments. Place it beside a lounge chair, at the end of a settee, or between two occasional chairs to make the most of its function and charm.

Play with Shape and Scale

Because these tables are small, they’re the perfect canvas for experimenting with form. Round, square, tripod, fluted, drum—their diversity makes them especially versatile. Don’t shy away from a sculptural silhouette or a bold texture; in a small footprint, it feels intentional, not overwhelming.

Let Materials Speak

This is a chance to introduce a new material note into a room: a marble top, a wrought iron base, a woven body. These tactile details bring nuance to a space. Mixing materials in a restrained way invites richness without clutter.

A Considered Collection of Companions

In this curated collection, we explore drinks tables that range from traditional to modernist, rustic to refined. Some nod to barley twist heritage, others play with proportion and material in refreshing ways. Each piece is a gesture of both beauty and usefulness—designed to serve, but also to speak.

Wooden round pedestal table with carved leg. Light brown color, simple and elegant design.

Timeless Simplicity

A spindle-leg oak drink table evokes early English craftsmanship while feeling fresh in its simplicity. The Sunset Side Table’s delicate profile makes it ideal next to a settee or tucked beside a reading chair.

A two-tiered side table with a square top and shelf, featuring a natural grain pattern. It has slender legs and a rustic look.

Tortoise Side Table

A darker twist on woven accents, the Pimlico Side Table’s bamboo look, and tortoise-motif finish offers warmth and edge in one small footprint. Its dual surfaces offer effortless utility—ideal for resting a warm mug, stacking bedside essentials, or setting the stage for a spontaneous aperitif.

Wooden stool with a round top and a fluted base, in natural brown color. Simple and elegant design.

Contemporary Cocktails

The Belmont Cocktail Table has an unexpected form that feels both timeless and modern. A tapered pedestal meets a carved fluted block base that appears almost petal-like. Topped with a marble surface—a perfect detail for a refined room.

Three-tiered wooden shelf with bobbin columns, creating a classic, charming look.

Bobbin-Legged Classic

The Bobbin What-Not-Table introduces tiers of beautifully turned legs recalling 17th-century influences while still feeling fresh. Use this as a library companion or beside a plush armchair.

Ornate pedestal table with a round red-marble painted top and decorative black trim. The wooden base has an elegant, intricate design.

Antique Revival

The Fiesole Side Table, with its carved tripod base and intricate red marbling, evokes the drama of antique parlors. A statement in small scale.

Black round table with a slim tripod leg design. Simple and modern aesthetic.

Architectural Gesture

Goodrich Iron Side Table’s black metal tripod base supports a minimal round top—industrial, but delicate. A sculptural accent for a pared-down aesthetic.

The Beauty of Light and Form: Side Table Edit

Today, these vintage lamps invite that same sense of refinement into modern spaces. They bring history into the present, adding soulful warmth and sculptural beauty to every corner. Whether placed on a nightstand or crowning a beloved console, each lamp whispers of an era where craftsmanship and artistry walked hand in hand.

Simple wooden stand table with a round top and base. The wood is blonde oak with a natural finish.

Rustic Refinement

The Panoplie Drink Drop nods to Shaker honesty with a slightly modern stance. Minimalist turned details add unexpected movement.

Dark wooden side table with two levels, elegant arches on the sides, and four tapered legs set against.

Colette Side Table

A compact ebonized side table, the Colette Cocktail Table, offers understated glamour. Ideal as a catch-all beside a lounge chair or even a bedside table in a tight space.

Brown wicker hourglass-shaped stool with scalloped edge design.

Woven Warmth

The Damru Rattan Side Table’s scalloped-edge drum shape brings softness and organic ease to any corner. Perfect in a sunroom or paired with linen upholstery.

Brown chair next to a rustic wooden side table with a vase, dried branches, and bowl. Stack of books on floor. Calm, cozy ambiance. — Photography by Sam Frost, Styling by Lisa Rowe

Cozy room with two armchairs, an iron side table, and a roaring fireplace. Beige curtains frame windows; mirror above hearth reflects warmth. — Photography by Sam Frost by Lisa Rowe

A dark wood pedestal side table with a round stone top and octagonal base.

Marble Poetry

Carved wood meets dark marble in the Pierce & Ward Drink Table. The compliment between the rich base and the stone top adds drama without grandeur.

Antiqued brass metal side table with a round top and three curved legs. Vintage look and minimalist design.

Aged Elegance

The charm of the Giacometti Side Table 's ironwork is distilled into a delicate table with poetic lines and a patinated brass finish. It’s light in feel but grounded in form.

The Last Word in Considered Living

The drink table may be modest in size, but its impact is unmistakable. These are the moments in design that feel deeply personal: the unexpected curve, the perfect perch, the quiet companion to everyday rituals. A room becomes more welcoming when its smallest gestures are thoughtfully chosen.