Side Table and Bedside Table Size Guide: Height, Size and Placement for UAE Homes

Short answer: A side table should be level with your sofa arm or up to about 5 cm lower, and a bedside table should be level with the top of your mattress or within about 5 cm of it. For most sofas and beds that means a table 50–65 cm high. Choose a top of 40–50 cm if it will hold a lamp, and about 30 cm if it only needs to hold a cup and phone.

• Beside a sofa: match the table top to the arm height, not the seat.
• Beside a bed: measure to the top of the mattress, not the bed frame.
• Tight space: a round top has no corners to catch as you pass.

How high should a side table be next to a sofa?

A side table should sit level with the sofa arm or slightly below it, within about 5 cm. At that height your hand moves sideways to reach a cup instead of lifting up over the arm, and nothing gets knocked off when you rest your elbow.

The most common mistake is choosing a side table by looks and never measuring the sofa arm. Sofa arms usually measure 55–65 cm from the floor, while low, modern sofas can sit nearer 50 cm, so measure yours before you order.

Seat beside the table	Typical arm or top height	Side table height to look for
Low modern sofa	About 50–55 cm	45–55 cm
Standard sofa or armchair	About 55–65 cm	50–65 cm
Armless chair or floor seating	Seat height plus a little	Around 40–50 cm
Low platform bed	Mattress top about 40–50 cm	40–50 cm
Standard bed with a deep mattress	Mattress top about 50–65 cm	50–65 cm

How high should a bedside table be compared with the mattress?

A bedside table should be level with the top of your mattress or up to about 5 cm above or below it. That lets you reach a glass of water or your phone at night without sitting up or stretching down in the dark.

Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress, not to the bed frame. A new, deeper mattress can raise the sleeping surface by several centimetres, and a bedside table that fitted the old bed may then sit too low. Most standard beds with a mattress end up 50–65 cm high, and low platform beds nearer 40–50 cm. If you are choosing the bed as well, our guide to what to look for in a solid wood bed covers frame heights, and the beds collection shows the current range.

What size side table do you need?

Choose a top of 40–50 cm across if the table will hold a lamp as well as a cup or book, and around 30 cm if it only needs to hold a drink and a phone. The table should never be deeper than the sofa it stands beside.

Sizes below come from the Opel Home product listings.

Side table	Top (L × D)	Height	Material and finish	Suits
Jona	30 × 30 cm	43 cm	Solid mango wood, natural	Low seating, small bedrooms, a drink and phone
Zack	50 × 50 cm	48 cm	Solid mango wood, natural	Low sofas and platform beds, room for a lamp
Lucious	45 × 45 cm	50 cm	Solid mango wood and iron	Low to mid-height sofas
Round table, black metal base	45 × 45 cm	55 cm	Solid mango wood and iron, natural	Standard sofas, tight walkways
Brasher	45 × 45 cm	56 cm	Solid mango wood, natural	Standard sofas and beds
Bexton	50 × 50 cm	58 cm	Solid mango wood, white	Beside a bed or sofa, bright rooms
Boltz	45 × 45 cm	60 cm	Solid mango wood, natural	Taller sofa arms and deeper mattresses
Bristol	46 × 46 cm	60 cm	Solid mango wood with rattan, walnut	Taller beds and sofas

For a bedside table, allow at least 40 cm of width in most bedrooms, and keep a walkway of about 60 cm between the bed and the wall or wardrobe. In a small room, a 30 cm table such as Jona keeps that walkway clear.

Do you need storage in a side table or bedside table?

Only if you keep things by the bed or sofa that you want out of sight. An open side table is lighter to look at and easier to clean around, while drawer storage hides chargers, books, glasses and medicines.

The side tables in this guide are open designs, and their listings do not describe drawers. If you need drawer space beside the bed, a small piece from the chest of drawers collection can do the job; check its height against your mattress first, using the rule above. For a calm, clutter-free bedroom, our minimalist bedroom guide has more ideas.

Where should you place a side table: round or square?

Place a side table within easy reach, about 5–10 cm from the sofa arm or the edge of the bed. Choose round in tight spaces and walkways, and square when you want the table to line up neatly with a sofa arm or a bed.

• Beside a sofa: one table at the end you sit at most, or a pair for a symmetrical look.
• Between two armchairs: a round table serves both seats. The lounge chair collection has chairs that pair well with one.
• Beside a bed: a pair of matching tables suits a double bed; a single table works in a guest room.
• With a coffee table: a side table does not replace a coffee table in front of the sofa, it adds a surface at arm's reach.

Choose the Bexton if you want a pedestal base with room for your feet and a bright finish. Choose the Bristol if you want rattan texture beside a taller bed.

What should you check before you order a side table or bedside table?

Check the height against your sofa arm or mattress top, the top size against what it needs to hold, and the space around it.

• Sofa arm or mattress top: measure from the floor, and match the table to within about 5 cm.
• Top size: 40–50 cm for a lamp and a cup, about 30 cm for a drink and phone.
• Walkway: about 60 cm clear beside the bed after the table is in place.
• Storage: open table or drawers, depending on what you keep nearby.
• Shape and base: round for tight spaces, a pedestal or slim metal base for legroom.
• Finish and care: natural, white or walnut to match the room. Iced drinks leave condensation rings in humid weather, so use coasters, and keep wood out of direct afternoon sun, which fades the finish.
• Lamp and socket: where the nearest power point is for a bedside lamp.

Where can you buy a solid wood side table in Dubai?

You can order one online from Opel Home. The side table collection has round and square designs in solid mango wood, in natural, white and walnut finishes, for use beside a sofa or a bed. Delivery is free across the UAE with no minimum order value, takes 3–4 working days to most UAE locations, and assembly is free. The delivery page has the details.

Side tables mentioned in this guide

 

Pay by cash on delivery, or split the cost with Tabby or Tamara instalments at checkout. Orders ship from Opel Home's own UAE warehouse. Opel Home's wooden furniture, including these side tables, is solid wood, handcrafted in India and never MDF or veneer. For matching pieces, browse the mango wood furniture collection.

Change-of-mind returns are accepted within 72 hours of delivery if the item is unused and undamaged, and the customer pays the return delivery charge. If a piece arrives damaged or defective, Opel Home covers the return or replacement transport. A 12-month warranty covers manufacturing and workmanship defects in the wood and construction. It does not cover fabric, cushions, padding or other upholstery, normal colour change, or wear from regular use. Full terms are on the returns and refunds page.

Frequently asked questions

Should a side table be higher or lower than the sofa arm?

Level with the arm or slightly lower, within about 5 cm. A table higher than the arm is awkward to reach over, and one much lower means leaning down every time you put a cup down. Measure the arm from the floor before you order.

How tall should a bedside table be?

About the same height as the top of your mattress, within roughly 5 cm either way. For most standard beds that is 50–65 cm, and for low platform beds 40–50 cm. Measure to the mattress top, not the frame.

Can a side table be used as a bedside table?

Yes. A side table works well beside a bed if its height matches the mattress top and its top is wide enough for a lamp and a glass. Opel Home's Bexton and Bristol side tables are both described as suitable beside a bed.

What size bedside table suits a small bedroom?

A compact table with a top of about 30 cm keeps the walkway clear while still holding a drink and a phone. Aim to leave around 60 cm of free floor between the bed and the nearest wall or wardrobe.

Is a round or square side table better?

Round tables suit tight spaces and walkways because there are no corners to catch, and one round table can serve two armchairs. Square tables line up neatly with a sofa arm or the side of a bed and usually give a little more usable surface.

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About the author
Written by the Opel Home furniture team. Opel Home, the trading name of Opel Home Furniture L.L.C-FZ, has supplied solid wood furniture to homes across the UAE since 2015 from its own warehouse in the country. Its wooden furniture is 100% solid wood (mango, acacia, rosewood or teak), handcrafted in India and never MDF or veneer. The sizes and materials in this guide come from the specifications of the furniture we stock. Contact the team if you would like help choosing.