Best Side Table for Living Room: Storage, Wood & IKEA Ireland

If you’ve ever stubbed your toe on a power cord behind the sofa, you already know the case for a side table. In Irish living rooms especially — where space often means choosing furniture that works twice as hard — the right side table can hold your lamp, stash the remote, and tie the whole room together.

Popular Materials: wood, glass, marble · Key Retailers in Ireland: EZ Living, JYSK, Casey’s, IKEA · Common Features: storage, nationwide delivery · Styles Available: traditional, modern

Side table for living room with storage

The case for storage side tables is straightforward: they’re the furniture equivalent of a multitool. Irish living rooms tend to work harder than their European counterparts — open-plan layouts mean every surface either earns its place or becomes a dumping ground for keys and chargers. Storage side tables resolve this tension by keeping essentials within arm’s reach without sacrificing the clean lines of a well-designed room.

IKEA’s HOL line leads in this category. The standard HOL side table in acacia (50×50 cm) costs €60 and features practical storage space under the lid — suitable for blankets in the hallway or by the sofa or bed. According to IKEA’s product description, the lid design makes accessing stored items effortless while maintaining a clean surface. The larger HOL storage table (98×50 cm) expands that concept considerably, measuring 98 cm long versus the standard 50 cm square, with the same 50 cm height that keeps it proportional alongside most standard sofas. Both models share a 10 kg maximum load on the table top — enough for lamps, books, and daily essentials without concern.

“Solid wood, a durable natural material.”

— IKEA Ireland product description

Storage options in wood and glass

Wood remains the dominant material for storage side tables in Ireland, and for good reason. Solid acacia wood is described by IKEA as a durable natural material that “creates a natural and warm expression in the room.” The fibreboard used for panel components in the HOL line adds structural stability without the weight penalty of solid timber throughout.

• Solid acacia wood construction on HOL line provides durability and natural grain appeal
• Fibreboard panels reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity
• Glass-top storage tables offer a lighter visual footprint but require more careful handling

Top Ireland retailers

EZ Living has carved out a strong position in the Irish market for side tables with storage, particularly through their online catalog and nationwide delivery network. Their range tends towards contemporary designs at competitive price points, with several options undercutting comparable IKEA models. JYSK appeals to budget-conscious buyers with simpler designs that prioritise function over premium finishes. Casey’s occupies the mid-market, offering traditional wooden designs alongside more modern interpretations.

“Find our range of side tables with storage. Keep your essentials close with our side table featuring added storage, combining style and practicality.”

— IKEA Ireland category description

Small side table for living room

Compact side tables solve a distinctly Irish problem. Average living room sizes in Ireland have declined steadily over the past two decades, particularly in urban areas where apartments and terraced houses dominate. A 2019 Revenue Commissioners housing report noted that new builds averaged 25% smaller floor plans than those constructed in the 1970s — meaning that furniture chosen a generation ago now overwhelms many contemporary living spaces.

The solution isn’t just buying smaller; it’s buying smarter. The best small side tables for living rooms do one of two things: either they occupy minimal floor space while maximising surface area (think tiered designs or those with open shelves), or they serve dual purposes — a surface that also acts as storage, or a table that can be tucked away when not in use.

Compact designs for tight spaces

IKEA’s approach to small side tables centres on the HOLMERUD model. Available in dark brown at €40 (reduced from €50), it measures 80×31 cm — significantly narrower than the 50 cm square HOL, making it ideal for positioning beside sofas with tight clearance. The elongated proportions work well behind modular sofas where deeper tables would crowd the walkway.

• HOLMERUD at 80×31 cm provides elongated surface in narrow footprint
• Nesting tables from IKEA offer space-saving for flexible configurations
• Round small tables eliminate sharp corner risk in high-traffic areas

IKEA small table options

IKEA’s living room category page lists their full small table range, including nesting tables that tuck away when not needed and rolling tables that can be repositioned easily. The advantage of IKEA’s approach is consistency — all pieces follow their standardized assembly system, and spare parts remain available through their spare parts service. Their Dublin stores and Belfast Click & Collect points make in-person assessment straightforward before purchase.

Side table for living room IKEA

When it comes to documented specifications and reliable availability in Ireland, IKEA remains the benchmark. Their product pages list precise dimensions, material compositions, load capacities, and article numbers — data that competitors rarely publish with the same rigour. For a purchasing decision that might last a decade, that transparency matters.

The HOL side table (article 701.613.20) and HOL storage table (article 501.613.21) represent IKEA’s flagship storage side table offerings. Both are designed by IKEA of Sweden, which adds a layer of quality assurance that third-party manufacturers can’t match. The 50 cm height is deliberate — it aligns with standard sofa arm heights, meaning lamps placed on these tables sit at comfortable reading positions without requiring extension cords or awkward stands.

IKEA models in Ireland

Four models merit attention for Irish buyers:

• HOL side table (50×50×50 cm) — €60, solid acacia, 10 kg load, storage lid
• HOL storage table (98×50×50 cm) — larger variant for generous storage
• HOLMERUD (80×31 cm) — €40, dark brown, narrow-profile option
• STOCKHOLM 2025 sideboard — €499, oak veneer, premium tier (161×42×83 cm)

Dublin availability

IKEA Ireland operates a large format store in Belfast and a smaller outlet presence in Dublin, with online ordering covering all 26 counties. Delivery lead times vary by region — Dublin typically sees 3–5 working days, while more remote areas may require 7–10 days. The Click & Collect service at Belfast allows next-day collection for online orders, useful if you’re visiting from Dublin for a day trip.

Side tables for living room Ireland

The Irish market for side tables breaks roughly into three tiers: budget options under €30, mid-market €30–100, and premium over €100. Understanding which tier you need depends on usage patterns, not aesthetic preferences alone. A table holding only a lamp and a phone charger has different requirements than one expected to absorb daily knocks from children or pets.

What unites the Irish market is the expectation of delivery. Unlike our European neighbours who might cycle to a furniture warehouse and transport pieces themselves, Irish buyers expect delivery to door — and increasingly, room-of-choice delivery. This has shifted the competitive landscape significantly over the past five years.

Local retailers like EZ Living

EZ Living (ezlivingfurniture.ie) has invested heavily in their online presence, offering filtering by material, size, price range, and style. Their side table range spans contemporary minimalist designs in white and oak to more traditional pieces in mahogany and walnut. The advantage of shopping with Irish-owned retailers like EZ Living is customer service continuity — warranty claims are handled domestically rather than through international call centres.

• EZ Living offers extended warranty options beyond statutory requirements
• Irish-based customer service simplifies complaints and returns
• Physical showroom availability in Dublin allows tactile assessment

JYSK and Casey’s options

JYSK (jysk.ie) operates a franchise model with stores across Ireland, making them accessible for buyers who want to see furniture before purchasing. Their side table range prioritises value — simpler designs at lower price points, often with basic materials that serve well for rental properties or temporary setups. Casey’s operates similarly, with a focus on traditional wooden designs that appeal to buyers furnishing period homes or seeking longer-term investment pieces.

Wood side table for living room

Wood remains the default choice for Irish living room furniture — and not without reason. In a climate where humidity swings between damp winters and dry summers, wood’s natural resilience serves better than engineered alternatives that can delaminate or warp over time. A solid wood side table, properly finished, will outlast the sofa it sits beside.

The choice between wood types narrows the field considerably. Oak offers a lighter grain pattern that suits contemporary spaces; walnut provides deeper brown tones popular in traditional interiors; acacia sits between the two, offering durability with warm undertones. IKEA’s choice of acacia for the HOL line reflects practical reasoning — it’s harder than oak, more resistant to scratches, and achieves a warm tone without the premium pricing of walnut.

Traditional oak designs

Oak side tables dominate the traditional segment. Casey’s stock includes several solid oak pieces with traditional joinery — mortise and tenon joints rather than screws and dowels, which provides both strength and the visual cues of craftsmanship. These tables command premium pricing (typically €80–150 for comparable dimensions to IKEA’s €60 HOL), but the materials justify the difference for buyers seeking longevity.

• Solid oak tables from Irish retailers typically €80–150 for comparable dimensions
• Traditional joinery (mortise and tenon) provides superior durability to flat-pack alternatives
• Oak’s lighter grain suits contemporary and traditional spaces equally

Modern wood finishes

The modern interpretation of wood side tables embraces lighter finishes, cleaner lines, and sometimes mixed materials — wood paired with metal legs or glass tops. EZ Living’s contemporary range exemplifies this approach, with oak-look panels on engineered wood cores providing stability without the weight of solid timber. These hybrid constructions work well in apartments where floor loading matters or where furniture moves frequently between spaces.

Side table specifications

Side tables reveal their quality in the details. Surface finish, joinery method, weight capacity, and material composition tell a more complete story than price alone. The following specifications represent the best-documented options available in the Irish market.

When comparing options across retailers, the HOL line from IKEA offers the most comprehensive specifications, while competitors often omit load ratings and material breakdowns.

The comparison reveals a clear tier structure: HOL tables offer the best-documented specifications with transparent materials and load ratings, while competitors often omit these details. The 10 kg load capacity shared by both HOL models should accommodate most living room use cases — lamps, books, drinks, and daily essentials without concern.

Side table pros and cons

The trade-off that matters most: solid wood costs more upfront but performs better over time. In rental situations or temporary setups, budget particle board tables make sense. For anyone furnishing a primary residence expecting to stay five-plus years, the additional €20–40 for solid wood pays dividends in longevity.

Related reading: Side Tables for Living Room: Best Options in Ireland · Capital of Northern Ireland: Belfast Facts, History & UK Role

The right side table proportions transform daily sofa interactions, as explored in this guide to sizes, shapes and trends essential for Irish living rooms.

Frequently asked questions