Talie Jane Interiors Website

Tables 101

Talie Jane Interiors

October 14, 2025

Bedrooms

Table: Basic article of furniture, known and used in the Western world since at least the 7th century bce, consisting of a flat slab of stone, metal, wood, or glass supported by trestles, legs, or a pillar. ⁽¹⁾

What’s so complicated about tables? A table is a raised flat surface with four legs used to work at, eat from or on which to place things ⁽²⁾. Seems pretty simple. However, there happens to be a LOT of different types of tables, in a myriad of sizes, shapes, colors and materials, intended for different “work at, eat from or on which to place things” purposes. At its core, a table serves these basic purposes but, in our homes, we purchase specific tables for specific functions.

We purchase “accent tables,” “console tables” and “nesting tables” for example. But what exactly are these different types of tables used for? Do you need them in your home? When should they be used and where should they be placed?

This article outlines some of the popular table types and provides guidance about the proper placement and use for each.

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Side Table ⁽¹⁰⁾

Just as its name suggests, a side table is placed beside a piece of furniture a person would sit on, such as a couch or a bed. Its main purpose is to ensure that essential items are within easy reach.

When choosing the style and material of your side tables, remember that they aren’t the focal point of your room. They usually match or complement the overall style, and are useful for introducing a new element such as color or texture.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have unmatched side tables in unusual shapes and materials, but to keep a sense of balance, choose tables of similar size and visual weight. This lets the side table fade into the background while the other, larger pieces become the focus of the room.

Trestle Table

A trestle table is an item of furniture consisting of two or three trestle supports linked by a longitudinal cross-member over which a board or tabletop is placed. In the Middle Ages, the trestle table was often little more than loose boards over trestle legs for ease of assembly and storage. ⁽¹⁹⁾

This simple, collapsible style remained the most common Western form of table until the 16th century, when the basic trestle design gave way to stronger frame-based structures such as gateleg and refectory tables. ⁽¹⁹⁾

Ease of assembly and storage has made it the ideal occasional table, and it remains a popular form of dining table, as those seated are not so inconvenienced as they might be with the more usual arrangement of a fixed leg at each corner. ⁽¹⁹⁾

Trestle tables are more closely linked to traditional or rustic home styles and match well with benches. Trestle tables can feature live edges, which has become a very popular trend beyond traditional and rustic styles. ⁽²⁰⁾

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