I have a confession to make: I have a slight obsession with side tables. Just a slight obsession; it’s not damaging my personal relationships or preventing me from functioning as an adult. However, it is filling my house with many, albeit lovely, small tables. New places to leave things atop, waiting to be moved to somewhere else; new bits of furniture for my three-year-old to bash into; new places for half-full cups of coffee to be abandoned (the three-year-old is also the reason I never seem to finish a cuppa).
My latest side table acquisition is this walnut veneer number, the Amazon Brand Rivet Meeks Storage Side Table, featuring a basket underneath. More places to store stuff, huzzah!
First Impressions:
As with 99% of furniture these days, the side table came flat-packed, with minimal instructions. However, it didn’t really warrant extensive instructions – it was simple and easy to put together. My three-year-old helped and even managed to screw the screws in mostly efficiently. It’s testament to a piece of furniture if a toddler can help put it together. You do need two pairs of hands; it’s a bit of a balancing act to keep the four legs upright as you screw them all in. I’d say it took about 12 minutes to put together.
The Review:
Given that this side table is made of veneer, and I normally only buy real wooden furniture, I was worried it would look and feel a bit, well, cheap. However, it is suitably smart and sturdy given its make-up.
I was impressed with how easy it was to put together, especially given my handy helper was a toddler. Any piece of furniture that takes under 15 minutes to build gets a strong tick in my book.
It’s sturdy and weighty, and my son hasn’t managed to knock it over (yet – touch wood, or veneer). The lip around the top table is a great little feature, meaning mugs and phones can’t be knocked straight off the edge, although my husband did think that gave it a bit of an old-fashioned feel.
The basket underneath is really helpful for additional storage; especially with children. It’s spacious so lots of toys can be hidden in there. It’s not really suitable for books, because of the shape, although magazines would be OK.
One downside I’ve found is the look of the basket – it’s a bit baggy and creased, but I could try ironing it and seeing if that improves the situation.
I also think the price is a little high given it’s made with veneer, rather than solid wood; you can get a lovely solid wood side table for fewer pennies, even on Amazon. Check out this real elm side table from Amazon I've also tested - for a lower price.
Final Opinion
This is a decent side table if you're not bothered about buying real wood. Deciding whether to invest really comes down to whether you like the style - it's not for everyone, although I applaud the storage and practicality.
Personally, I'd plump for real wood over veneer - especially as you can get a cheaper, real wooden table for cheaper, if you shop around.
The features:
Size: 42.4 x 59.9 x 42.4cm
Made from: MDF with walnut veneer
Basket: Available in grey speckle, cream, and teal
Legs: Powder coated metal
