In my opinion, you can’t have too many side tables. They’re just so handy, and don’t you try to deny it. Somewhere to rest your book and cup of coffee, somewhere to leave your phone for the three minutes you’re not browsing Instagram and Facebook (let’s not pretend lockdown hasn’t got us even more addicted to social media).
You can have a solid wood side table, one made out of a tree root, a fancy powder-coated metal number, maybe a vintage shabby-chic painted table… You might be more of the upcycling fan, using an old suitcase as a side table with integrated storage, or one with three drawers to hide all sorts of gubbins inside.
My most recent acquisition is this solid elm wood table with hairpin legs.
The features: Size: 40 x 40 x 52cm Made from: Solid elm wood Legs: Powder coated metal
First Impressions
Like most furniture these days, the side table came flat-packed and required assembly. This was really easy – one slab of wood, three legs, 12 screws. It took about 10 minutes to build, even with assistance from my three-year-old little boy, who helped use the screwdriver pretty adeptly. You could do this by yourself with no assistance. The wooden top is solid and very heavy, so do take care lifting this (lift with your legs!).
It looks smart and modern – solid wood with metal hairpin legs seems to be the style for furniture everywhere – and you’d think this was from a boutique furniture shop, not from Amazon.
The Review:
I’m surprised how much I love this little side table; I was apprehensive getting furniture from Amazon, and I have no friends who’ve bought an Amazon Brand piece of furniture before. But the quality is great – really sturdy, very heavy and built to last. I’ve always wondered if hairpin legs are trustworthy or if they’d be wonky or unstable, but I’m pleased to report they hold up even when a toddler bashes into the table.
The price is good value for the quality, especially given it’s solid elm, not veneer. You can pay more for a veneer option, on Amazon, but I would always plump for solid wood. I've also tested a walnut veneer side table from Amazon - check out my review here.
Pros:
Solid wood
Easy to assemble
Sturdy
Modern
Cons:
Heavy