What is the point of nesting tables? One way to think of them is as side tables with superpowers.
“They’re meant to travel, expand and contract, and play at different games around the house,” said the New York-based interior designer Celerie Kemble. “They’re a self-storing little miracle of multipurpose-ness.”
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Nested inside each other beside a sofa or chair, they provide a single, unobtrusive surface. But when you need more space to hold, say, a drink, a plate and a book at the same time, “they’re able to accordion out,” said Kemble, who has designed nesting tables of her own for Henredon.
But they really come into their own when company drops by. Then, nesting tables can be split up and moved around the room.
“It’s like a ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ experience,” Kemble said. “Sometimes, the littlest one is just right when you pull it out next to a chair.”
— What is the best use for nesting tables? Since they are frequently repositioned, stick to portable items, like books or cups: “You’re probably not putting picture frames or lamps on top,” Kemble said.
— Should they be simple or decorative? “Because of their small scale, they can often be more decorative, or a luxe material,” Kemble said.
— How sturdy are they? Sturdy enough, unless you have children or clumsy guests, she said, as “nesting tables can be a little more prone to tumbling” than stationary tables.
Satztische Hoffmann Side Tables, from $760 each: Nesting black-stained ash tables designed by Josef Hoffmann; Avenue Road: 212-453-9880 or us.avenue-road.com.
Ercol Originals Nest of Tables, from $1,060: Set of three elm-and-beech tables designed by Lucian Ercolani; YLiving: 800-236-9100 or yliving.com
Carson Nesting Tables, $998: Pair of tables made with wrapped natural-fiber cord; Serena & Lily: 866-597-2742 or serenaandlily.com
Contour Side Tables, $1,950: Pair of semicircular tables with Corian bases and tinted-glass tops; Bower: 347-694-8709 or bower-studios.com
Enamel Round Nesting Tables, about $300: Set of three tables with antique brass-finished iron bases and enamel tops; West Elm: 888-922-4119 or westelm.com