No living area is complete without a side table or two. Occasional tables are not only useful piece of furniture, but are also an important decor element. Because they are small, it is easy to try out a new style or a new color without a major decorating or financial commitment. Designers at Salone del Mobile in Milan showed a wide range of occasional tables in a rainbow of styles.

This trio of lovely tables by Airnova is versatile and attractive. The stacked ball pedestal is fun and they work well grouped together or singly,Alfemo’s side table has a global feel. The cylindrical base is light and the reclaimed style wood top is industrial and casual.Colorful and modern, the nesting table are a cool play on opposing triangles. The natural wood base uniquely pairs with the colored tabletop. This is also by Alfemo.Alfemo’s triangluar nesting tables are not only fun for their shape, but also for the colorful pop the blue tops provide.A connected set of smaller pieces makes for an interesting side table from &Tradition. The Palette Table designed by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon is made of different shaped tops done in various colors and materials.Acomodel shows how a pair of two very different side tables can work together. Try paring a new side table with one that you already own. Note that here, the two starkly different colors and patterns work because both tables have three legs anchored in the center.These side tables from Haymann also have three legs and can work together as a coffee table set or individually as a side table. Again, while both are dome with different finishes, the three legs and repeating shape help them work together.Amorphous shapes and varied colors make these leggy tables from Erba perfect for scattering around the room.These side tables from Potocco are perfect for entertaining. The tray tops, which come in different colors and finishes, rest atop the base and can be used as a tray when needed.Used as a single table, it’s an elegant addition to any living room.Pedro Ortiz’s side tables can also do double duty as stools. If you live in a small space, these can be very useful when you have friends or family drop by and you need a few extra seats.Any side table can also serve as a nightstand or bedside table. Here, Abrito shows how you can use a glimmering side table in the bedroom.Atypico classifies this as a plant stand, but it also makes a grand occasional table. Suspended from the ceiling, it offers a place to stash your books or magazines, as well as display a few objects, like this Kora vase.Small space? No problem with this two-legged side table from Atipico. Perfect for a small entry way, or a small reading area, it provides just enough space to place your coffee cup and a book or two.Not quite square, these wire side tables from Bonaldo cast an interesting shadow. The lacquered wire design is also great for an area where you want to keep the decor light and airy. It also comes in five vibrant colors.Elegant side tables, these are called Agrippa and Agrippina, are from the Camus Collection of Valencia, Spain. All of the company’s pieces are warm wood, exquisitely carved into stunning furniture.This unique side table is by Chinese architect and designer Chi Wing Lo. His beautiful, spare and clean designs often have hidden storage and extra features, such as the light in this occasional table.A similar design is made without the storage compartment in the bottom, in a lighter tome of wood.Another of Chi’s side tables resembles an old -fashioned pail or barrel, perhaps a sake barrel. This side table could also double as a stool.This side table by Chi is elongated, making it very suitable for a smaller space. the added small shelf below the top adds a pop of color contrast.His oval side tables have a unique sliding top that can store any items you ‘d like to shield from view — either from guests or just to keep your space clear of clutter and serene.The round door slides open with the pull of your finger.mmcite from the Czech Republic designed these side tables that appear to be lit from inside, which is just an optical illusion. This is the two-color paint and light BLOCQ.This shiny brass price is the Botti side table by Essential Home. The clean, curved lines make for an elegant table that would work in just about any space.Perfect for a rustic retreat, this side table from Dialma Brown features a metal top and base made with horns.Dialma Brown’s round rough wood-topped side tables, which come in trio of heights, are perfect for mixing and would work well in a casual decor style.These unique set of side tables from Eichholz is made from petrified wood sitting atop a stainless steel base. Each piece of petrified wood is one-of-a-kind and so is each table. The Moylan table comes in different heights, making grouping easy.This is really surprising side table from Estetik Decor from Turkey. The fur covered table top is a type of deer hide that is coated with a metallic copper laminate. Truly a statement piece from the company, which has a variety of unique pieces.Estetik Decor also makes this hemisphere shaped table that is finished in a soft metallic, giving any room a touch of Middle Eastern mystery.The top to levels of this slight but very interesting table from Euromobil almost seem to float when the base blends in with the flooring. It’s perfect for spaces large and small.The DIDA side table from Flexform can be purchased as a round, square or rectangle. A marble top — available in different colors — sits in a slid wood base, which is also available in different types.Sometimes you just need just a small table to accompany an ottoman and this one from Il Loft is perfect. Just large enough to accommodate a couple of glasses or a book, it’s easily moved when not in use.Designer Joana Santos Barbosa of Insidrherland created this Na Pali table to evoke the towering cliffs Hawaii’s Na Pali Coast. All her stunning wooden pieces are inspired by and reminiscent of various dramatic natural settings.The Thais side tables are created by Ivano Redaeli of metal covered with leather atop wheels for easy movement. They come in three heights, suitable for grouping.The designer’s Aston side tables are low and have a metal tubular frame, The Inox steel joints are covered in a matte gold finish and adjustable feet are made from brass. the removable top, comes in a choice of inlaid Canaletto walnut, grain leather, or a variety of marble types.The Tam-Tam Hollow side table by Leolux is just plain fun. A little futuristic, the leather-upholstered side table has a removable top so that you can stash things inside. The top comes in a variety of lacquer colors and the legs are made from polished aluminium. It’s also available as a footstool, called Bongo.Also by Leolux, the Portillo side table is great for entertaining because it’s small and provides plenty of space for a few people to perch their drinks. It has a handle under the top table, making it easy to move. The table is available in lacquer or solid oak and the frame comes in aluminium, lacquer or epoxy.For something a little more substantial, Leolux also offers the Tilio side table. It has three legs, which can be done in several colors to match the tops. It is also available in a coffee table size.More traditional in structure but modern in style, a side table presented by Mechini may be just the ticket if your design tastes trend toward the more conservative.An eclectic mix of wood and metal balls come together in a compact but functional side table from Munna Design.Petite Friture’s Basil Sphere side table is by Arthur Leitner. Made f cork, it is available in square and triangular variations.Small, graphic and colorful, Petite Friture’s Iso-B epoxy-coated metal nesting tables add a bit of fun as well as function.A closer look reveals the meticulous work and wood grain.We love the idea of double-duty pieces like a stool that also functions as a side table. Zanat’s Tattoo Stool is light and stackable with a whimsical tattoo-like carving. It is available with three or four legs and in a variety of wood colors.Similarly, their Quiet stool is well-suited as a small side table. Each one has a hand-carved motif, and makes a nice set when grouped with other carving patterns.The Daisy side table, also by Zanat, can also be used as a coffee table. The undulating hand carved edge is a design that bridges the modern and natural decor divide.

Whether you have a grand space or a small one, you need at least a couple of occasional tables as accents, fur function, but hopeful as both. The range of designs and shapes available make it easy to choose something that fits your home decor needs.