Introduction: The Power of the Subtle Statement
In the world of luxury interior design, it’s often the largest items—sofas, dining settings, statement lighting—that steal the spotlight. Yet, it is the smaller furniture pieces that possess a truly transformative power. Bedside tables, stools, dressing tables, sideboards, and coffee tables may not command attention by scale, but they often define the personality, functionality, and flow of a space.
In 2025, the spotlight turns toward these “supporting” characters, which are proving themselves to be key players in both practical use and sophisticated aesthetics. The latest design trends celebrate individuality and craftsmanship. Whether a sculptural console table that greets guests in the entryway or a sleek TV cabinet that hides modern technology in plain sight, each piece offers a unique opportunity to reflect your personal taste.
These furnishings are no longer merely “fillers” — they are essential expressions of who we are, how we live, and what we value in our homes. And when chosen thoughtfully, they not only enhance the design but elevate the entire space.
1. The Bedside Table: A Functional Statement
Long gone are the days of the utilitarian nightstand. Today’s high-end bedside tables are thoughtfully crafted to balance form and function, becoming integral features in the bedroom landscape.
Design Trends for 2025
Floating bedside tables continue to gain traction for their modern elegance and their ability to create a sense of space. For more grounded designs, clean lines with handcrafted timber finishes, leather-wrapped drawers, or marble tops bring richness to the room. Soft-close drawers, hidden compartments, and even wireless charging pads are now seamlessly integrated.
Pairing with the Bed
Designers are moving away from strict symmetry. Pairing two different but complementary bedside tables adds depth and interest. For instance, a timber-and-glass design on one side and a lacquered piece with a sculptural lamp on the other allows personality to shine through.
Your Individual Signature
Selecting a bedside table is about understanding your own nighttime rituals. Do you read in bed? Do you want a drawer for journaling or a shelf for display? Choosing a piece that supports your lifestyle is the true luxury.
2. Stools and Seats: Sculptural and Practical
Stools and accent seats are the perfect embodiment of beauty meeting practicality. They serve as footrests, extra seating, or design features in their own right.
Versatility in Placement
From the foot of a bed to a bathroom corner, stools and ottomans add comfort and flexibility. In 2025, their role expands as they become central design tools in open-plan interiors and transitional spaces.
Current Aesthetic Trends
The popularity of boucle fabrics, leather-wrapped bases, and hand-carved wooden frames continues into 2025. Organic shapes—rounded, curved, asymmetric—offer a soft visual balance to the straight lines of cabinetry and architecture.
Artisan-crafted stools, particularly those made from solid timber or hand-forged metal, are highly sought after, reinforcing the value of craftsmanship and natural materials.
How to Show Your Personality
Whether you choose a bold-coloured velvet seat or a minimalist timber stool with visible grain, these pieces tell a story. They invite conversation and reflect your preference for comfort, culture, or curated style.
3. Dressing Tables: A Revival of Classic Glamour
The dressing table is enjoying a renaissance. Once the pride of vintage vanity rooms, it has returned with renewed sophistication and relevance.
Modern Interpretations
Designers are embracing slim profiles and luxurious materials—think brass accents, fluted wood detailing, or stone tops paired with velvet-upholstered stools. Mirrored surfaces, sculptural drawer pulls, and integrated lighting bring functionality to beauty rituals.
A Space for Reflection
The dressing table is no longer relegated to private spaces. In 2025, we see them stylishly placed in walk-in robes, bay windows, and even integrated into living areas as display surfaces when not in use.
Curating Your Own Space
This is your space. From displaying heirloom jewellery to housing your skincare collection, the dressing table becomes a personal sanctuary. The piece you choose should mirror your rhythm and lifestyle while adding an air of elegance.
4. Side Tables: Small Size, Big Presence
Small but mighty, side tables are the punctuation marks of interior design. They frame sofas, accompany chairs, and fill voids with grace.
Design in Detail
Asymmetry reigns in 2025. Side tables are less matchy-matchy, more collected and personal. Expect to see stunning timber varieties—Australian hardwoods, exotic acacia, or American walnut—blended with glass, stone, or aged metals.
Nested side tables allow flexibility while bringing sculptural appeal. Tables with built-in magazine racks or wireless charging enhance functionality without sacrificing elegance.
Accentuating Style
A minimalist ceramic table beside a curvaceous armchair says something completely different from a hand-hammered brass pedestal beside a sleek leather lounge. Let your choice be deliberate, showing your affinity for design eras, materials, or the unexpected.
5. Feature Console Tables: The Entryway Signature
Few pieces say more about a home than the console table in your foyer or hallway. It’s a welcome, a statement, and a first impression rolled into one.
Design Characteristics
Console tables are becoming taller, slimmer, and bolder. Finishes such as brushed brass, black oak, textured resin, and honed stone are on trend. A mirrored or lacquered console paired with abstract art can establish a mood of refinement and originality.
Designers are embracing symmetry with bold twin lamps or contrast through asymmetrical décor—think sculpture on one side and books on the other.
Personalised Storytelling
Use this space to introduce yourself to guests. A favourite vase, a candle with your signature scent, or an antique you picked up while travelling—all turn a simple table into a narrative.
6. Sideboards: Storage Meets Sophistication
Today’s luxury interiors demand beauty and practicality, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the evolution of the sideboard.
Materiality and Form
Sideboards are shedding their utilitarian past. Contemporary pieces feature high-gloss lacquer, rattan inlay, curved edges, or bold timber grain. 2025 sees a return to craftsmanship—joinery is precise, handles are hand-cast, and finishes are silky to the touch.
Function as Form
These pieces are workhorses. Store dinnerware, books, or tech accessories, all while anchoring a dining or living space visually. When elevated on metal legs or carved from a monolithic timber block, they become sculptural.
Expression of Taste
A sideboard is the perfect place to curate a still life—art, flowers, personal collections. It’s an exhibition of your personality that can evolve with the seasons or your mood.
7. TV Cabinets: The Elegant Entertainment Centre
In the luxury setting, the television is no longer the focal point—it’s part of a larger visual dialogue. TV cabinets are designed not just to hide the screen, but to integrate it within a broader aesthetic vision.
Design That Disguises
Expect tambour doors, slatted timber facades, and sliding panels that conceal screens when not in use. Some pieces incorporate sound panels, ambient lighting, or hidden cable management.
Low-profile silhouettes and wall-hugging depths are key in 2025. The emphasis is on proportion and balance, allowing the piece to recede or shine depending on styling.
Technology in Disguise
TV cabinets are now the stage for thoughtful material pairings—walnut and matte black, oak and ivory lacquer. It’s where your appreciation for both innovation and tradition can merge.
8. Coffee Tables: The Room’s Heartbeat
Coffee tables often act as the anchor to a living space. They invite gathering, display cherished items, and draw together a room’s visual rhythm.
Design Trends
Sculptural coffee tables are in high demand, with curved edges and stacked-layer designs. Marble, glass, and timber combinations remain popular, but in 2025, look for tactile finishes—brushed surfaces, chiseled edges, and hand-oiled timbers.
Multi-level coffee tables allow for layered displays—books, candles, flowers, or artwork. Storage-integrated options remain discreet and elegant.
Your Living Style on Display
What do you love to live with? That’s what should sit on your coffee table. Whether a collection of first editions, a ceramic tray of treasures, or a bouquet of fresh flowers, this table can become a rotating gallery of your life.
Conclusion: Curate with Purpose
In high-end interior design, every item should earn its place—and small furniture pieces do just that, with quiet grace and lasting impression.
As we move through 2025, the role of these furnishings becomes ever more significant. They are the pieces that connect the dots, that soften transitions, and that bring intimacy to a space. More than that, they are the vessels of our individual stories.
Choosing the right bedside table or sideboard is not just about completing a look. It’s about expressing how you live, what you value, and what makes your home yours. A space filled with thoughtfully chosen pieces tells a story of refinement, personality, and considered luxury.
So take your time. Select with intention. Invest in craftsmanship. And let your home reflect the very best of you.