Aqua Side Table With Drawers (Large)

A sustainably sourced solid teak side table with three drawers and oval slatted form

Side tables sit in an interesting position in most homes. They are technically minor furniture — smaller than couches, less prominent than coffee tables, more functional than decor — but they carry a disproportionate share of daily-use moments in a lounge or bedroom. The cup of coffee in the morning. The book set down at the end of a chapter. The phone, the reading glasses, the remote control, the half-finished glass of wine. A well-chosen side table makes these everyday moments easier; a badly-chosen one creates constant small frustrations. The two most common mistakes are buying a side table that is too short (so you have to reach down to set things on it) and buying one that has no real storage (so the surface becomes permanently cluttered). The Aqua Side Table With Drawers (Large) addresses both directly: it is built to sofa-arm height, and it has three working drawers that hide the everyday clutter.

The piece is constructed from sustainably sourced solid teak, finished in a rich dark stain that brings out the depth of the timber’s natural grain. The body is built around an oval slatted construction — vertical slats forming the curved sides and back, opening at the front into three sequential drawers. The 60 × 42 cm footprint provides a substantial surface for lamps, drinks, books and devices, and the 72 cm height aligns naturally with the arm height of standard South African couches (typically 70 to 75 cm). Like all genuine teak furniture, the timber will deepen subtly in tone over the years, settling into a richer character as the piece becomes part of the household.

Why a 72cm side table works where shorter alternatives fail

Side table height is one of those specifications that buyers rarely think about until they live with the wrong one. Three things about why this particular height matters are worth understanding.

It aligns with the height of where you actually use it. The arms of standard South African three-seater and two-seater couches sit at roughly 70 to 75 cm from the floor. A side table that comes within a few centimetres of arm height makes setting down and picking up a glass, mug or book a natural movement — barely a reach. A side table at 50 cm (the height of most coffee tables) requires you to lean forward and reach down every time you put something on it. Over years of daily use, the difference is significant.

It works with substantial seating without disappearing under it. Modern oversized armchairs and substantial cloud couches often have arms that sit at 75–80 cm. A short side table beside one of these pieces visually disappears next to the bulk of the seating. A 72 cm side table holds its own as a piece of furniture in its own right, balancing the visual weight of the surrounding seating rather than being overshadowed by it.

It also functions as a small console or entryway table. Most pure side tables are too short to work in any other role. At 72 cm, this piece can shift from beside-the-sofa duty to small entryway console, narrow hallway table, or bedroom dressing surface — a flexibility that low side tables don’t offer. For households that move furniture around or rearrange rooms periodically, the height makes the piece useful in more positions than its primary role suggests.

Why three drawers genuinely matter at this scale

Most side tables are pure surface — you put things on them, but they offer no storage underneath. The three drawers on this piece change what the table is actually for. A few practical considerations are worth noting.

The drawers solve the side-table clutter problem. Without drawers, the surface of a side table becomes the permanent home for remote controls, charging cables, reading glasses, hand cream, paperwork, headphones, the phone — the small everyday items that need to be near where you sit. Within a few weeks the surface is permanently cluttered, undermining the whole reason for having a styled side table in the first place. Three sequential drawers give every category of everyday item a defined home, leaving the surface clear for proper use.

The vertical sequencing is functional. Three drawers stacked vertically allow each drawer to serve a different category — the top drawer for the things you reach for daily (remote, glasses, phone), the middle drawer for less-frequent items (chargers, notebooks, hand cream), the bottom drawer for occasional storage (paperwork, journals, things you want hidden but accessible). This kind of organisational depth is unusual at side-table scale.

Drawer construction with solid teak holds up to daily use. Cheap side tables with drawers often have plywood or MDF drawer bodies that loosen and warp within a few years of daily opening and closing. Solid teak drawer construction is built to last — the natural durability of the timber means the drawers stay smooth and square through years of use.

Why sustainably sourced teak matters in furniture

Teak is one of the few timbers where the question of sourcing genuinely matters — both for environmental reasons and for the long-term performance of the piece. Three things about sustainably sourced teak are worth understanding.

It comes from managed plantations rather than depleted natural forests. Sustainably sourced teak is grown in plantations specifically managed for furniture-grade timber production — the trees are planted, grown to maturity over decades, and harvested as part of an ongoing cycle. The alternative (timber from depleted natural forests) contributes to deforestation and is increasingly restricted under international trade regulations. Choosing sustainably sourced teak supports the long-term viability of teak as a furniture material.

The timber quality is genuinely better. Plantation-grown teak from properly managed sources is typically harvested at the optimum age for furniture-grade construction — old enough for the natural oil content and tight grain that make teak so durable, but not so old that the timber becomes brittle or splits during construction. The result is furniture that holds its construction tightly for decades.

The natural durability is what makes teak the right choice for furniture. Teak’s high natural oil content makes it inherently water-resistant, resistant to insect damage, and stable across temperature and humidity changes. These are the same characteristics that make it the traditional material for shipbuilding and outdoor furniture. For an indoor side table that will see daily liquid contact (drinks, mugs, condensation), the natural oil content provides genuine practical advantages over softer timbers.

Where this side table sits best

The 72 cm height, generous tabletop and oval slatted form suit specific placements within a styled home.

Beside a couch or armchair as the primary side table. The most natural placement. Position alongside a 3-seater or 2-seater couch, or beside an armchair, with the surface aligning with the couch arm. The substantial 60 × 42 cm footprint holds a table lamp, a drink, a book, and a small decorative piece without crowding the surface.

In the bedroom as a substantial bedside table. The 72 cm height aligns well with most modern bed-mattress heights (typically 50–65 cm including the mattress), making it a comfortable reach from bed level. The three drawers provide proper bedside storage — far more than the typical single drawer of a standard nightstand.

In an entryway as a small console. The 60 cm width is too small for a full console table but exactly right for narrow entryways, small entrance halls, or beside-the-door positions. The drawers handle keys, sunglasses, post and the small daily items that accumulate at entrances.

In a hallway as a narrow surface piece. The 42 cm depth makes the piece narrow enough to work in standard South African hallways without intruding on walking space. Position against a wall with a piece of art or a mirror above it to anchor the hallway visually.

In a study or home office as a small filing surface. The drawers provide discreet storage for stationery, cables, notebooks and small paperwork — particularly useful in studies where the desk surface needs to stay clear for working.

As one of a pair flanking a fireplace, sofa or bed. Two of these tables positioned symmetrically — either side of a substantial sofa, flanking a fireplace, or as matching bedside tables in a master bedroom — read as a deliberately curated pair rather than as a single occasional piece. The substantial scale gives the matched pair genuine architectural presence in the room.

What to pair this side table with

The dark teak finish and substantial scale set up specific pairings across the Sotran range.

Beside larger Living Room Furniture pieces. The piece is built specifically to work alongside seating from the broader Living Room Furniture range — particularly couches and armchairs from the Couches and Arm Chairs categories. The 72 cm height aligns with standard sofa-arm placement.

With other Side Tables for paired or grouped placement. Browse the broader Side Tables range to find matching or complementary pieces — particularly for households where two or more side tables are needed (one beside each end of a couch, matching bedside tables, etc.).

With substantial Coffee Tables as part of a coordinated lounge scheme. Coordinate with a coffee table from the Coffee Tables range in similar timber tone for a fully coordinated lounge furniture scheme. The dark stain finish pairs particularly well with other warm-toned timber furniture.

Beneath a wall mirror or piece of art. Positioned against a wall in a hallway or entryway, the table provides the foundation for an art-or-mirror moment. Browse the Wall Mirrors category for proportionally suited pieces.

With a table lamp from the Bedside/Table Lamps range. The substantial 60 × 42 cm tabletop is the right scale for a proper table lamp from the Bedside/Table Lamps category — particularly important for side tables beside reading chairs or armchairs.

With other Brown Furniture and Decor pieces. The dark teak tone ties to other items in the Brown Furniture and Decor range. Cross-styling with brown leather seating, warm-toned timber pieces and other natural-material decor builds a coherent warm-natural scheme.

In a Classic Antiques styling scheme. The traditional silhouette and dark stain finish suit interiors that lean toward considered, vintage-influenced styling. Browse the Classic Antiques tag for pieces that share the traditional aesthetic vocabulary.

Caring for sustainably sourced teak furniture

One of the genuine pleasures of solid teak is how easily it stays looking beautiful for years. The high natural oil content of teak means the timber is naturally water-resistant and resistant to staining — most everyday spills can be wiped away cleanly without leaving marks. Dust the piece weekly with a soft, dry microfibre cloth to keep the dark stain finish looking fresh.

For occasional deeper cleaning, wipe gently with a barely damp cloth and a small amount of mild soap if needed, then dry immediately with a soft cloth. Once or twice a year, a light application of natural teak oil or a quality furniture wax nourishes the timber and deepens the warmth of the dark stain finish over time. The drawers should glide smoothly through years of daily use — if they ever feel sluggish, a small amount of beeswax along the drawer runners restores the smooth action.

Position the piece out of consistent direct sunlight to preserve the depth of the dark stain colour over the years. The natural oil content of teak makes it more forgiving of varied environmental conditions than many other timbers, but the surface finish still benefits from being kept out of harsh direct sun. With this minimal care — and backed by the 3-year warranty on all Sotran solid wooden furniture — a sustainably sourced teak side table becomes one of those genuine multi-decade pieces that holds its place in a home for as long as you want it there.