to think that a nest of tables is naff and pointless?

[petswinprizes]

Basically just as above. Why do people have them and what are they used for? When do you suddenly need a couple of extra tiny tables?

We found it really hard to find nice ones but they are very useful. Our living room is quite large and although 1 sofa is quite close to the coffee table the chairs & other sofa are not.... This used to lead to coffee on floor.... Literally as granny would forget where she'd put it & kick it over. Nest of tables means I can easily distribute tables for guests /elderly relatives drinks/snack needs without having loads of tables around the room all the time.

Yabu, they're very handy!

Whether or not they look naff or not, they can be very practical. Easy to move when you need a table, great when you have little people. When my son started school I used to use the big one with the littlest one for an instant small desk and table situation.

We have quite a lot of seating so if someone is round and doesn't have somewhere to perch their beer or nachos we can rustle it up in an instant.

Some of the designs can look pretty grim, others not so much.

Ideal when you need floor space for little ones and you don't want them boring their head off a coffee table.

We have them in our back reception room, which is a kind of play room/grottier living room for the kids. Theyre incredibly useful.

They live in their 'nest' in a corner a lot of the time, so there is more space for the kids to play. Mainly we get them out to give the kids drinks/snacks or to play board games, or if I am in there and want a cuppa.

Couldnt give a toss if theyre naff. They're practical.

Well, my parents have one for them and use the rest when they have guests such as me and dp staying. I don't think they're naff, I find them sensible.

They did used to be quite fashionable. Honestly. Around the time of mid wall borders and pink bathroom suites.

They are indeed naff these days...but any extra space to put down a coffee cup is always going to be useful.

I love my nest of tables, they are gorgeous and useful.

YABU!

My nana had a set of these, I used to love having my own wee table with my plate of soup on it or a cup of tea with a plate of biscuits set on it. Had a lovely sense of ceremony!

I have a massive wooden coffee table now which spans the length of the sofa so no need for a table nest.

I think they are old fashioned but undoubtably useful in certain circumstances and they make me nostalgic!

If you live in a small flat they are very, very valuable. They mean that you can have the option of multiple surfaces but not have them cluttering up the room.

We need multiple surfaces as our flat is too small for a dining table...we eat together on our own small tables!

Why are they naff? Don't be such a snob!

I really want a nest of tables but dh always says no

Naff? Nesting tables are a design classic and have been around for centuries. Jolly practical they are, too.

Define naff for me in this context please someone? I'm reading it as "not my taste and therefore wrong"?

Surely it a depends on how the tables suit the room? There must be millions of styles of nested tables and millions of styles of rooms

So I think YABU.

I'm not having this! Mine are gorgeous. And useful. Naff! The very thought.

Yabvvvvvu. We use our solid oak ones passed onto us by my dh grandmother daily. Its so useful and looks stunning. My parents use these also daily when friends come over etc

Mine are the height of naffness (fake oak from Argos) but I couldn't live without them. Where do you put your cups of tea and biscuit tin otherwise???

I'm with you on the naff, OP - for me, they have Abigail's Party-type associations, and I imagine plates of pinwheel sandwiches and baby quiches with doilies balanced precariously on them, and that a heated hostess trolley is probably waiting to be wheeled in - but I can entirely see why they are useful in certain situations, as outlined above by other people. I've never seen any non-horrible table nests, though, so I wish someone would link to some.

YABU

We have a set - bargain from Aldi £29.99!!

The largest has a lamp on top - so is a table with a purpose to start with. The smaller two come in when we eat in the lounge, or have guests. The small tables get put away immediately they are finished with.

I don't have a central coffee table - I prefer to do it this way.

Wot about these? I'm into natural wood though, some might say these are naff

www.lusanana.com/wood-nesting-tables-as-the-greatest-branded-material.html/wood-nesting-tables-chinese-style

I use them, they are tucked away in a a corner and come out to put drinks on as we have no room for a coffee table. They match all our lounge furniture and look lovely, not naff.

We have a set of these. Vintage.

www.plastiphile.com/4sale/furniture/images/coffee1.jpg

I realise they are not to everyone's taste but I think they are fun and very practical.

(but having searched for a picture I'm shocked by the prices!! We bought them cheaply from the local bric a brac shop)

YABU

Not the cutting edge of home furniture perhaps but bloody useful and versatile.

Do you a) never have hot drinks b) never have visitors or c) have large, graciously appointed rooms with plenty of space OP?

It's either a side table, or put your mug on the carpet.

Why are they naff, they're just tables?! Obviously some designs are nicer than others but I fail to see how a plain wooden table can draw associations with hostess trollies and all manner of naffness.

Our living room should that be sitting room? is tiny and a coffee table would mean you couldn't walk across it without bashing your shins. A couple of small tables - sometimes nested sometimes not - are ideal for the phone, remotes, drinks and so.