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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

119 replies

petswinprizes · 15/09/2014 10:41

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?

OP posts:
ercolercol · 15/09/2014 21:05

YABU!

I have two sets of ercol pebble nest of tables, in light wood. I adore them.

Tabby1963 · 15/09/2014 21:15

I have two sets of oak 'nests'. They are all in constant use throughout the house and never have time to nest Grin. They have glass tops to protect the wood. They are very handy.

merrymouse · 15/09/2014 21:16

My granny also had a hostess trolley. It was fabulous. Unfortunately it was damaged - it turned out that it wasn't supposed to carry people...

She also had a telephone table and one of those address books where you pressed the button and it popped open at the right page.

Such style and elegance...

avocadoadvantage · 15/09/2014 21:31

My mil has a set which are so handy. Their sitting room is quite long and it would be a pain to have to keep standing up to pick up drinks from the coffee table. She also has a hostess trolley that she uses when she cooks for the whole family and needs to rotate the oven space. All very retro but totally practical! Grin

CalamitouslyWrong · 15/09/2014 21:32

I'm honestly surprised that so many people think nests of tables are 'naff'. They're just a functional type of furniture. You may as well decree that couches or dining chairs are 'naff'.

I'm sure there are plenty of seriously unfashionable nests of tables out there, but a set of tables that pack away neatly when not in use is just something that's useful in smaller rooms.

And the coffee table with two smaller tables thing has been around for ages. It's not some exciting new thing. My granny had one! only it was ornate brass legs with glass tops. I used to use the wee tables as makeshift light tables for art by putting a lamp under them.

redfiatyellowfiat · 15/09/2014 21:36

We have only recently got ours - don't know how we managed before now. I love having a little table for my wine and nibbles on Friday nights!

merrymouse · 16/09/2014 05:52

Hang on a sec - granny had a tea trolley, not a hostess trolley - putting people in a hostess trolley sounds a bit Hansel and Gretel!

JapaneseMargaret · 16/09/2014 11:03

It's not just small rooms they're useful in, it's large rooms they're made for!

Deux · 16/09/2014 11:11

YABU! I have a lovely vintage G plan set. Very Skandi-chic.

The only thing U about a nest of table is my DH who makes me all stabby by referring to them as a nestle of tables.

GlassNoodle · 16/09/2014 11:14

Um, I never really thought about it.... we have one, we just use them as three separate tables dotted round the room.

Ruhrpott · 16/09/2014 11:35

I have these and don't think they are naff.

www.furnitureinfashion.net/togo-clear-glass-nesting-tables-p-10315.html

Brittapieandchips · 16/09/2014 13:21

Mine were £7 from the charity shop and are falling apart now, I really need more. They are used for drawings , TV dinners, laptops, putting drinks on, mini desks (we have some tiny children's chairs that fit well), and the 'nest' bit means only the top one gets junk dumped on it.
I got told they were common by an ex and I don't care.

OneSkinnyChip · 16/09/2014 14:46

YABU. We use ours a lot and it's great not having to always have a massive table in the middle of the room.

BikketBikketBikket · 16/09/2014 17:40

When my MIL died, the only item that I brought home from her house (different tastes entirely....) was her nest of tables. They've got tiled tops - so no searching around for coasters or marks from mugs - and are nice and sturdy... Smile
Oh, and when I broke my leg, the smallest table was just the right height to prop up my cast (and the sturdiness meant that it didn't collapse under the weight Grin )

DefinitleySpeltWrong · 16/09/2014 19:25

Another Ercol Pebbles owner. I love them. They look fantastic in my house and they are useful too. Wink

to think that a nest of tables is naff and pointless?
Pickers80 · 16/09/2014 20:14

They are for Nans.
Nans always love to pull a few nested tables out.
As you get older you starting thinking about them and considering whether you could actually find some useful.....

awsomer · 16/09/2014 20:18

Grin @ merrymouse. Your gran sounds amazing.

greathat · 16/09/2014 22:08

I really want a nest of tables now.... My mum has a hostess trolley. She keeps offering to bring it down as we host Christmas for both sets of parents and assorted relatives. I've avoided it so far... Sweaty kept warm sprouts

CocktailQueen · 16/09/2014 22:10

They are great! IKEA do some stylish yet cheap ones. Vv handy!

fatlazymummy · 16/09/2014 22:18

I love those ercol pebble tables. It's bringing back memories of the ercol 3 piece suite my Mum and Dad had been in the 60's.

greenbananas · 16/09/2014 22:31

They are so useful, but I think they are a pain to hoover underneath. Dust seems to collect under the feet.

We have a set handed down from grandparents - cheap pine with naff spiral detailed legs - they might become trendy again soon, but I don't care if they are always old fashioned. They are in the loft at the moment (baby ds2 likes to climb on them so quite unsafe for the next year or so). When I get them out again, I am planning to paint them all different colours.

CornishCreamPuff · 16/09/2014 22:40

We have the cheapo Argos set. I'm going to out myself here, but they have names: Brian is the big one, Colin is his little brother and the littlest one is M.I.A.
:-)

BuggersMuddle · 16/09/2014 22:46

We have end tables where we normally sit, but as there are only the two of us, a nest is great when we have visitors.

Coffee tables in our houses have tended to accumulate 'stuff' Blush so we decided against. Plus in a reasonable sized room, the coffee table is often too far away to be handy if you're actually, serving tea or coffee. In a small room they're just a pita and make the place looked cluttered IMO.

maddening · 16/09/2014 22:48

We have a tiny cottage so need the space but value the usefulness of a table top from time to time - we use ours lots.

Armi · 16/09/2014 22:53

I have a very large livingroom so a nest of tables works well for when I have people round. I had no idea they are considered to be naff but then I don't really give a shit, as MN wisdom also has it that I shouldn't possess a toilet brush or linen trousers, either.