This £50 Homebase side table looks just like another design that’s over five times its price – and we couldn’t keep it to ourselves
We've already added it to basket

We all know that buying brand new furniture can be pricey. Which is why we couldn’t believe our eyes when coming across Homebase’s new expensive-looking Erik side table and seeing its very affordable price point of £50. Especially as this side table looks just like a far pricier side table design from John Lewis that’s more than five times its price.
Side tables like these are a great alternative coffee table idea for small living rooms as they don’t take as much space as a regular coffee table. Part of a wider Erik furniture range from Homebase, the round Erik Side Table is adorned with a slatted finish, as is the £279 John Lewis lookalike side table. This is something that instantly caught our eye as slatted furniture is a timeless home decor trend that’s great for bringing a bit of texture, depth and playfulness into a room.
What spaces can benefit from the Homebase side table?
As already mentioned, if you’re struggling for space in a small living room or are looking for a narrow living room idea, then opting for a side table (or a pair of side tables) in place of a traditional coffee table might be the way to go as experts confirm.
‘Look to side tables as an option – these provide the same function as the coffee and also add more of a statement into your home,’ says Ali Edwards, head of design at MADE.
Lena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse, agrees, ‘Other furniture set-ups other than a coffee table can also work well, such as including small side tables that don’t take up much room and provide practical space.’
And even though a living room doesn’t necessarily need a side table, depending on the layout and on what you already have, this style of side table can also double as a bedside table, providing enough surface space with the table top and two internal shelves in both the Homebase design and the John Lewis table.
What’s the difference between the two side tables?
The Homebase design is a pretty solid dupe for the John Lewis side table. As one reviewer wrote, 'Beautiful looking side or centre table - easy to assemble, looks very expensive.' But there are of course some differences – think of them as siblings rather than twins.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
The shape is almost identical with the exception of the legs - the John Lewis style comes with four longer legs that are seamless extensions of the decorative slats. Meanwhile, the Homebase side table comes with shorter, rounder legs that are simply attached to the base. And there are only three of them.
The material and colour finish also differ. While the Homebase side table is made entirely of MDF with a dark brown mango oak wood finish that’s reminiscent of mid-century modern furniture, the John Lewis design is crafted from a mix of solid oak and MDF and comes in a Scandi-style light wood finish.
So which one would be your pick?
Sara Hesikova has been a Content Editor at Ideal Home since June 2024, starting at the title as a News Writer in July 2023. She is now also the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Furniture, and so far has tested 80 different sofas.
Graduating from London College of Fashion with a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism in 2016, she got her start in niche fashion and lifestyle magazines like Glass and Alvar as a writer and editor before making the leap into interiors, working with the likes of 91 Magazine and copywriting for luxury bed linen brand Yves Delorme among others.
-
The 3 ways De'Longhi's new coffee machine is set to rival the sellout Ninja Luxe Café
Watch out, Ninja
By Molly Cleary
-
7 places in your home you’re probably forgetting to paint – but design experts say you really shouldn’t
These are the spots pros recommend highlighting with colour
By Sara Hesikova
-
Experts are urging you to avoid this TikTok air fryer cleaning hack after firefighters were called to a blaze in Bournemouth
The hack has been blamed for starting a fire in a Bournemouth residence
By Kezia Reynolds
-
How to make your sofa look better in 10 minutes – 6 things experts do to elevate the look of their sofa when they’re short on time
Whether your sofa needs an uplift or you're expecting guests, this is how to give your sofa a bit of last-minute TLC
By Sara Hesikova
-
Victoria Beckham's dressing room sofa nails the 'new green' trend for 2025 — it's set to be the hottest shade of the season
Green sofas are going nowhere in 2025, but they're getting a new on-trend spin
By Kezia Reynolds
-
How to use curtains to make a small living room look bigger – interior experts share 4 tricks they use to create the illusion of space
It's not how much space you have, but what you do with it that counts
By Sara Hesikova
-
Swivel chairs are the emerging trend taking over 2025 – I sat on 40 different versions to find the best for timeless style and comfort
Thinking of putting a swivel chair in your living room? From the 40 I've tried, these 6 are the ones I'd recommend
By Sara Hesikova
-
Experts reveal the number of light sources you should have in a living room to nail the layered lighting trend – the number surprised even me
This is the magic number of light sources you should have in a living room to transform a space with layered lighting, according to interior experts
By Sara Hesikova
-
Sofas are getting a micro update that will make a big impact in 2025 – what you need to know about the sofa piping trend
The latest statement-making living room trend that proves individualistic interiors are in
By Sara Hesikova
-
I just bought a loose cover sofa – 3 reasons furniture experts agree that removable covers are the best choice for busy homes
This is why I'm never going back to fixed sofa covers – and why I would recommend everyone to do the same
By Sara Hesikova
-
A patterned sofa can instantly elevate your space, but interiors experts warn this new trend will age quickly unless you follow one simple rule
Give your patterned sofa a timeless, not trendy, appeal
By Kezia Reynolds