6 ways to style your bedside tables
Both functional and decorative, the humble night stand has to be versatile. A few styling tips can help you get the most out of your bedside table
The bedside table is often an underappreciated item of furniture; a dumping ground for those books you’ve been meaning to read, the necessary evil that is the alarm clock, half empty glasses of water and even half eaten midnight snacks. But this needn’t be the case. With a little love and a few key purchases, you can transform your neglected bedside table into a stylish star of your bedroom. Whatever your style, your bedside table can reflect your aesthetic as an elegant focal point, working with the rest of the decor to create a night time retreat you’ll never want to leave. Here’s how:
Choose a vintage table
Something with its own story to tell cannot be overlooked. A vintage bedside table has history and character, something that cannot be said for mass produced alternatives. ‘Vintage’ is a term that encompasses a huge range of styles, from modernist furniture to traditional turn of the century pieces. Big, small, simple or highly decorated, online vintage retailers like Vinterior have a huge collection of vintage bedside tables that are guaranteed to have something to suit your style and budget.
Complement with colour
The colour of your night stand should work alongside the rest of the bedroom decor, while still standing out in its own right. Ensure the table and everything you place upon it is in the same colour family as the rest of the bedroom fittings (this might not be possible with books). A dark wooden table in a blue room, for example, is beautiful on its own, but really pops in the colourful context.
Light it up
Lamps are a mainstay of the bedside table, and should therefore be chosen with careful consideration. Get creative with your lighting. Traditional lamps can be beautiful, and may fit in a classical decorated room, but otherwise something a bit more funky and colourful could bring a bit of extra flair and personality to the space, particularly when placed alongside your favourite items or a striking work of art.
Consider symmetry (or don’t!)
To create a sense of flawless cohesion in the bedroom, choose matching tables for either side of the bed, and then adorn them with matching lamps and complementary artwork/decoration. Symmetry creates a sense of calm; perfect for helping you drift off to sleep.
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Alternatively, don’t bother! Mismatched tables create an interesting contrast. As long as they have similar finishes and are of roughly the same height, they will work together, and might be a perfect design choice if you don’t want your decor to appear too ‘neat’ and purposeful. If this is your preference, just don’t tell your sleep therapist.
Be realistic
Do you need additional space to store things in your bedroom? If so, take this into consideration when choosing a new bedside table. Get a table with drawers for clothes or toiletries, or shelving for books built underneath or on top of it. In fact, having a small bookshelf instead of a traditional bedside table is a wonderful way to display all your favourite items, while keeping them within easy reach.
Mirror mirror
This is a neat little trick for creating a greater sense of space in your bedroom. Place a mirror at the back of the night stands, either leaning against the wall or installed upon it. It frames the bed and doubles the light from the lamp on the table. Jazzing up your bedside table needn’t be difficult or expensive!
