The bedside table is one of those pieces that tends to get overlooked in the bigger picture of bedroom design – and then ends up as a dumping ground for phone chargers, half-read books and glasses cases. Done well, though, a styled bedside table can make the whole bedroom feel more pulled together without requiring much effort or expense. Here’s how to get it right.
Get the Height and Size Right First
Before thinking about what goes on top of the bedside table, make sure the table itself is the right fit for the space.
Height: The ideal bedside table height is roughly level with the top of your mattress, give or take a few centimetres. Too low and you’ll be reaching down awkwardly; too high and it feels more like a side table than a bedside. Most mattresses sit at around 50-60cm from the floor once a base is factored in, so look for a bedside table in the 55-65cm height range as a starting point.
Width: A bedside table that’s too small for the space looks lost, while one that’s too wide can crowd the bed or block access. As a general guide, aim for a table that’s roughly 40-60cm wide. This gives enough surface area to be functional without dominating the space beside the bed.
Storage: Think about what you actually need to keep close at hand. If you tend to accumulate a lot of bedside items, a table with a drawer or shelf keeps things tidy. If you prefer a more minimal look and don’t need much storage, an open or leggy design keeps the room feeling light and airy.
Browse our bedside tables to see available sizes and styles.
The Rule of Three – How to Layer Items
Once you have the right table, a simple principle for styling it is the rule of three – grouping items in odd numbers tends to look more natural and balanced than even groupings.
A classic bedside combination might be: a lamp (the tallest element), a small stack of books or a decorative object (the mid-height element), and something low and functional like a small tray, candle or plant (the grounding element). Three different heights create visual interest without the arrangement feeling busy.
The lamp is usually the anchor of the whole setup – it’s the tallest piece and the one that does the most visual work. Get that right first, and the rest becomes easier to arrange around it.
What to Include and What to Leave Off
Part of styling a bedside table well is editing – deciding what earns a spot on the surface and what gets tucked away.
Worth including:
- A lamp with a warm bulb – ambient light is far more relaxing than overhead lighting in a bedroom
- One or two books you’re currently reading – a small stack looks intentional; a leaning tower does not
- A small plant or vase with a single stem – adds life and softness without taking up much space
- A candle – practical and decorative at once
- A small tray or dish to contain loose items like jewellery, lip balm or earbuds
Worth leaving off:
- Charging cables left loose on the surface – run them through the back or down the side of the table where they’re less visible
- Multiple half-drunk glasses of water
- Anything work-related – the bedroom should feel like a retreat, not an extension of your desk
- Too many small items that create visual clutter – if it doesn’t serve a clear purpose, it probably doesn’t need to be there
The goal is a surface that looks considered but not staged – functional enough for real life, tidy enough to feel calm.
How to Match Your Bedside Table to Your Bedroom Style
Your bedside table should feel like it belongs in the room, even if it doesn’t match every other piece exactly.
Timber bed frames pair well with bedside tables in a matching or complementary timber tone. You don’t need to match the exact wood species, but staying within a similar warmth – light oak with light oak, dark walnut with dark walnut – creates cohesion.
Upholstered bed frames in neutral tones give you more flexibility. A bedside table in timber, cane, or even a painted finish can all work well, as long as the overall style direction is consistent.
Metal or minimalist bed frames suit bedside tables with clean lines and a slim profile – think simple rectangular shapes, metal legs, or a floating wall-mounted design.
If you’re choosing a new bed frame and bedside table at the same time, it’s worth looking at them together to make sure the proportions and finishes work as a pair. Take a look at our bed frames alongside the bedside table range for reference.
One Bedside Table or Two?
If space allows, two matching bedside tables will almost always look more balanced than one. It frames the bed symmetrically and gives the bedroom a finished, considered feel. This is especially true in a master bedroom where the bed is the visual centrepiece of the room.
That said, there are situations where one works better. In a smaller bedroom where floor space is tight, a single bedside table on the more accessible side of the bed is the practical choice. Alternatively, if one side of the bed is against a wall, a floating shelf or wall-mounted light can substitute for a second table without taking up floor space.
If you do use two bedside tables, they don’t need to be identical – but they should be at the same height and feel visually balanced. Two tables in different styles but the same timber tone, for example, can work well in an eclectic bedroom.
Final Thoughts
Styling a bedside table well comes down to starting with the right size and height, keeping the surface edited and purposeful, and making sure the piece feels connected to the rest of the bedroom. It doesn’t need to be complicated – a lamp, a few carefully chosen objects and a clutter-free surface is often all it takes to make the whole room feel more intentional. Small details like this are what separate a bedroom that looks put-together from one that just has furniture in it.
