Yes, our bedside tables can be catch-alls for hand lotion, glasses of water and miscellaneous chargers, but what if you could make them pretty, too? It just takes a few simple steps (and a whole lot of decluttering). We rounded up 20+ ways to style your nightstand like a designer. Scroll down and get inspired!
Make it multifunctional. This petite bedroom’s only nightstand doubles as a makeup table, thanks to a faux fur-topped stool, narrow mirror and space-saving sconce. A good-looking perfume bottle makes a pretty accent.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Sabrina Albanese
Create contrast. Set against a backdrop of Farrow & Ball’s Railings , a rustic wood side table and brass sconce in this moody bedroom add warmth. A vase of deep red blooms ties in the abstract painting by Aboudia.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2018
Designer: Danielle Nicholas Bryk
Layer in sculptural shapes. Designer Ali Budd kept the accessories simple in this bedroom, to ensure the focus is on the sumptuous velvet headboard. A curvaceous, modern sconce and some fresh stems are all you need.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January/February 2021
Designer: Ali Budd Interiors
Reflect your surroundings. In this summer home on Prince Edward Island, a guest bedroom is accented with a nautical striped lamp, miniature model rowboats and a vintage-look map to reference the coastal setting.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home July 2019
Designer: Architecture by David Lopes
Complement your bedding. Don’t over think it: Here, ikat accent pillows and block print–style bed linens feel right at home with a chinoiserie lamp in an identical palette. It really can be that simple (and impactful)!
Photographer: Patrick Biller
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Tommy Smythe & Lindsay Mens Craig, Sarah Richardson Design
Try a statement lamp. If creating a layered look seems overwhelming, focus on one piece that does all of the talking. In this case, a graphic lamp with a Cubist fish motif mimics the tattoo-like lines on the wall.
Photographer: Melanie Acevedo
Source: House & Home January 2020
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
Be unconventional. “Instead of two small nightstands, the chinoiserie dresser is a more beautiful piece of furniture,” says designer Richard Ouellette of this sumptuous bedroom. He layered artwork, objets and books on top for a collected-over-time feeling.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home January 2017
Designer: Les Ensembliers
Display what you love. There’s no need to hide your treasures in a drawer! On a gold tray, add your favorite candle, a vase of fresh flowers and a trinket or two with your prettiest jewellery for a personalized vignette.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Orsi Panos
Keep it simple. Minimalists, rejoice! Keep your bedside table uncluttered with a trio of coordinating ceramics. Finish the look off with some greenery and an understated sconce — and that’s it. Sometimes, less is more.
Photographer: Ema Peter
Source: House & Home December 2020
Designer: Sophie Burke
Create symmetry. In fashion guru Mario Grauso’s stylish London flat , a pair of whimsical bird lamps is pleasing to the eye. The uniform theme is repeated in the matching side tables and striped wallpaper and bedding.
Photographer: Chris Tubbs
Source: House & Home September 2019
Add global flair. Snob shop owner Denise Zidel honored her South African heritage by adding a few tribal masks over the pink marble bedside table, which was crafted from a slice of her in-laws’ old dining table.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Denise Zidel & Stephanie Lees
Turn your nightstand into a workstation. Perfect for answering emails or finishing up an essay for school, this desk doubles as a bedside table. A collection of Ugandan baskets look graphic mounted on the wall.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Denise Zidel & Stephanie Lees
Create a pair of gallery walls. Find a handful of prints that speak to you (and your design aesthetic) and layer three over each side of the bed for an instant dose of personality. Bonus tip: storage baskets nearby keep books, beauty products and extra chargers out of sight.
Photographer: Phil Crozier
Source: House & Home April 2019
Designer: Stephanie Brown
Look to nature. If you’re lucky enough to have a gorgeous view outside your bedroom window (think: lush trees and a ravine), bring the outdoors in with fresh-cut flowers and an oil landscape painting.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home April 2020
Designer: Barbara Purdy; Architecture by Abbott Design
Create a monochromatic look. A blown-up Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album cover makes for affordable statement art, while a rustic table and neutral accessories keep this farmhouse bedroom calm and charming.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home June 2018
Pay homage to the past. For a 19th-century vibe, swap out your nightstand for something with a little more heritage, like this antique secretaire. Layer it with vintage trinkets, books, an old world lamp, an oil painting and more.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2020
Make it personal. A picture of your family, friends or pets is a nice touch. Put it in a modern frame, so it coordinates with the rest of the room. Stick with one or two pictures or it will start to look cluttered.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home February 2020
Designer: Jamie Hamilton & Greer Nelson, Oliver Simon Design
Tell a story. In this Victorian farmhouse ‘s guest bedroom with identical twin beds, an antique English chest and glossy black–shaded lamps with opulent bases create a sense of history.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home June 2020
Designer: Michael Angus
Go bold. This teenage girl’s bedroom gets major style points with sleek black accents, hits of brass and framed fashion prints that tie in the playful pillows.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home March 2021
Designer: Shirley Meisels
Think about the essentials. What do you need at bedtime? For shop owner Lysanne Pepin, a glass of water (and more in the bottle for an easy refill) and a good book sit atop a quirky tree stump side table.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home August 2019
Designer: Lysanne Pepin
Have a little fun. Designer Ben Leavitt opted for a dizzying, geometric nightstand with miniature figurines and a funky lamp in this edgy bedroom.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Ben Leavitt, PlaidFox Studio