ctnassistant design editor Jennifer Koper shares night table styling ideas.
We ask a lot of our night stands; they have to hold all our bedtime essentials while offering something pretty to look at as we drift off to sleep. If your nightstand isn’t doing either of those things, it’s time to reassess. Do you need more storage? Is it the right size for your bedroom? I’ve rounded up eight different night table ideas, along with my styling and storage tips, to help your bedside table look and function like a dream.
A night table with a ton of storage, like this one, means you don’t need to keep as much on top. The neutral bedroom decor suggests a minimal styling approach. If you love this look, opt for a storage-heavy night stand and stick to a tight color palette (for example, black and white), along with a few key items to avoid clutter.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: house & home October 2007
Designer: Lynda Reeves
If you don’t read in bed, books can still make a terrific styling tool. In this case, a couple of books act as a pedestal for all of the elements on the side table, giving everything some added height and keeping them neatly together.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: house & home July 2013
Designer: Lynda Reeves
In this tiny guest room-slash-dressing room, the nightstand does double-duty. In addition to serving as a bedside table, it acts as a small desk and vanity. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, consider opting for a nightstand that serves multiple functions. small boxes offer extra storage space on top, and a tray corrals loose items together.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: house & home September 2012
Designer: Margot Austin
The main styling move here is the oversized table lamp with a bold patterned shade. Choosing one element in a larger scale amps up the drama, but make sure to keep the other elements quiet so they don’t compete. since the lamp hogs most of the surface space, a lucite table underneath provides room for storage without adding visual bulk.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: house & home August 2014
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
An unconventional bedside storage option is a shelf. this one is particularly terrific because the shelves are open so you can easily access items. another noteworthy move here is the use of potted plants instead of fresh cut flowers. They last much longer and some varieties can even help keep your air clean!
Photographer: Ashley Capp
Source: house & home July 2015
Designer: John Baker and Juli Daoust-Baker of Mjolk
A fun way to make a space feel larger is to lean a floor mirror behind your nightstand. This looks best with open, round tables that won’t block the bottom of the mirror. To free up space on your nightstand, opt for a floor lamp or wall sconces instead of a table lamp.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: house & home March 2015
Designer: Sarah Hartill
A wicker ottoman serves as a bedside table in this breezy bedroom. It feels fresh and casual, and works well with the low sloped ceiling. Stacked books provide a solid surface atop the ottoman – this is a terrific trick if you’d like to use a plush surface, like an upholstered chair, as your nightstand.
Photographer: Monic Richard
Source: house & home June 2014Designer: Anne Côté