If you don’t think there’s an art to styling a bedside table, think again…
As long as the items you choose to place on this very important piece of furniture are carefully considered, you’re already well on your way to achieving a bedside aesthetic that elevates the entire bedroom.
It’s time to put an abrupt end to the days of using your nightstand as a dumping ground for loose change, lip balm and eyeglasses – here are 14 amazing yet simple ways to decorate and style a nightstand and make people say “wow, who did this?”
Mirror
It’s nice to be able to perform a quick once-over before you hit the hay and even first thing in the morning when you wake up, but that’s not the only reason you should throw a mirror into the mix.
We’ve talked before about the limitless potential of bedroom mirrors, and putting a full length mirror behind the nightstand is right up there when it comes to casual elegance.
Lighting
With reading material being a staple accessory next to the bed, it makes perfect sense to decorate your bedside table with a pretty lamp or wall light.
The prevailing wisdom is to go with a taller lamp to offset smaller items as a mix of heights never fails to please the eye.
But to earn yourself mega points for styling, take cues from the details of your nightstand by coordinating the lamp with any hardware such as knobs and pulls.
Vase
You can’t beat the classic look of a vase on your bedside table, not least because vessels with curvy shapes and bright colors are very trendy right now – you’d be forgiven for wanting to adorn every surface in your home with them.
From a textural standpoint, something like a ceramic vase would be an excellent way to add a smooth accent to your bedside table.
Plants
Who doesn’t want to enjoy a restful sleep in zen-like surroundings? That’s why you can’t go wrong styling your bedside table in a manner that incorporates natural elements.
Thanks to faux and low-maintenance plants, you don’t even need green thumbs to keep them looking their best, so you can sit back while these whole-other life forms infuse the bedside table with organic texture and vibrant color.
Art
If you love art but don’t like the formalities that come with them, you’ll be pleased to know that you can achieve casual elegance by simply leaning them against the wall – this works for any piece no matter how formal!
Indeed, displaying a leaning painting or photograph on your bedside table is an incredibly effective way to decorate with large-scale pieces, and because they’re not tied down to one location you can change it up as often as you like.
Terrarium
While houseplants are invaluable for making a dull space come to life, they can be very messy at times, with fallen leaves and bits of soil ending up all over the floor.
If you like the idea of a nightstand styled with plants, but hate the unruliness, maybe you should go with a contained piece of landscape in the form of a terrarium.
Not to mention, it’s a great way to introduce a geometric feature into the bedroom in all its angular beauty.
Ornament
Your bedside table has limited surface space, so you may feel pressured to decorate it with practical pieces out of fear of putting precious space to waste.
However, this is the wrong mindset to have when decorating any thing or place, let alone the nightstand.
Good styling leaves you with something that makes you happy and expresses your personality. Therefore, if you want to show off a cute little ornament that serves no practical use whatsoever, knock yourself out!
Framed photos
Unfortunately, you can’t be around your loved ones forever and at all times, but you can certainly carry a photo of them forever and at all times – even while you’re sleeping!
Gather a few of your most cherished photographs, display them on the nightstand, and you’ll never feel alone ever again. For that extra pizzazz, choose a picture frame that exhibits a nice pattern or some color.
Antiques
One surefire way to catch people by surprise is to decorate and style with old-world items.
Obviously it’s not easy or cheap to get hold of genuine antiques, and that doesn’t matter because you can achieve near enough the same effect with ‘new’ antiques and vintage items – stuff from the past that’s been manufactured today.
Set out a retro telephone on your nightstand and see for yourself how much character and intrigue it generates.
Stacked books
Some book covers are so well designed that they are borderline works of art. If you happen to have a few books of your own that wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery, it’s time to let them work their magic for your bedside table styling.
Stack an odd number of hardcover books to create a mini display podium, and then top it with a display-worthy ornament or some other decorative piece to complete the look.
Ladder
When floor space is a top priority, consider doing away with a conventional bedside table and fashion your nightstand out of a ladder instead. Not just any ladder – a ladder with shelves and a mirror to boot.
These ladder units are minimally invasive, giving you plenty of room to manoeuvre in and out of bed, yet there’s plenty of display space to keep your bedtime essentials to hand. Just keep in mind that styling shelves is a whole other art form.
Clock
Proving yet again that some functional accessories have what it takes to make great decor for your bedside table, clocks are well worth mulling over.
We say this because you can find timepieces in an endless number of styles and designs, and they can be used to add an interesting twist to the overall aesthetic, such as by placing a vintage alarm clock among more contemporary accessories and bedside gadgets.
Dried flowers
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to match up to the beauty of fresh flowers, but they only keep their gorgeous looks for a brief period.
Houseplants in general are brimming with aesthetic interest, except you have to make a concerted effort to water them and provide sunlight.
If you want to sleep alongside a version of mother nature that’s long-lasting and maintenance-free, dried blooms might be right up your street.
Desk
Not everyone has the luxury of space in their bedroom to make room for something as small as a bedside table. If you’re in a similar predicament, consider that other pieces of furniture can moonlight as a nightstand with ease.
In fact, desks look and feel right at home next to the bed, and come with everything a conventional bedside table has such as surface space and drawers, and if you implement some of our desk decor ideas you’re sure to end up with a nightstand that’s been styled to perfection.