How do you choose the right bedside tables for your bedroom?
Choosing the perfect nighttime assistant (the one that holds your glass of water and your smartphone while you're lost in your dreams) is never a bad idea.
To ensure a bedside table is "comfortable," as defined, it's necessary to follow a few simple practical tips, such as establishing the right height and distance from the bed.
In the bedroom, functionality is paramount, but aesthetics play an equally fundamental role. That's why matching the bedside table to the bed and the room's mood are key steps to creating a satisfying space in which to end long days in total relaxation.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the perfect nightstand for your bedroom.
What's the purpose of a bedside table? Can modern homes do without one?
In addition to providing a practical surface, the bedside table is nothing more than a storage unit. It was created for this very purpose in 18th-century France, as an evolution of a type of hallway furniture, larger in size than the bedside tables we know today.
Along with the evolution of living, bedside tables have undergone countless transformations and interpretations: today we can choose between suspended models, variants with super-attractive designs or extremely simple ones.
We began replacing the bedside table with a shelf or a coffee table to achieve a more minimalist look, or taking full advantage of the drawer space of more classic models, as bedrooms became increasingly smaller.
In this age of smartwatches, smartphones, e-book readers, and so many other devices we only get rid of at night, the bedside table remains an essential piece of furniture for a modern home.
And then, who wants to get up in the middle of the night to reach an object that is as necessary as it is far away?
Another reason why the bedside table is essential in modern homes is its ability to truly complete the look of the bedroom.
Thanks to their symmetrical positioning, on either side of the bed, bedside tables frame and enhance the room's focal point: the bed. Furthermore, they represent an excellent opportunity to introduce a new material or color to the room , creating an interesting contrast to the overall look.
Bedside table measurements: here's why a few centimeters really make a difference.
How do you figure out how big a nightstand should be? To choose the right size, you need to consider two things:
1) it will not be comfortable if the surface is too high or too low compared to your position on the mattress;
2) For a pleasing effect to the eye, it must have a good proportion with the bed, otherwise it will seem out of scale (and also out of place).
Standard bedside table measurements: how much do most models on the market measure?
If you're designing your bedroom but haven't yet chosen a bedside table model, it's helpful to know the most common sizes (as well as browse the modern bedside tables in our catalog).
Keep in mind that there is no standard size for bedside tables. In most cases, the width ranges between 40 and 60 cm , while the depth is about 30 cm.
Height is a very important factor and varies greatly from model to model. It's typically around 50 cm for most bedside tables.
Nightstand Height: The Magic Formula You Need to Know
To determine how high the nightstand should be in relation to the bed, use this magic formula.
Nightstand height = Measurement from the floor to the top of the mattress (with a margin of two or three centimetres).
This way, by stretching out your arm while lying down, it will be easy for you to reach objects on the bedside table.
To make your choice easier, we've listed the heights of our designer bedside tables here, so you can quickly find the perfect match.
Delfi: each stackable module is 30 cm high.
Lirio: 50 cm.
Altea Tonda: including top (tray) measures 50 cm.
How to choose a bedside table if there's little space between the bed and the wall?
In this case, the bedside table should occupy approximately two-thirds of the space between the bed and the wall.
How big should the bedside table be for the size of the bed?
Scale is crucial: if you choose a nightstand that's too large or too small for your bed, the final effect could seem forced and makeshift.
Use this diagram to match your bed and nightstand based on their dimensions.
● Width of the bedside table for a standard bed (single or double) : 50 - 70 cm.
● Width of the bedside table for a French bed : 35 - 50 cm.
● Width of a bedside table for a king size bed : 70 - 80 cm.
How to match a bed and bedside table?
In addition to size, which we've covered in detail in the previous section, to create a perfect match between bed and nightstand, you need to consider shape, color, style, and materials.
The key word is: differentiate.
In fact, if you choose the bed to match the nightstand, your room could look anonymous and even a little dated.
● Create contrasting materials: Choosing a bed and nightstand with different materials adds interest and style to the bedroom. Since almost all beds on the market are made of wood or upholstered in fabric, a metal nightstand is a safe bet.
Mix different eras for an eclectic style. Do you have an antique or vintage bed you want to enhance? A modern nightstand is the ideal solution to bring that contrast you need to enhance the bed. When you combine an antique bed and modern nightstands , the wow effect is guaranteed!
● Play with shapes: do you prefer sinuous or linear ? You have free choice: you can be consistent with the shapes of the bed by echoing them with the bedside table, or you can differentiate.
For example, if the headboard is rather square, a rounded nightstand will help soften the look of the room, making it more relaxing.
And what about colors ? We'll talk about them in the next section, also taking the walls into consideration.
How to match the color of your bedside table to your walls and bed
● Do neutral colors (gray, beige, dove gray, etc.) predominate in your bedroom , both for the bed and the walls?
If you want to maintain a restful and essential look, opt for a white nightstand or a black nightstand.
At the same time, the neutral base lends itself very well to bold accents. How about a terracotta or cinnamon-colored nightstand?
● Colored walls and white bed : what color should you choose for the bedside tables?
First, choose the same color as the wall , but a shade lighter or darker. Tone-on-tone will give the room a very soft look, and the interplay of colors will create a beautiful effect of volume.
If, however, you prefer more marked contrasts, then use the complementary color of the wall for the bedside tables.
Here are some examples:
- green wall and terracotta or powder pink bedside tables;
- powder blue wall and comfortable cinnamon beds;
- pink wall and fossil green bedside tables.
How to choose a bedside table based on the style of your home and bedroom
What's your style? Translate it into something tangible, including through a careful selection of bedside tables.
Minimal style. Minimalism requires visual clarity and simple lines. For a minimalist home, you can replace the classic bedside table with a simple coffee table .
Nordic style. Scandinavian design is all about functionality. The perfect bedside table for this style is practical, dynamic, and versatile.
If you're looking for a bedside table like this, the solution is Delfi, the practical and versatile modular bedside table by Hiro.
Bohemian style. The Bohemian style is maximalist, suited to those who love to change frequently and collect objects from far-flung and diverse sources. A bohemian home requires space, color, and versatility.
Altea Big was created to house potted plants (another reason why it's perfect for a bohemian home) and comes with a tray that transforms it into a spacious, colorful bedside table.
Eclectic style. Love the unexpected combinations of eclectic style? Mix your favorite antique or vintage pieces with contemporary design furnishings (by the way, check out the new Lirio modern nightstand).
What to put on your nightstand? Styling ideas and tricks
Among the things we all keep on our bedside tables are undoubtedly a good book, a lamp, a glass of water, and a jewelry box for earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
In addition to practical items, the bedside table area is also the perfect place to focus on the sensory aspect. This is, in fact, the area of the bedroom closest to the sleeper.
This is why you can take advantage of this by placing scented candles , which spread positive sensations, and small speakers to listen to podcasts and songs in the highest quality.
In short, when it comes to the type of objects to keep on the bedside table, there is certainly no shortage of imagination.
The question is: how do you keep a bedside table always tidy? And how do you arrange items harmoniously for a pleasing final effect?
Here's everything you need to know.
1) A box to tidy up the bedside table
If you have five or six items you want to keep close by, not all of which are attractive enough to display, you need a nice-looking container that can hide the things you don't want to see. You could use, for example, a basket with a lid, a colored box, or our Everyday Box .
And here is the first element of your composition.
2) Bedside lamp: How big should the bedside lamp be?
If there's one thing that absolutely can't be missing from the bedside table (unless there's already a pendant lamp right above it), it's the bedside lamp or table lamp .
The size of the lamp makes all the difference in the world: it's best if its width isn't more than a third of the width of the bedside table, so as not to appear disproportionate.
3) How to arrange objects on the bedside table?
For a harmonious composition, there should be at least three objects, of different sizes, materials, colors and heights.
For example: lamp, container and candle holder.
Here's a trick: ideally divide the bedside table into three sections. The one closest to the bed can be used to place your glasses, book, or glass of water, or you can leave it completely empty.
On the remaining two-thirds of the surface, place the lamp, a container, and other decorative objects. If there are more than three of these items in total, gather the smaller ones on a nice tray.
To recap: how to choose the right bedside tables?
1) Measurements . The height should match the mattress, one centimeter more or one centimeter less. The width, however, should be proportionate to the size of the bed.
2) A bed and nightstand work best together if they don't match . Differentiation is the key to a perfect match. Metal nightstands are the easiest to match with most fabric or wooden beds.
3) When choosing the right bedside table, you must also take into account the overall style of the house.
4) To style your nightstand, you can use a container to group together less attractive items. Create a composition of three or more different pieces, leaving the portion of the nightstand closest to the bed empty.
