Trying to find a bedside table for small bedrooms can be a joyless endeavour – standard sizes rule most of our high street furniture brands and the cost of having something bespoke can be eye watering.
If this problem sounds familiar to you, consider instead a bedside shelf. No, they don’t have the handy drawers that hide bedside detritus (chargers, books, eye masks, hand cream and so on), but if you can survive with just a table lamp and a book – not the most egregious of sacrifices after all – then you can wrap up your shopping endeavours here.
H&M's marble shelf – a snip at £24.99 and available in two colours – is the best out there.
The chunky solid marble shelf measures a diminutive 30cm, with a depth of just 15cm (i.e. you'll barely notice it's there), and is secured to the wall with a dramatic, fin-shaped metal bracket.
Available in a creamy white marble with a brass-coloured bracket, or for a moodier finish, check out the brown marble with a matt nickel bracket.
It has great reviews from shoppers too – 91 and counting – who stress how expensive it feels in person and how elevated it looks in situ.
And if you're not yet totally convinced that you can corral your essentials onto such a small surface, any of these table lamps will fit with a bit of room to spare...
Slim but stylish lamps that will fit your bedside shelf
How to optimise space in a small bedroom
- Go vertical with storage. Floor space is precious in a small bedroom, so make use of the wall height instead. Install shelves above the door, mount a tall and narrow bookcase, or hang hooks and pegboards for items that would otherwise eat into your floor space. Drawing the eye upward also makes the room feel taller and less cramped.
- Choose furniture that does double duty. Every piece should serve more than one function. Look for an ottoman or bench with hidden storage inside, a bed frame with built-in drawers underneath, or a fold-down desk that tucks away when not in use. This cuts down the total number of items in the room while keeping everything you need within reach.
- Keep the floor as clear as possible. A visible floor is the single biggest trick for making a small room feel more expensive. Use under-bed storage boxes for off-season clothes and bedding, and opt for wall-mounted or legged furniture so light and sightlines can pass underneath.
