A bedside table may be one of the smallest surfaces in the bedroom, but it can have a huge impact on how the space feels. As the first thing you see when you wake up and the last thing you see before going to sleep, it should feel calm, personal and clean, rather than becoming a dumping ground for everything and anything.
The secret to a beautifully styled bedside table is knowing when to pare it back. The five-item rule is a simple way to create a surface that feels purposeful, helping you balance decoration and practicality by choosing beautiful things you genuinely need close by.
The five-item rule for a perfectly styled bedside table
Kunal Trehan, interior designer and founder of Touched Interiors, believes that 'a bedside table should feel curated rather than crowded... it should promote a sense of calm while still reflecting your personality.'
Kunal’s approach is to focus on five essential pieces.
- A lamp for height
- A small tray for everyday essentials
- Your current read
- A natural element, such as flowers or greenery
- A personal decorative object, such as a framed photograph
Rather than filling the space for the sake of it, every item should have a reason for being there. ‘If every item has a purpose or tells a story, the space feels intentional rather than cluttered,’ Kunal explains.
Ellie Brown, in-house interior designer at Oak&More, also uses the five-item rule as a guide for creating a bedside table that is both stylish and functional. 'A good rule of thumb is to limit your bedside table to five visible items. This gives you enough room to add personality and practical essentials.'
Make space for calm and avoid clutter
The five-item rule is not just about limiting the number of objects, but rather creating a sense of balance. Leaving empty space allows the pieces you have chosen to stand out.
'The key is to vary height, texture and shape while leaving around a third of the surface empty,' Kunal says. 'That negative space is just as important as the objects themselves. It gives the eye somewhere to rest and instantly creates a more luxurious feel.'
Ellie agrees, 'Choose one larger anchor piece, usually your lamp, and then vary the scale of everything around it. This creates a layered look rather than five objects simply lined up next to each other.'
For a cohesive finish, connect the bedside table with the rest of your bedroom. 'Repeat a colour, texture or material that already appears elsewhere in the bedroom,' says Ellie. 'This could be warm oak from your furniture, a linen lampshade or a small accessory that picks up an accent colour from the room. It helps the bedside table feel more connected to the wider space rather than like a separate display.'
Choose the right bedside table for your needs
Before thinking about styling, make sure your bedside table suits the way you actually use it. Surfaces will soon become cluttered if it doesn't offer enough space for your everyday essentials.
'If you find that five items still aren’t enough for everything you need close by, opt for a bedside table with a drawer,' says Ellie. 'The surface should hold the things you want to see or reach for regularly, while everything else can be stored out of sight.'
Look beyond the traditional bedside table
Alternative furniture choices can create a more practical and individual look, especially in smaller bedrooms.
Rikke Blaeside, design and range manager at JYSK, suggests thinking creatively about the furniture you already have. 'A wall-mounted bedside table is suitable for anyone requiring a practical solution...without legs, it makes it easier to vacuum and keep your bedroom free of dust.'
For a flexible option, multifunctional furniture can work beautifully, especially if you have limited space. 'You can use a stool for more than just seating. A stool also makes an attractive, rustic bedside table,' Rikke adds.
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The Bedside Table Edit
