Our editors' pick of the best bedside tables to buy now
"A bedside table needs to be useful, beautiful and fit in with the rest of your bedroom furniture,” says Gabby Deeming, former creative Director of interiors at House & Garden. It's quite a lot of responsibility for one small table to handle, so we have carefully selected the best bedside tables that complete this bedtime triumvirate.
What makes a good bedside table?
A good bedside table needs to be quite sturdy: at least enough to hold a few books, a bedside lamp, a glass (plus a carafe if you’re feeling a little more extravagant) and your phone.
For a less cluttered, neater look, opt for a bedside table with plenty of storage or several levels of shelving, as you can hide away anything unsightly but simply throwing into a drawers. However, these storage bedside tables can often be chunkier pieces of furniture than ones that simply have a top and legs, so smaller rooms might benefit from one of the lighter framed types.
The best bedside tables to buy now
How many nightstands should be in a bedroom?
This is completely up to personal preference. If you live alone, you might prefer to have your bed against a wall or window, rather than in the middle of the room where you can have tables on each side. If you are part of a couple, having a table on either side can be helpful for both parties as both members have somewhere to put their things. Yet they needn’t be exactly matching as you might require your bedside table to function differently from your partner.
Should bedside tables be higher than the bed?
As a very basic rule, your bedside table should fall in line with your mattress. This will allow you to place things on it easily without straining or leaning out of bed too much. However, if you’ve fallen in love with a table that doesn’t come to this height, then throw the rule book out the window, as you’ll love it regardless. Read on to see our edit of the best bedside tables, from charming rattan options to industrial metal tables, extravagant purchases to cheap bedside tables.
Once you've chosen your bedside table, perhaps you want to think about a lovely bedside lamp to complement it. Or perhaps you'd rather decorate it with pretty candles? Whatever you're after, we have lots of bedroom ideas and bedroom shopping to inspire you. For larger pieces such as beds, mattresses, mattress toppers and duvets, that require some research, we have in depth guides. Now all you need is some bedding!
