One of the pieces of furniture our clients most often need our help sourcing & tailoring to their rooms are side tables. By the time you’ve chosen a bedframe, paint colors, bedding, flooring, etc., picking out a side table can feel like a chore and SO many of our clients tell us they just chose the simplest option without our help. Once we step in, though, we encourage them to select a side table with style in mind. While it shouldn’t detract or distract from the overall design, side tables can certainly act as their own design moment and blend functionality & form beautifully. Today, we’re going to teach you how to choose the perfect side table, plus what to fill it with for a little every day luxury!
SIZE MATTERS
The size of your side table depends on a few things, namely the amount of wall space you’re working with on either side of your bed. In our primary bedroom, we have a very limited amount of space on each side for a side table. We went back and forth between whether or not to have a side table, but ultimately, the opportunity to hide charging cables, hand cream, TV remotes, etc., won out in the end. We opted for ultra thin side tables that take up more vertical space and draw the eye upward. We love that the length of these combined with the open space around the legs don’t make the room feel smaller, crowded, or heavy.
Alternatively, in other projects, where perhaps we’re working with additional wall space, we have opted for bulkier side tables to make more of a statement and fill the space. We love these ones from Anthropologie for a room with a more classic bedframe to juxtapose it with a bit of modern flair.
An easy way to discern whether you should opt for a bigger side table is to measure the wall. We like to try to leave 1-2 feet on each side of the side tables/bed set up to make sure it doesn’t feel overly cluttered. If you’re opting for a more modular bed frame, try to bring in a more delicate side table and visa versa.
WOOD IT BE WRONG?
One question we get all the time is “Does all the bedroom furniture have to match?” The answer is no, but, there should be cohesion. We recently paired a mahogany dresser from Arhaus with our two vintage walnut side tables, but everything has a dark tone to it. The wood flooring in our bedroom is a light poplar, but is largely covered by our bedroom rug. You can certainly mix finishes but everything should be in conversation with each other. We also love the idea of stone, upholstery, or painted side tables in a room where there’s already a lot of wood to bring in a little intrigue or a pop of color.
SIDE TABLE ESSENTIALS
Once you’ve picked out your favorite side table, fill it with our go-to side table essentials to give yourself a little daily luxury!
