Decorating Nightstands: How to Style Your Bedside Tables
Bringing style and functionality to your bedside.
Nightstands are a bedroom staple, and often a big part of our bedtime and morning routines. They offer a surface to charge your phone while you sleep, hold a glass of water for midnight hydration, and give you a place to stash your bedtime reading material. Decorating nightstands is an effective way to personalize your sleeping sanctuary. Read on to learn how to decorate a nightstand to enhance your bedroom’s style and comfort.
1. Pick the Perfect Nightstand Style
Start by choosing a nightstand (or two) that fits your bedroom aesthetic. Choose from different colors and materials, and use our Nightstand Dimension Guide to help you choose the perfect size nightstand for your space.
- Modern: Look for nightstands with clean lines or rounded edges to fit a modern aesthetic. Modern furniture is simple and functional – you can find modern nightstands that double as storage or have built-in lighting. Modern-style furniture comes in many colors and materials, but we love neutral colored nightstands that go with any color palette for modern spaces.
- Traditional: Look for sturdy, ornate nightstands for traditional style bedrooms. Choose rich natural finishes with detailed woodwork, and gold or brass hardware for a traditional look. Traditional furniture is known for curved lines and silhouettes, so look for nightstands with round-edged surfaces and curved legs. Go with a traditional silhouette with neutral distressed paint for a French country–style nightstand.
- Farmhouse: Nightstands with either modern or traditional silhouettes that come in rustic finishes are perfect for farmhouse spaces. A distressed wood nightstand with clean modern lines or one with an iron frame is a perfect piece for modern farmhouse bedrooms. Look for these characteristics when furnishing a rustic cabin or quaint cottage bedroom as well.
- Boho & Eclectic: Bright colors work well for eclectic spaces with bold color palettes, while natural materials like wood, bamboo, and rattan fit into boho spaces. Look for these characteristics in a nightstand when furnishing a bedroom that encompasses either of these maximalist styles.
Tip!
Check out these Dreamy Nightstand Ideas to achieve the perfect bedroom setup.
2. Utilize Shelves & Drawers
Stylish storage essentials go a long way when decorating nightstands – they combine the functional storage you need with the style you’d hope for from decor. Use organizers and storage essentials to neatly store clutter away on nightstand shelves or in drawers.
- Baskets & Bowls: Store any clutter or bedside essentials away in decorative storage baskets or bowls. Place them under your nightstand or on a built-in nightstand shelf so everything is within reach, without sacrificing a clean look.
- Stackable Books: Stack reading material on the bottom shelf of your nightstand, for a stylish display that you can read before bed. If you’re not a reader but like the bookish look, purchase stackable decorative books in your favorite colors.
- Linens & Throws: Fold extra throw blankets and place them on your nightstand shelf for a cozy bedroom look. Grab one when you need an extra layer on a chilly night.
- Trays & Organizers: Place a decorative tray on your nightstand shelf where you can place jewelry overnight without fear that they will roll onto the floor and get lost. Choose a drawer organizer if your nightstand has drawers to keep them from getting cluttered. Store overnight essentials like your sleep mask, chapstick, and tissues in your organized bedside drawer.
Bedside lighting is a must, whether you go with table lamps, wall sconces, or ceiling lights. This allows you to read before bed, or see what you’re doing if you wake up in the night for a drink or a trip to the bathroom. Choosing dimmable bedside lighting allows you to create ambience for a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Table Lamps: Place an easy-to-reach table lamp on your nightstand so you can turn it off and on from bed. Choose a desk lamp or arched table lamp to provide the perfect light for bedtime reading. Consider a table lamp with a wireless charger included so you can charge your phone overnight.
- Pendant Lights: If you want to save your nightstand surface for decor, try a single pendant light above each nightstand. These lights still provide ample lighting for your bedtime routine. Choose smart light bulbs so you can dim or turn them off remotely and don’t have to get out of bed when it’s time for lights out.
- Wall Sconces: Placing a single wall sconce over each nightstand is another option to provide bedside lighting while freeing up surfaces. We love dimmable wall sconces for more flexibility and ambient light.
Tip!
Check out our guide on the Best Bedside Lamps to help you pick the perfect nightstand lighting.
4. Choose Decor That Makes You Happy
Decorating a nightstand with carefully curated decor can elevate your bedroom look.. Choose nightstand decor that fits not only your bedroom aesthetic, but your needs as well. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, therefore your bedroom decor should make you happy and help you relax and unwind at the end of a long day.
- Decorative Objects: Use the top surface of your nightstands to display decorative objects that reflect your interests and personal style. Choose abstract decorative objects for a modern space, flashy metallics for a glam bedroom, or animal-themed decor for a farmhouse haven.
- Vases & Plants: Keep blooms nearby if you’re a plant lover. Place your favorite house plant on your nightstand so you can start and end the day with your leafy companion. If florals are your thing, choose faux flowers in a decorative vase for a low-maintenance option.
- Candles: Add ambience to your bedtime routine with real or faux flame candles. Choose programmable flameless candles to beckon you to begin your bedtime routine at the same time each night. If aroma therapy is what you need, choose a scented wax candle to help you wind down for a restful sleep. Candles look great on their own, arranged in decorative trays, or displayed in a candle holder.
- Decorative Boxes: Use a decorative box for elevated style, or to store important keepsakes and jewelry close by. Try stacking boxes or stacking a decorative object on a box for a layered look.
- Personal Photographs: Place framed photos of loved ones or cherished places on your bedside table. Choose metallic silver or gold frames, ornate frames, or wood frames depending on your bedroom aesthetic.
Keep functionality in mind when choosing nightstand decor. Select pieces that will enhance your bedtime routine and sleep, so you can wake up each day feeling well rested. Consider these nightstand decor ideas to add functionality and style to your space.
- Water Carafe: Keep a water carafe and drinking glass on your bedside table to help you stay hydrated through the night. A sleek glass carafe adds style and quiet luxury to your bedroom. Choose one with a lid to keep dust out and prevent spills or a set with a matching glass included.
- Alarm Clock: Incorporate an alarm clock into your beside decor to help you get out of bed in the morning without relying on your phone. Choose from different styles of alarm clocks including modern, rustic, or glam to fit your bedroom vibe.
- Aromatherapy Diffusers: Add aromatherapy to your bedtime or morning routines with a diffuser and scented oils. Try a classic reed diffuser with your favorite calming scents if you’re short on outlets, or a stylish glass diffuser that is battery-operated or plugged in. A diffuser with LED lights can double as a bedside lamp.
Place wall decor behind your nightstand to elevate your bedside space. Style these pieces to elevate your eye-catching nightstand decor.
- Mirrors: Placing a mirror on the wall behind your nightstand can create the illusion of more space in your bedroom. If you have table lamps on your nightstands, the mirrors will reflect more light for a warm illuminated space.
- Wall Art: Add wall art to your bedroom by hanging pieces directly above your nightstands. Choose wall art in colors you love and themes that make you feel happy and at peace in your bedroom sanctuary. If you’re not comfortable hanging art on your wall, you can prop framed art up against the wall towards the back of your nightstand.
- Wall Decals: Get creative with wall decals – apply them to the wall behind your nightstand to showcase your bedside decor. Choose themes or patterns that match your nightstand decor or try a chalkboard wall decal so you can create your own wall art.
