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I thought the most important thing to shop for in a master bedroom was the bed, and it is. But, bedside tables are just as important. Sometimes, the smallest piece of furniture can have a big impact in the bedroom. Bedside tables come in a variety of shapes and sizes and serve two main functions. They provide a place for necessary items like a book, a lamp, a glass of water and anything else you may want to keep close while you’re in bed. The choice of which nightstand you want will depend on a few factors. Do you have a budget? What is the size of your room? How big/tall is your bed? Do you have storage needs? What look are you going for?

I’m shopping for black bedside tables because I want a bit of interest in the room, but still want the color palette to stay neutral. The walls are gray, my bed is gray and the lamps are white, so I think a black side table with gold accents will pop. This one is my favorite right now.

Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for bedside tables.

Size

Everything from small chests, to desks, to side chairs can be used as bedside tables. If they look good and work for the space, go for it. But there are important size rules to follow. Bedside tables should always be about the same height as the mattress. Anything much higher or lower doesn’t look quite right. If you were to go higher or lower, it is more comfortable to reach up than bend low while in bed. When it comes to depth, you don’t want anything much deeper than 24 inches. Anything bigger can make it awkward to get in and out of bed. If you need to go small to fit your space, it’s all good as long as it’s practical and suits your needs.

Storage

Bedside tables that contain storage are great because you can store anything you might need and keep it out of sight. But if you prefer a minimalist look, feel free to choose something without extra storage like this simple style. For a super clean look, you can install a shelf or wall bracket around the height of the mattress instead of using a traditional table. The choice is yours.

Accessories

While there are endless of options for bedside tables, their function is meant to be practical. Bedside tables should stay simple. A lamp, a clock and maybe a photo or small momento are all you need. Keep it clean. You don’t want to accidentally knock over a ton of accessories when you’re trying to get a sip of water or turn on the light in the dark.

To match or not to match?

It’s totally up to you! The most common look is to have two matching tables (one on each side of the bed), but this isn’t a hard rule or at all necessary. If you find two different tables you love, use them. If you want the room to look more cohesive, use matching lamps on each of the tables to help tie the two looks together.

Shop my picks. Happy shopping!

xoxo

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