Styling a bedside table

How to Style a Bedside Table

Style a bedside table with the rule of threes: three items varying in height and texture (a lamp for height, a book or two for horizontal weight, and one decorative object like a plant, candle or ceramic vase). Keep the tabletop functional first (space for a phone and water glass), decorative second.

Below we cover essentials, layering technique, matching versus mixing pairs, style-specific decor ideas, and how to make a bedside table look considered without a lamp.

Key Takeaways

  • Style a bedside table with three items at varying heights (rule of threes): a lamp, a book or two, and one decorative object.

  • Keep the tabletop functional first: leave room for a phone, glass of water, and anything you actually reach for at night.

  • Matching bedside tables give a calm, symmetrical, hotel-like look; mixing pairs adds character but needs both pieces to sit at similar heights.

  • You can style a bedside table without a lamp using wall sconces, plug-in wall lights, tall candles, or a small plant to add vertical height.

  • Layer texture rather than colour for the most considered look: mix timber, ceramic, fabric, plants and paper in one grouping.

Choose the Right Bedside Table for Your Space

Choose a bedside table sized to match your mattress top height and your bedroom's floor space, then pick a design that suits your bed frame's finish and style. The table should sit within 5 to 8 cm of your mattress top, be wide enough to hold a lamp plus your essentials (usually 40 to 55 cm wide), and use a finish that complements your bed frame rather than clashing with it.

Our range covers three common bedside table shapes, each suiting a different bedroom style:

  • Round side table (like the Kirribilli Side Table) softens the boxy geometry of a bed frame and works well in Japandi, coastal and minimalist bedrooms.

  • Drawer bedside table (like the Bedside Table) gives closed storage for cables, medications and nighttime essentials without cluttering the surface.

  • Two-drawer bedside table with wireless charging (like the Balmain Bedside Table) adds tech convenience for phone-first sleepers.

Whichever shape you pick, the styling logic is the same, so the sections below apply across the range.

What to Put on a Bedside Table

Put functional items on the bedside table first (a lamp, glass of water, phone charger or spot for your phone, a book you're currently reading), then add one or two decorative items to finish the look. The most common styling mistake is putting too much on the tabletop.

The Essentials

The essentials for a bedside table are: a lamp, a glass of water/ bottle, a spot for your phone (or a wireless charging pad), a book or two, and space for anything you use at night like glasses, lip balm, or a small notebook. That's roughly six items on the tabletop, which is the outer limit before it starts looking cluttered.

Practical bedside table essentials checklist:

  • Lamp or reading light. The tallest item on the table; anchors the composition.

  • Water glass or bottle. Placed toward the front for easy nighttime reach.

  • Phone spot or wireless charging pad. Front-of-table where you can grab quickly.

  • Book or two. Stack vertically or flat; both work.

  • Small decorative object. One only; plant, candle, ceramic vase or small tray for jewellery.

  • Everyday small items. Glasses, lip balm, hand cream, tissues in a drawer if the table has one.

Anything else (multiple candles, framed photos, decorative bowls of trinkets) starts to look styled-for-photos rather than lived-in. If a piece doesn't earn its place through use or intentional decoration, leave it off.

Layering Height & Texture

The rule of threes for styling means three items at three different heights and three different textures. A lamp gives you a tall + hard/soft mix (lamp base is hard, shade is soft); a book stack gives mid-height + paper texture; a plant or ceramic vase gives short + organic or matte texture. Together the eye reads variation rather than a flat surface.

Practical layering tips:

  • Lamp anchors the tallest point. Aim for a lamp between 40 and 60 cm tall on a standard 50 cm bedside table.

  • Books or a small stack of magazines create mid-height. Two or three books, stacked flat, work better than a single upright book.

  • A small plant, candle or ceramic vase creates the lowest point. 10 to 15 cm tall is the sweet spot.

  • Mix at least three textures: timber (the table itself), ceramic or glass (lamp base or vase), paper (book), and something soft or organic (plant, candle, fabric-covered book).

  • Leave 40 to 50 percent of the tabletop empty. This gives your phone and water glass somewhere to land at night.

If the styled tabletop looks cramped, remove one item and see if the composition improves. It usually does.

Matching vs Mixing Bedside Tables

Matching bedside tables give a calm, symmetrical, hotel-like feel that anchors the bedroom; mixing pairs adds character and works well in more casual or curated spaces. Neither is universally right; the choice depends on the bedroom's overall style and how "considered" versus "collected" you want the room to feel.

Matching bedside tables work best when:

  • You want the bedroom to feel restful, formal or hotel-like

  • The bed is a statement piece and the tables should support it, not compete

  • You have limited time for styling and want a fool-proof result

  • The rest of the bedroom leans toward matched pairs (matching lamps, matching artwork)

Mixing bedside tables works best when:

  • The room leans casual, bohemian, mid-century or eclectic

  • One side of the bed has different practical needs (a taller sleeper who needs more storage, or a shorter sleeper who prefers a smaller footprint)

  • You're building the room over time and don't want to buy a matching pair

  • Both tables sit at similar heights (within 3 to 5 cm), even if the styles differ

If you mix, keep the tabletop height within 3 to 5 cm across both sides. Different heights read as inconsistent; matched heights read as intentional. Also keep the finish tones in the same family (both timber, both painted white, both metal) even if the shapes differ.

Bedside Table Decor Ideas by Style

Bedside table styling should match your overall bedroom style. Below we pair five common Australian bedroom styles with a bedside table approach and a Koala product that suits the look.

  • Coastal or Hamptons: round timber side table, a lamp with a linen or rattan shade, a stack of books, a small ceramic vase with dried grasses. The Kirribilli Side Table in warm ash suits this look because the rounded silhouette and natural timber tone read as considered coastal.

  • Japandi or minimalist: low-profile drawer table, one ceramic lamp with a paper shade, one book, a single small stem in a bud vase. The Bedside Table at 50 cm tall with clean lines suits this restrained approach.

  • Boho or eclectic: any mid-height table, a stack of books with mixed spines, a plant, a candle in an amber or coloured glass, a small woven basket for jewellery. Layer textures deliberately.

  • Mid-century modern: timber or upholstered table with clean legs, a ceramic or brass table lamp, a hardback book, a low ceramic dish. The Balmain Bedside Table with wireless charging leans this direction because the wood-first design with tech integration fits mid-century's clean lines.

  • Small space or renter-friendly: floating bedside table, a wall-mounted or clip-on light, essentials only. The Balmain Floating Bedside Table clips to the Balmain Bed Base and creates styled bedside surface without floor footprint.

How to Decorate a Bedside Table Without a Lamp

You can decorate a bedside table without a lamp using a wall sconce or plug-in wall light for illumination, then treating the tabletop as pure decor space. This is common in rentals (where you can't hardwire a lamp) and small bedrooms (where the bedside table doesn't have space for both a lamp and a phone charger). The styling logic changes because you lose the "tallest anchor" the lamp usually provides.

Alternatives to a lamp on the bedside table:

  • Wall-mounted sconce. Hardwired or battery-powered LED sconces mount to the wall above the bedside table, freeing the entire tabletop for other items.

  • Plug-in wall light. Cordless-look plug-in sconces are renter-friendly (no drilling) and give the same visual effect.

  • Pendant light from the ceiling. A pendant hung to hover just above the bedside table replaces a table lamp entirely and looks intentional.

  • Clip-on reading light. Attaches to the headboard rather than sitting on the bedside table.

Once the light source is off the tabletop, restyle the space with:

  • A tall candle or a pair of candles (30 to 40 cm) for vertical anchor

  • A slightly taller plant in a ceramic or timber pot (about 30 cm total height)

  • A larger stack of books (3 to 5 books rather than 1 to 2)

  • A small framed piece of art leaning against the wall or table backboard

  • A ceramic sculpture or small vase with dried stems

The rule of threes still applies: three items at three heights. The lamp is just replaced by a candle, plant or piece of art doing the same "tallest anchor" job. Our full bedside table collection works across all these approaches.

Explore Our Bedside Table Range

Our bedside tables suit every bedroom style, whether you want a round timber side table, a drawer-based unit, a tech-integrated design or a clip-on floating option. 

Explore our range:


Frequently Asked Questions

What should you put on a bedside table?

Put functional items on a bedside table first: a lamp, a water glass, your phone or a wireless charging pad, a book, and a small decorative object like a plant or candle. That's roughly six items, which is the outer limit before the tabletop looks cluttered. Keep 40 to 50 percent of the surface empty for practical use (setting your phone down, holding a mug in the morning).

Should bedside tables match?

Matching bedside tables give a calm, symmetrical look that suits hotel-inspired, formal and Hamptons bedroom styles. Mixing pairs adds character and works in casual, bohemian, mid-century or eclectic rooms. If you mix, keep the tabletop heights within 3 to 5 cm across both sides so the composition reads as intentional rather than inconsistent.

How do you style a bedside table without a lamp?

Style a bedside table without a lamp by using a wall sconce, plug-in wall light, ceiling pendant, or clip-on reading light for illumination, then replace the "tallest anchor" role with a tall candle, plant, framed artwork or small ceramic sculpture on the tabletop. The rule of threes still applies (three items at three heights, three textures) but with a decorative tall item substituting for the lamp. This approach suits rentals with no wall power point for a lamp and small bedrooms where the bedside table is too narrow to hold both a lamp and a phone charger.

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