7 tips for choosing a bedside table

No. 1. Bedside table size

definition of the scenario for its use, adjusted for the area of the bedroom, will help you choose the optimal size of the bedside table . If this piece of furniture is intended to be used only as a stand for a lamp and a mobile gadget, and the bedroom is not large in size, then you can opt for a compact bedside table or even a bedside table. When the bedroom area allows and there is a need to store bed linen and clothes in the nightstand, then the choice falls towards roomy models with a lot of drawers.

Regardless of what functions are assigned to the bedside table, it must meet basic ergonomic requirements in order to be truly comfortable to use:

height – the most important parameter of the bedside table. If it is high, it will block the view of the room, and from a cabinet that is too low, you can easily knock over a glass of water. Perfect option - bedside table. Firstly, this makes the bedroom symmetrical and balanced, and secondly, it is in this case that the bedside table will be most convenient to use;
The width is selected depending on the parameters of the bed. If we are talking about a standard double or single bed, then a bedside table with a width of 50 cm or less is perfect. Next to a huge bed, a small nightstand will look inharmonious, so in these cases, choose models with a width of 50-100 cm;
depth is selected depending on the usage scenario, but it is advisable not to purchase models where this parameter exceeds 50 cm, as they may make it difficult to access the sleeping area.
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, the principle of proportionality with the bed comes first . If the latter has a massive headboard and looks solid, then the cabinets should not be light and airy.

The role of bedside tables in the bedroom interior

It is almost impossible to imagine a bedroom without certain furniture. The main piece of her interior is the bed. Wardrobes are used to store bed linen and clothes. A bedside table is suitable for storing small things that should always be at hand.

The cabinet allows you to place many things that should be at hand

Despite their small size, bedside tables in the bedroom play an important role in the interior of the room. Since a person spends a third of his life sleeping, it is necessary for the bedroom to be as functional and comfortable as possible. All details of the room must be thought out to the smallest detail.

Some skeptics believe that a bedroom can easily do without a bedside table, since such a design has no special purpose. But this is not at all true, because this small piece of furniture performs many functions.

Bedside tables are usually a small cabinet with drawers and shelves, which is designed to accommodate small items, gadgets and cosmetics. You can also place a beautiful table lamp, floor lamp, alarm clock or decorative elements on it, for example: a vase of flowers, a coffee pot, a jewelry box or a figurine. If the structure is large enough, then underwear and bed linen can be stored in drawers.

This item has many advantages over other types of furniture. A properly selected bedside table is an excellent addition to the interior of a bedroom. Also, this design makes it possible to relax before bed to get a good rest. After all, the cabinet can be used as a table for tea or as a stand for your favorite book.

The bedside table not only complements and decorates the bedroom interior, but is also a very functional item

No. 2. Bedside table material

An equally important parameter when choosing a bedside table is the material of manufacture, and here the market pleases us with sufficient variety:

tree – the most environmentally friendly material that has enviable durability, strength, has a warm surface, and retains a pleasant aroma. Such a piece of furniture will serve faithfully for decades. Wood is plastic and pliable, so cabinets are often decorated with beautiful carved patterns. The downside of wooden products is their high price, but it can vary significantly depending on the type of wood. Products made from oak, birch, beech, ash, and mahogany will cost much less than similar ones made from pine. This is explained by the insufficient strength of the latter. Pine is a soft wood, so over time, screw connections can become loose, causing deformation of the product;
MDF cabinet will cost much less, but it’s difficult to call it natural. MDF boards are made from wood chips; urea resins act as a binder, which allows us to talk about the environmental friendliness of the products and the almost complete absence of formaldehyde emissions. The top of the slabs can be painted, veneered with a thin cut of valuable wood, or laminated with a film that allows you to imitate any material - the range is huge. In terms of price and quality ratio, this is one of the best options for today;
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chipboard cabinets must be used with great caution. For the production of chipboard, resins are used, which during operation can emit toxic formaldehyde. It is important to look at the emission level in the furniture documentation: for use in the bedroom it must be E0 or E1. The main advantage is low price;
combined option , when the frame is metal or wood, and the finishing is made of glass, mirror, plastic or forging. The combination of materials allows you to create exclusive models that can truly decorate the bedroom, but you shouldn’t forget about functionality;
if you want to make your bedroom even more sophisticated, then you can choose cabinet upholstered in leather. Such products look impressive, it is difficult to get injured in the event of an accidental impact, and they are also practical to use.

Bedside table: how to choose the size

A piece of furniture should not only please you, but also look harmonious in the overall interior of the room. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to the dimensions. At the moment, most furniture stores and manufacturers offer the following standard dimensions for this piece of furniture:

depth - from 40 to 45 centimeters;
width – from 50 to 55 cm;
The height of the bedside table is from 50 to 65 centimeters.

Cabinets of the above sizes are widely available in modern furniture stores. You can also order furniture according to individual sizes, depending on your preferences and the dimensions of the bed. But, this option, as a rule, costs much more than standard models.

No. 3. Bedside table design

The design, as well as the size, is selected depending on the use case of the cabinet. If it is needed to place a lamp and glasses on it, then a neat bedside table without doors or drawers will be enough. For those who are used to storing a thousand and one little things near the bed, it is better to choose a model with closed shelves so that numerous necessary things do not create a feeling of chaos in the bedroom.

Pay attention to hanging bedside tables . They, just like their floor counterparts, can be equipped with a different number of drawers and shelves, only they are separated from the floor surface by 10 to 50 cm of space. This makes the bedside table lighter and weightless, and the bedroom more original. You will feel the benefits of a hanging model when you drop something and find it without difficulty, because you don’t have to lie down on the floor, shine a flashlight, and rummage around in search of the dropped object. Under the cabinet you can place a beautiful basket or box for storing small items.

In the smallest bedrooms, the bedside table can be replaced with a bedside shelf (or shelves). It will be possible to place only the most necessary things on them and make sure that there is no clutter there.

In small bedrooms it is rational to use combined furniture . For example, a bedside table can simultaneously serve as a wide, spacious chest of drawers and smoothly transition into a closet or shelving unit. Moreover, in one item you can combine the functions of a bedside table, dressing table and work desk. To ensure sufficient comfort when working, the table must be of an appropriate height, and to maintain balance and proportionality, you will have to take care of a higher bed. To avoid incidents, it is better, of course, to select all the furniture together and think through every little detail in the bedroom interior in advance.

How to choose a nightstand

There are a number of aspects that you need to pay attention to when choosing a bedside table for your bedroom:

Size. In most cases, a nightstand is used as a table, so if it is difficult to reach without getting out of bed, it will be a completely useless item in the room. The ideal option is a cabinet that will be flush with the bed. It turns out that the furniture is lined up in a single row, this allows the overall composition to be balanced. In addition, it is very ergonomic and comfortable. Also consider the width; if the bed is huge, then small bedside tables will look extremely funny. Try to avoid visual imbalance, this will ruin the entire impression of the interior.
Design. Bedside furniture can be both a decoration and a functional element. If you like to have a lot of different items near your sleeping place, then it is better to opt for models with doors and many shelves, then you will be able to avoid chaos in the sleeping area. If a book and an alarm clock are enough for you, then look at the neat, laconic cabinets. Also recently, hanging bedside tables have become especially popular; they take up much less space than conventional models. At the same time, such a piece of furniture is absolutely not inferior in functionality.
Design. It is advisable that all items be in the same stylistic direction, this will make the bedroom as elegant and elegant as possible.

elegant. However, they may differ in color. If you prefer modern styles, then the color schemes can be varied, which will make the interior original and a little futuristic. Some designers suggest opting for glass options; this will make your bedroom unique and ultra-modern.
Material of manufacture. In most cases, pure wood, fiberboard or particle board is used. The first option is the most durable and natural. In addition, it causes absolutely no negative effects on human health. If you have the means, be sure to pay attention to solid wood models. Other materials are also often used when creating cabinets, it all depends on your preferences and material capabilities.

Considering the above aspects, you can choose wonderful pieces of furniture for your bedroom. At the same time, we do not recommend paying attention to ready-made standard projects presented on the World Wide Web. Even if you like the design, try to adapt it to suit yourself. This will help make the interior as original and unique as possible, so that it fully reflects your taste preferences.

No. 4. Cabinet shape

The shape of the bedside table can be one of the following:

square or rectangular - the classic and most common option. This model is appropriate in any bedroom and almost any interior style, it is functional, practical and versatile;
corner cabinet Great for small bedrooms and allows you to get the most out of corners that often go unused;
round and oval The cabinets look impressive, but they cannot be called universal. Such products will not fit into any bedroom, but will become an integral part of the interior in the Art Nouveau style;
non-standard options . Sideboards in the shape of a chest or a pyramid, broken, with a lot of curves and unusual shapes are more of a decorative decoration for the bedroom than a functional thing, but they really look impressive.

No. 5. Style and design of the bedside table

If a few years ago designers strongly recommended choosing a bedside table exclusively in the same style as the headboard, today they allow a mixture of styles, but within reason, of course. a universal option , which can successfully fit into any interior style.

The style of the cabinet is selected depending on the overall decor of the bedroom:

minimalism involves using products of simple geometric shapes without decoration or frills. The cabinet can be made of wood, but not have carving elements and be painted in one color. Mounted models are perfect. Glass can also be used as a material. Preferred colors: black, white, shades of gray and milky;
high tech also assumes clarity of form and the absence of any curls. Cabinets with chrome elements, metal frames and glass countertops are perfect;
classic style involves the use of wooden cabinets with carved elements. Models made in antique style, massive squat cabinets, as well as products upholstered in leather will look harmonious. Preferred colors are calm light and dark shades;
baroque – these are curvilinear forms, curved facades, ornate legs, an abundance of decor. The material used is valuable wood, sometimes forging;
country style involves the use of simple massive cabinets, preferably made of wood or its imitation, dark colors are held in high esteem;
Scandinavian style – these are simple white cabinets made of wood or its “substitutes”. The fewer decorative elements, the better;
for a bedroom in style Provence cabinets made of wood in pastel shades, perhaps with a worn effect, are suitable. You can use bedside tables with “skirts”, i.e. with fabric curtains, which can be easily replaced if desired, thereby updating the interior;
modern involves the use of cabinets of unusual shapes and made from non-standard materials, such as leather.

Style solutions

In order for the nightstand to fit harmoniously into the interior, it is necessary that it be combined with the headboard of the bed and the general style of the bedroom.

Classic. A wooden model of a simple shape, decorated with carvings and decorative overlays, looks appropriate. Models upholstered in leather in suitable colors are allowed.
Scandinavian style. The product is made of light wood or wood boards. The shape is simple, the decor is minimal.
Provence. The material used is wood, which is artificially aged or painted in light shades. The design looks laconic, but at the same time elegant. The decor includes: forged fittings, hand painting, decoupage images.
Modern. A cabinet in this style is characterized by rounded shapes; upholstery made of genuine leather is welcome.
High tech. The modern direction involves the use of simple and functional furniture. For its manufacture, metal, glass, and plastic are used. The color range includes: black, grey, metallic, white.

A bedside table is a useful piece of bedroom furniture. Thanks to the wide range, it will be easy to choose the right product and complete the interior.

No. 6. Bedside table color

There are no rules for choosing the right color for a cabinet - there are only a few recommendations and typical color schemes that will allow you to achieve the best result:

the color of the cabinet is matched to the color of the head of the bed - a classic and time-tested technique, and the materials used may be different;
the exact opposite of the traditional technique - contrasting the color of the cabinet with the color of the headboard . For example, white cabinets are selected for a black headboard, brown ones for a beige one, etc.;
the color of the cabinets is similar to other furniture in the bedroom (except for the bed);
the color of the cabinets can be matched to the color of the floor, walls or door;
the nightstand fits into the overall color scheme of the bedroom if only one color is chosen, for example, beige or gray;
A bedside table can serve as a color accent and not be combined with any other piece of furniture, but when trying to create an extravagant bedroom, it is important not to cross the line and end up in complete bad taste.

Dimensions

The purchased cabinet must fit into the interior, be comfortable, safe and practical. The height of the furniture should not exceed the top of the bed. Exceptions include radical design solutions. Regardless of the style, a bedside table of standard dimensions is purchased for the bedroom.

The surface area of the cabinet should be comfortable and convenient for placing the necessary things.

Many manufacturers of modern furniture are guided by standard sizes when making such bedside tables. Dimensions are determined by parameters such as width, height and depth. The width of the product is 50-55 cm, and the height is 55-60 cm. There are models whose width is 40, 35 and even 30 cm, suitable for limited space.

Types of bedside tables close to standard sizes:

Cabinet (Standard) with one or more drawers: dimensions are determined by dimensions: 500 x 500 x 400 mm (height/width/depth).
Cabinet with hinged doors: usually the manufacturer makes adjustments to the dimensions, as a rule, this is plus/minus 50 mm to the standard size.
Bedside table with a niche: the difference from other models is the height, other parameters remain unchanged. The height is 650 mm.