Easy Guidelines for Bedside Table Styling

We welcomed the first long weekend of the summer season a week ago.  The weather was nice, and the sun was shining through my bedroom window...  onto my messy bedside table.  Don't know about yours, but mine has turned into my home's "command centre".  I can occasionally find a pen and notepad on it...  Need a tissue?  I've some remnants of little man's booger/ snot tissue.  Need something to read so I can wind down before bedtime?  There's a stack of mags, no problem.  Time to pay the hydro bill?  It's ok, I have the bill RIGHT THERE.

Sounds like I have a large bedside table huh?  NOT!

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

How was I able to build a command centre on a small table?!  As I looked at my stash in amazement, I've decided that I would revamp my lovely bedside table from the state of nastiness.  I will make the Mr. proud!

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

I wanted the headboard's intricate design to be focal point of the space, so I kept items on the beside table to a minimum.

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

These general guidelines would beautify any table vignettes:

1. Varying Heights - Curating items in varying heights is the constant guideline to achieving balance for any vignettes -  (remember my post on decorating the dining table?) 

2. Something green - Read plants.  What they say is true, any shade of green livens up a space. It compliments any colours in your decor...  is it any wonder that it's the middle colour in the rainbow?

3. Something sparkly - all vignettes should have something shiny to reflect light to attract your eyes, making them linger to appreciate the whole scenery.  

4. Objects with textures - offering contrasting details through different textures is just another way to add visual interest for any tablescape.

Of course the above 4 guidelines aren't the be-all and end-all to decorating your bedside table. Keeping the guidelines short would prevent your bedside table from turning into one with a muddled collection like mine!  So, with these guidelines in mind, here's how my essentials played out.

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

The lamp is usually the anchoring piece on the bedside table, with it most likely being the tallest item.  A general rule of thumb would be that the height/ size of the lamp should be proportional to the height of the headboard or size of the bed, in order to anchor the space beside the bed. Think lamp sizes at Target...  a king size bed should at least be paired with large lamps.  Anything smaller may be dwarfed by the large size of the bed.  Smaller beds can get away with smaller lamps, but keep in mind that a large shade may take away the presence of a small bed.  If you have small table lamps, then artwork can also be hung beside the bed to visually bridge the gap between the height of the headboard and the table.   

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

I went with some fresh flowers for "something green" to liven up my side of the bed, and kept them in a shorter vase for varying height.  I chose carnations as they just last forever with minimal care!  The vase mimics mercury glass, which together with its rhinestone edging, adds the "something sparkly" element on my table.  Our mirror top tables also reflect light from the nearby window...  more sparkly! 

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

The florals and my soap stone knick-knack box created some contrasting textures against the smooth and shiny lamp and vase.  I like having a lidded box on the table to keep my tube of hand cream and other lose items (you know, pens and paper pads).  Aside from its obvious purpose, the rectangular box was juxtaposed with the roundness of the baluster lamp and barrel shape vase to create a balancing effect with different shapes.  It was also the next layer in the height variance of the tablescape.

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

If our bedside tables were a bit larger, then maybe there would be room for some artwork .  For now though, I would add some colours with a special occasions card - birthdays, valentine's, Mother's Days, and Christmas (did I miss any?).  At the rate I clear my bedside table (not very often), each can stay on for several months for a good rotation!  Little man's masterpieces sometimes also make their way to my table - "Mommy, I drew something awesome for you!" They're FOR ME, so I feel obligated to showcase it by my bed.  ;-)

The Mr.'s side?  Bleh...  

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living

He's utilitarian (and territorial) and doesn't like too many things on HIS table.  So I've only added a faux grass plant on his side, leaving his black notebook for home project ideas untouched.  =)

In the meantime, we're looking to upsize our bedside tables to something like these...  Anything with hidden storage to cover my mess, as the Mr. would say!

New Bedside Table | Classy Glam Living

Sources:  1. Pottery Barn / 2. One Kings Lane / 3. Bowring / 4. Joss & Main

So...  when was the last time you cleaned up and beautified your bedside table?  Time for a late spring cleaning!

Bedside Table Styling Guidelines | Classy Glam Living