How to Style a Bedside Table: 5 Simple Ideas for a Beautiful and Practical Bedroom
How to Style a Bedside Table: 5 Simple Ideas for a Beautiful and Practical Bedroom
A beautifully styled bedside table is one of the simplest ways to make your bedroom feel calm, considered and inviting. While it's easy for this small space to become home to charging cables, glasses and half-read books, a few carefully chosen accessories can transform it into one of the prettiest corners of your home.
Whether you have a large bedside table or just enough room for the essentials, these simple styling ideas will help you create a space that's both beautiful and practical.
Start with a Decorative Tray
Every well-styled bedside table begins with a tray.
Rather than placing individual items directly onto your furniture, a decorative tray creates structure and instantly makes everything feel more intentional. It also makes cleaning easier—simply lift the tray to dust underneath.
Our hand-painted Bobbin Tray is the perfect size for holding a glass of water, jewellery, hand cream or your current book, while introducing colour and personality to your bedroom.
Styling Tip: Stick to just a few everyday essentials so your bedside table feels calm rather than cluttered.
Add Fresh Flowers or Greenery
Flowers instantly soften a bedroom and make the space feel welcoming.
Whether it's a bunch of seasonal flowers, fresh garden blooms or a small potted plant, adding something natural brings texture, colour and life to your bedside table.
We love mixing fresh flowers with colourful home accessories to create a cheerful corner that's lovely to wake up to every morning.
If you're looking for something lower maintenance, a ceramic planter filled with a small indoor plant creates the same effect all year round.
Include Soft Lighting
Lighting plays an important role in creating a relaxing bedroom.
Alongside your bedside lamp, a beautifully scented candle adds warmth and atmosphere for slow evenings spent reading or winding down before bed.
Choose one with a simple glass vessel that complements your accessories rather than competing with them.
A candle also introduces another layer of height, helping your styling feel balanced.
Make Everyday Essentials Beautiful
The best bedside tables combine beauty with practicality.
Rather than hiding everyday items away, choose accessories that deserve to be left on display.
A hand-painted tissue box cover instantly elevates an ordinary cardboard tissue box, while a decorative tray keeps your water glass, hand cream or jewellery neatly organised.
Beautiful design should make everyday routines feel a little more joyful.
Keep Your Colour Palette Cohesive
One of the easiest ways to create a beautifully styled bedside table is by choosing accessories that complement one another.
In this room, rich burgundy, soft pink and fresh green work together to create a look that's colourful yet calming.
Repeating colours throughout your flowers, tray and decorative accessories helps everything feel connected without looking overly matched.
Don't be afraid to mix bold colours with natural textures and fresh flowers—they're often what make a space feel personal.
Our Favourite Bedside Table Styling Formula
If you're unsure where to begin, this simple combination always works:
✓ A decorative tray
✓ Fresh flowers or a small plant
✓ A scented candle
✓ A glass of water
✓ One practical everyday accessory, such as a decorative tissue box cover
Shop the Look
Everything featured in this bedroom styling guide has been chosen to make everyday living feel a little more colourful.
Discover our collection of hand-painted trays, decorative tissue box covers, planters and colourful home accessories designed for every room in your home.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should you put on a bedside table?
A well-styled bedside table should include a mix of practical and decorative accessories. We recommend using a tray, fresh flowers or a plant, a candle, a glass of water and one everyday item such as a tissue box cover.
How do you make a bedside table look expensive?
Choose fewer, higher-quality accessories rather than filling every available space. A decorative tray helps organise smaller objects, while fresh flowers, candles and colourful home accessories create a more curated look.
Why should you use a tray on a bedside table?
A tray keeps everyday essentials organised, protects your furniture and creates a focal point that makes bedside styling feel intentional and uncluttered.