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How to Pick The Right Bedside Table

Cheryl Mascarenhas
A bedside table is an essential piece of furniture used to accentuate the look of the room. It can be used to house your makeup essentials or to place your favorite bedside book, besides holding your alarm clock and night lamp. The tips given here will help you pick the right bedside table.

Did You Know?

In earlier times, the main function of a bedside table was to contain a chamber pot. It was often referred to as a commode.
A bedside table plays a significant role to complete the bedroom furnishing. It comes in handy to hold the alarm clock, a couple of your favorite bedside books, a night lamp, and a few other essentials. End tables, as they are often referred to as, can be used to either complement or accentuate the look of the room.
Besides, a bedside table can also be used as an additional storage space to store prescribed medicines, tissues, or even linen.
It can also be used to house your cosmetics and in your child's room to store books, toys, and accessories. A multipurpose table is better than a mere artistic piece, don't you think? A bedside table, for that matter, ought to be one that not just embellishes your bedroom furniture but also serves a useful purpose.

Usage Matters

A lot depends on how you plan to use your side table. If you are planning to use it as a stand to place your night lamp, you can opt for a smaller table without drawers, while a table with drawers can be rightly used to store essentials.
The benefit of having a side table with drawers is that you get to stack away your cosmetics, paperwork, and store essential medications close at hand. Simply put, an end table with drawers or shelves works as an additional storage space, while one without drawers ensures your room looks elegant and neat.

Layout Matters

Consider this: the minute you decide to purchase a side table, keep the layout in mind. You do not want to end up with an oversized side table in a relatively congested corner or a puny table lost in a large room.
Make sure you measure the space between the bed and other pieces of furniture to avoid a headache later on. Ideally, the furniture layout should not just enhance the overall look of the room but also allow ease of access to things kept on the table.

Attention to Symmetry

What's the look you want to achieve? Do you wish to make the table the focal point of the room, or you wish to shift the focus away from the table? Depending on this, the table you choose will either blend seamlessly into the furnishing of the room or will end up making a bold statement.
Tables placed on either side of the bed will render your room a smart and sophisticated appearance.

Proportion Matters

Ideally, a side table complements the space; hence, it is an absolute compulsion that it is of appropriate size. A bulky table placed in a delicately designed room could seem relatively out of place, just as an inappropriate-shaped table will draw attention rather than blend seamlessly into the room's furnishing.
A circular table sure does look elegant but it ends up eating up more space than a square/rectangular table would.

Your Style

It all boils down to what your style is about. You can go bold and make a huge style statement or tone down and blend it; the choice is yours. Circular tables or huge block tables are sure to spruce up a large room.

Height Matters

The height of the table does play a decisive role when it comes to the appearance of the room.
Besides, the height of the table also decides how comfortable you will be while using it. A low table will give you lesser storage space, while a higher table will make it easier for you to pick things from the shelves and drawers.

Finish Matters

What kind of finish are you looking for? A white painted table is sure to blend into the décor of the room, while a wood finish will give it a warm appearance. Laminated tables, on the other hand, will give you a huge variety to choose from and render a modern, uber-cool look to your room.

Design Issues

Think of the style statement you will be making when you choose an exquisite side table. Think outside the box, and get your home a stylish table instead of the regular square tables that adorn most homes.
Do not forget to do a thorough research on the cost of the tables, before you actually invest in one. Also, remember not to overdo the décor of your room, or else it may appear gaudy.