A bedside table is one of the smallest pieces of furniture in a bedroom, but also one of the most touched. In the evening the phone, glasses, a book and a glass of water go on it; in the morning a half-asleep hand reaches for it first. When it is the wrong height or crammed with odds and ends, these daily movements become an irritation. It helps to think of the bedside table not just as part of a bedroom set but as a functional piece in its own right.
Height: set by the mattress, not the bed legs
Choose the height of a bedside table by the top of the mattress, not the bed frame. For easy reach while lying down or sitting up, the top of the table should be roughly level with the top of the mattress or slightly above it. Too low, and you have to lean over the edge of the bed to pick things up; too high, and a sweeping arm knocks over the glass and phone.
A common mistake is choosing the table to suit an old bed with a thin mattress and then buying a thick orthopaedic one. When the mattress height changes, the proportions are lost. So it is wise to know the thickness of the mattress before ordering. The difference is especially noticeable on lift-up beds or beds on a high base.
Width and depth: what the room allows
In a spacious bedroom a wide bedside table or even a small chest of drawers is convenient, with room for a lamp, books and decor. In a small room, a wide table narrows the walkway between the bed and the wall or wardrobe. If the gap is too tight, it is easy to catch it when getting up at night.
Depth matters too. A deep table that projects well beyond the head of the bed makes getting up awkward. For a small room, a shallow but slightly taller table or a wall-mounted shelf may be a better solution.
Drawer, shelf or both
The interior of a bedside table is arranged around how it is used:
- One drawer for small items such as medicine, cream, glasses and charging cables. Quiet soft-close runners help avoid waking a partner at night.
- Two drawers: small items at the top, books or loungewear below.
- An open shelf for books and magazines in use; as it is visible, it needs keeping tidy.
- A section with a door for things you would rather not have on view.
An open niche above a drawer is also handy for a phone or book: the top stays clear while things remain within reach.
Wall-hung tables and units joined to the headboard
A bedside table fixed to the wall and clear of the floor looks light and makes cleaning underneath easier. Its height can be chosen freely, which allows it to match the mattress thickness precisely. A wall-hung unit must be fixed according to the strength of the wall and should not carry heavy loads.
Bedside tables joined to the headboard create a unified composition. In this version the headboard panel extends to both sides and the tables are attached to it. In made-to-measure furniture this works well to fill the width of the room exactly, but it makes moving the bed later more difficult.
Light and power
The bedside table is where light is needed for reading in the evening and getting up at night. A table lamp takes up space on top; a wall light or LED built into the headboard keeps the surface clear. Either way, plan the position of the socket and switch in advance. Routing the phone charger cable behind the table, a small cable hole in the back panel or a USB socket built into the unit all add to daily convenience.
Quick check
- Is the top of the table close to the top of the mattress?
- Do its width and depth leave the walkway clear?
- Does the drawer close quietly?
- Is there a socket near the table for a lamp and charger?
- If it is wall-hung, is the wall suitable for fixing?
When ordering a bedroom from Zaferoglu Mebel, sizing the bedside tables to the bed and mattress height and to the walkway beside them decides how comfortable these small pieces are every night.
