A practical guide to choosing the right bedside table height, size, storage and timber finish for your space.

A bedside table may be one of the smaller pieces in a bedroom, but it has an outsized effect on how the room works. It frames the bed, holds the objects you reach for first and last each day, and helps bring balance to the space around it.

Choosing the right one is less about strict design rules and more about proportion, storage, material and how you use your bedroom. Whether you are furnishing a compact room or choosing a pair to sit alongside a Pedersen + Lennard bed, the best bedside table should feel useful, well made and pleasant to live with over time.

 

START WITH THE HEIGHT OF YOUR BED

A bedside table should be easy to reach from bed. As a general guide, choose one that sits close to the height of your mattress, or just slightly lower. This makes it comfortable to reach for a lamp switch, book or glass of water without stretching.

The height of your bed base, mattress and headboard will affect what feels right. A lower bed may work with a compact side table, while a taller bed or more substantial headboard may need a bedside table with more presence. When pairing with a Pedersen + Lennard bed, bed base or wall-mounted headboard, the bedside table should feel connected to the bed, but not overpowered by it.

 

 

Escarpment Bed Base with Escarpment Rattan Headboard | Tulbagh Side Table in Oak Natural Oil

 

THINK IN PAIRS

A pair of bedside tables brings symmetry to a bedroom and helps frame the bed. Matching bedside tables create a calm, balanced look, while different pieces can work if they share something in common, such as timber tone, scale, material or shape.

 

 

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO STORE?

Before choosing a bedside table, think about what usually ends up beside your bed. Some people need only a lamp and a book. Others need space for chargers, glasses, medication, notebooks, cables and the private clutter of daily life.

For a tidier setup, a drawer is useful. The 1887 Bedside Table offers closed storage and comes in two sizes, making it a strong choice for anyone who prefers to keep smaller items out of sight. The 1887 All Timber Bedside Table offers similar order, with the warmth of all-timber construction.

For a lighter option, the Tulbagh Side Table offers an open alternative. With its all-timber form and lower shelf, it works well beside a bed, in a reading corner or in a living area.

 

 

1887 Bedside Table in Ivory and Oak Natural Oil

 

MATCH THE STYLE TO THE ROOM

Not every bedside table needs to solve the same problem. In some bedrooms, the right choice is a solid storage piece. In others, a lighter table or floating option may make more sense.

For generous storage, the 1887 Bedside Table, 1887 All Timber Bedside Table or 1887 Bedside Cabinet can help keep the bedside area organised. For a lighter look, the Tulbagh Side Table, Firenze Bedside Table or Escarpment Floating Bedside Table offers surface space without adding too much visual weight.

For a more contemporary bedroom, the Mason Bedside Table introduces colour and a graphic front, while the Escarpment Bedside Table offers a simple all-timber option that can move easily between rooms.

 

 

Escarpment Floating Bedside Table in Oak Natural and Oak Pure Oil

 

 

CONSIDER THE SIZE OF THE ROOM

A bedside table should suit the scale of the bedroom. In a smaller room, a piece with a lighter footprint can help the space feel less crowded. A floating bedside table can also keep the floor clear. In a larger bedroom, a more substantial bedside table can help the bed feel grounded. A wider bedside table gives you more room for a lamp, books and small objects, while a narrower option may be better when the bed is close to a wall.

 

 

CHOOSE YOUR TIMBER FINISH WITH INTENTION

Timber finish has a big effect on the atmosphere of a bedroom. It can make a room feel lighter, warmer, richer or more grounded. Natural oil is a soft, neutral finish that works well where you want timber to feel clean and light without becoming too pale. Pure oil gives solid oak a warmer, brighter finish with a caramel undertone. Coffee oil has a deeper tone that can bring warmth and contrast to a bedroom.

There is no need for every timber finish in the room to match perfectly. An Escarpment Bed in Natural Oil can sit beautifully alongside Tulbagh Bedside Tables in Coffee Oil and an Atlas Lamp in Pure Oil because the pieces share a design language, even when their finishes differ.

For more guidance, our Go With the Grain: Our Timber Finish Guide is a helpful resource for comparing finishes and understanding how each one changes the mood of a piece.

 

 

 

Mason Bedside Table in Oak Pure and Oak Natural Oil

 

LAYER WITH LIGHTING 

A bedside table and lamp should be considered together. The table gives the lamp its place, while the lamp gives the bedside area its atmosphere.

When choosing a lamp, consider the height of the headboard, the scale of the bedside table and the kind of mood you want. The Atlas Lamp, Strata Table Lamp and Iso Lamp each offer a different bedside presence. If you are choosing a bedside table first, leave enough surface area for a lamp, a book and one or two essentials.

 

 

 

Escarpment Bedside Table in Oak Natural and Oak Pure Oil

 

 

COMPLETE THE ROOM

A bedside table sits within a larger bedroom arrangement, alongside the bed, headboard, lighting and storage. Pedersen + Lennard’s Escarpment Bed, Escarpment Bed Base and Escarpment Wall Mounted Headboards make natural companions to the bedside table collection. A chest of drawers, dressing table or Tulbagh Ladder can add structure as the room evolves.

 

A FINAL WORD ON CHOOSING WELL

When choosing a bedside table, start with the basics: height, size, storage and finish. From there, think about how the piece will sit with your bed, lamp, timber tones and the objects you use every day.

The right bedside table should make the bedroom feel complete – visually and practically. It should hold what you need, sit comfortably beside the bed and become part of the rhythm of the room over time.

 

 

 

Escarpment Bed Base with Escarpment Rattan Headboard | Tulbagh Side Table in Oak Natural Oil