Should A Bedside Table Be Higher Or Lower Than A Mattress?

Now, let's talk about positioning, shall we? One of the most common mistakes I see (and I made this myself in my first flat) is pushing bedside tables right up against the bed frame. Whilst it might seem logical to maximise floor space, this actually creates several problems.

Your bedside tables should sit approximately 5-8cm away from your bed frame. This breathing room serves multiple purposes - it prevents your duvet from getting caught when you're making the bed, allows for proper air circulation, and makes cleaning infinitely easier. Trust me, you'll thank yourself when you're not wrestling with tangled bedding every morning!

Think of it as personal space for your furniture. Rather like how we need a bit of elbow room at a dinner party, your bed and bedside tables function better with a touch of separation.

I once had a client who insisted on having her vintage oak bedside tables flush against her upholstered bed frame. Within weeks, she noticed fabric pilling where the wood rubbed against the headboard. A simple 7cm gap solved everything - and suddenly her bedroom felt more spacious too.

The gap also provides practical benefits for modern living. Phone chargers, bedside lamps, and alarm clocks all need cable access, and that small space becomes your secret cable management solution.

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Matching your bedside table with your bed goes far beyond just getting the height right - it's about creating visual harmony that makes your bedroom feel cohesive and thoughtfully designed.

Start with proportion. A king-size bed demands substantial bedside tables, whilst a delicate single bed would be overwhelmed by chunky nightstands. I generally recommend bedside tables that are about one-third to two-thirds the width of your headboard. Any wider and they'll dominate the space; any narrower and they'll look rather like afterthoughts.

Style coordination doesn't mean everything must match perfectly (this isn't a furniture showroom!). In fact, some of my favourite bedroom designs mix materials beautifully. Picture this: a upholstered linen headboard paired with warm oak bedside tables, or a sleek metal bed frame complemented by marble-topped nightstands. The key is finding a common thread - perhaps it's the colour temperature, the finish, or the overall design era.

Consider the visual weight too. A heavy wooden bed frame pairs beautifully with similarly substantial bedside tables, whilst an airy metal frame might call for something with legs to maintain that sense of lightness. I once helped a client who had a gorgeous reclaimed wood bed frame but insisted on using glass bedside tables - the contrast was jarring until we found wooden tables with glass inserts that bridged both styles perfectly.

Don't forget about drawer depth and storage needs. If your bed has built-in storage, you might opt for simpler bedside tables. Conversely, a minimalist platform bed might benefit from bedside tables with ample drawer space.

Remember, the goal isn't matchy-matchy perfection - it's intentional coordination that feels effortless.

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Darling, whether you're a devoted feng shui follower or simply curious about ancient wisdom, there's fascinating guidance about bedside table placement that actually makes brilliant design sense.

According to feng shui principles, bedside tables should be paired and balanced - one on each side of the bed - to promote harmony in relationships and create energetic equilibrium in your sleeping space. The philosophy suggests that mismatched heights or having only one bedside table can create imbalance in your life (and honestly, it does look rather awkward).

Feng shui masters recommend keeping bedside tables at mattress height or slightly lower, never higher. This maintains the bed as the dominant feature in your bedroom whilst ensuring easy access to your nighttime essentials. The practice also emphasises rounded edges over sharp corners - something I've always advocated for safety reasons anyway, especially after bruising my hip on a particularly vicious corner during a midnight water run!

Here's where it gets interesting: feng shui suggests keeping bedside table surfaces relatively clear, with only essential items like a lamp, perhaps a small plant, and one book. This minimalist approach reduces mental clutter and promotes restful sleep. I've tried this myself, and there's something remarkably calming about a clutter-free nightstand.

The colour and material of your bedside tables matter too in feng shui. Wooden tables are preferred for their grounding energy, whilst metal can be too "active" for a restful bedroom environment.