The Nightstand

I love it when attention is paid to detail. I recently completed re-decorating a bedroom for a client of mine. (When the window treatments are hung I will photograph it for you.) Her new bedroom set had nice large nightstands that we very diliberatly decorated. Do you want a beautiful nightstand? Let me give you some of the same ideas that I gave to her.

• Purchase appropriate sized lamps. I would say that the most common mistake is buying lamps that are too small. Do you need a good lamp source? I really like Uttermost.
• When you are laying in bed, your head should be BENEATH the rim of the shade; 36 inches or so is usually a good height.
• Your lamps should be a good proportion to your bed. So, king-sized beds require larger lamps than full size beds. They should also be a good proportion to your nightstand (which in turn should be a good proportion to the bed :).
• Find a beautiful alarm clock. The photo above would not be the same with a $15 digital alarm clock radio from Target. Williams Sonoma Home has some lovely contemporary ones. Timeworks has some great traditional ones. Keep your eye out at gift shops. They are not everywhere- but it is fun to have something to search for, right?
• Make covers for the books you have out. (In a nice paper- that coordinates with your room.) Necessary, no- this is just an idea. It gives the nightstand a clean uncluttered look. Books can be a great tool to make things the right height. I use them all the time. Imagine the nightstand in the photo above without the books. The flowers would be too small and too short. If the flowers were larger, the designer might have used two books instead of three. Books are very helpful. I like to keep nicely covered books as "tools" on the nightstand, and the actual books I am reading "in" the nightstand.
• Carefully select a couple of well-chosen accessories. Picture frames, a plant of some sort, a beautiful box. I am a big box fan, as they can also help to hold your hand cream, or whatever else you like to keep on your nightstand.
• Have your accessories at varying heights, again kept in good proportion to your lamp and table.
• Be careful to have it not too cluttered - keep it simple and clean.

There- I just gave you a Saturday project. Now take a before and after photo, and show us how you did your own "extreme nightstand makeover"!

Thanks to Veranda 2008 for the photo. Designer: Deborah T. Lipner

Comments

[Yvonne]

Thanks! I am in desperate need of new lamps and your directions will certainly help me find the right ones. As for the nightstand makeover.. I would have to only send you a pic of MINE... my husband will NOT keep his clutter free!!! I even made sure that he has a drawer AND a shelf beneath, but those are full AND the space UNDERNEATH and now..the top...
I love him, but he does NOT get it!

[Christine]

Yvonne,
My sympathies are with you; as I am sure many other's are. I am afraid very few husbands "get it." I would love to see a picture! I can include it in this post. That would be great!
- Christine

[Michal]

you so nailed me with the alarm clock from target. and i'm pretty sure that my garage sale lamp is much too big for the nightstand i have, although it is the right height! sounds like i've got some work to do.