In the evening, you put down a book, reach for a glass of water and do not want to feel around blindly for it. A bedside table should have its top level with the top edge of the mattress or at most 5 cm higher, so you can comfortably put down your phone, glasses and lamp without raising your arm.
Choosing a table beside the bed starts not with colour, but with everyday movements: whether you read in bed, keep medicines nearby or need a drawer for a charger. Only then match the height, width and finish to the bed frame, headboard and flooring.
If you are just furnishing your bedroom, first look at beds and mattresses, then choose a bedside table to suit them. This order makes the decision easier, because the mattress height and headboard character determine the proportions beside the bed.
Height: a bedside table for an upholstered bed
The simplest rule is to measure from the floor to the top edge of the mattress and look for a top at the same level or up to 5 cm higher. If the top is more than a few centimetres lower, putting things down becomes uncomfortable, especially with a high mattress and soft frame.
A bedside table that is too low looks light, but in practice forces you to lean out of bed. One that is too high can obscure the line of the upholstered side and dominate beside a low headboard. With an upholstered bed, therefore, treat the mattress height as a reference point rather than a loose suggestion.
In a bedroom with a Mono or Modo bed, it is worth checking the final height with the mattress in place, not just the frame height. The mattress changes the furniture's proportions more than the table colour does, so measure the complete bed before ordering bedside tables.
Situation beside the bed |
Tabletop height |
Effect in everyday use
|
|---|---|---|
Mattress at a height of 50 cm |
50–55 cm |
Comfortable access to water, a phone and a book without twisting your torso |
Mattress at a height of 60 cm |
60–65 cm |
Good proportions beside a higher upholstered bed and soft headboard |
Top 10 cm lower than the mattress |
Around 40–50 cm beside a high bed |
The piece looks subtle, but is less comfortable for frequent reaching |
Top more than 10 cm higher than the mattress |
Above the recommended level |
May overwhelm the side of the bed and get in the way of a lamp or cables |
Style and proportions
In the morning, when you place a mug of water beside the bed and open the curtains, you see the bedroom up close. This is when small differences in proportion are clearest: a substantial table beside a light frame looks heavy, while a very delicate one beside a wide bed can disappear.
Calm forms with simple lines and without excessive detail suit upholstered beds. An upholstered headboard is a soft accent in itself, so the table can bring order to the composition: a level top, a clearly defined form and an oak finish will create a sense of cohesion.
Pay attention to width. A narrower table is often enough beside a single bed, but for a double bed choose two pieces of a similar scale, even if only one person uses the drawer. Symmetry on both sides of the bed quietens the arrangement and makes the bedroom look calmer.
Not every layout needs two identical tables. If you have a wall or limited space on one side, you can place a fuller piece on one side and leave a light top or simply open space on the other. This solution will not work, however, if you both read in the evening and need your own lamp, charger and somewhere for small items.
Materials and details
When choosing, pay attention to four elements: the bed fabric, headboard filling, frame construction and the wood finish of the table. In the Mono and Modo models, the upholstered form creates a soft foreground, so oak-toned wood brings order to the whole and adds a natural rhythm to the interior.
Assess the fabric in your own lighting, because the same surface looks different in the morning, evening and bedside lamplight. At IWC HOME, you can order free fabric samples using the form on the website and view them at home beside the flooring, curtains and oak finish. This helps avoid an accidental pairing of cool-toned upholstery with warm wood.
The headboard filling matters in practical terms. If you often sit leaning against the bed, a soft headboard works together with the table both visually and functionally: the top should not cut into the line of the cushion or project too high. Ask an adviser about the details of the specific configuration, especially when pairing the bed with a high mattress.
The table construction should suit what you keep beside the bed. A drawer hides chargers, a notebook and small accessories, but needs room to pull out. An open shelf looks lighter, but shows clutter sooner, so it works for people who keep only a few things beside the bed.
If you want a consistent material language in the bedroom, coordinate the oak finish with the table and bed frame, then check the available beds and mattresses in a similar style. The same fabrics and wood finishes across different pieces help create a cohesive whole rather than unrelated elements.
Layout beside the bed
Before choosing a specific model, measure the wall behind the bed and the passages at its sides. Leave at least 60 cm of unobstructed passage space between the side of the bed and the wall, wardrobe or another fixed element. If the bedroom is narrow, it is better to choose a smaller table than to block everyday movement.
The top should be wide enough to hold a lamp, book and glass, but does not need to occupy all the space beside the bed. In practice, what matters is not only the width of the piece, but also whether the drawer opens without hitting the rug, door or radiator.
In the evening, when one person is already asleep and the other puts their phone down to charge, you will appreciate a stable top and quiet closing. Position the table so that the cable does not cross the place where you put your foot when getting out of bed. This is a small detail, but it improves comfort every morning.
Beside a large bed, avoid overly narrow pieces at the sides, as the proportions will look haphazard. In a small bedroom, on the other hand, avoid wide forms with deep drawers if opening them leaves less than 40 cm of passage space. In such a layout, comfort quickly loses out to looks.
If you are comparing different solutions, check the bedside tables category and compare the dimensions with the actual space beside your bed. Note the mattress height, width of the available space and direction in which the drawers open, and the decision will feel less hurried.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bedside table have to be level with the mattress?
It does not have to be perfectly level, but should stay close to that height. The most comfortable range is a top level with the mattress or up to 5 cm higher, because you then reach naturally for things while lying or sitting in bed.
What table width works beside a double bed?
Choose the width to suit the space on both sides of the bed and leave at least 60 cm of passage space. If placing the table and opening the drawer leaves less than 40 cm, choose a narrower model or simpler construction.
Should two bedside tables be identical?
Identical tables create the calmest effect, especially beside a wide, upholstered headboard. You can choose asymmetry, however, if one side of the bed is close to a wall or only one person needs a full drawer.
Does oak suit the Mono and Modo beds?
Oak combines well with a soft upholstered form because it warms the bedroom and brings order to the composition. With the Mono and Modo models, check a fabric sample in your own lighting, then compare it with the wood finish.
See the bedside tables and match the tabletop height to the mattress, and if you are undecided between fabrics, order free samples to view at home in your own lighting. An adviser can also help with your purchase decision on +48 530 457 457, Mon.–Sat. 8:00–20:00, while instalments and deferred payments make it easier to spread the purchase over time.