Styling your nightstand for a good night's sleep

Is your nightstand the messiest corner of the room? Well, its bound to be. I, for one, have 19 objects by my bedside, some of them as random as a candle snuffer and a manicure kit.

So how do you keep these things within arm’s reach and still make your bedside table look like a million bucks?

Follow these simple steps. They can be replicated for any other side table in the house as well.

1. First things first, filter out all the unwanted stuff, on the table as well as inside the drawers.

As Marie Kondo advises, keep only the things that spark joy. (But yes, some of us are big hoarders and cant seem to throw out un-worn out possessions.) Separate the things that you definitely need at your bedside and move the rest to another part of your closet.

2. To keep the drawer looking neat and clean, add a liner. Plastic liners are popular, inexpensive and easily available.

Pro-tip: Use left-over upholstery fabric as a liner. It is thick enough to stay in place, comes at zero additional cost to you and also gives a soft textured feeling.

3. Next step separators! This is the most important aspect of creating space and maintaining order. Separators can be in the form of open boxes, trays, baskets or a combination of these.

Pro-tip: Estimate the height and width of the compartment. If it’s a tall compartment, use layered storage.

4. Segregate all your things using a separating factor of use i.e how often you need a particular item. Start placing them within the boxes/trays.

Super-pro tip: Bottom to up, back to front type approach. Start with the least used items, placing them in the bottom drawer towards the back. For the next set of things, use the bottom drawer front side, moving on to the top drawer back side and finally the most used items in the front side.

This is an effective and simple trick to use. It encourages efficient utility and maximum orderliness.

If you don’t have drawers under the table, use a large storage box, something that looks nice. Once again, use separators within the basket to section out things.

Coming to the top of your table. The aim is to have 2 or maximum 3 objects placed at the top.

5. Select a colour scheme for your table top display. Add a mat that fits into the colour scheme. This will keep your table top clean and help avoid scratches on the surface top.

Hopefully, you would have tucked away most of the items into the storage below. If you have more, place them in a a basket or a tray. Preferably, use something with an easily-openable lid. This will hide the display of these multiple, small items.

6. If you need multiple charging points by your bed, use a wire organizer like a wire bin. These are usually available in white, black and chocolate brown colours. Select one depending on your colour scheme.

7. Add one utility-cum-decorative piece like a lamp or a candle. Diffused lighting is a great way to set a cool-down ambiance at the end of the day.

8. And finally, add a plant. This could be a small succulent or anything with compact foliage. Avoid using creeper like hanging plants. Alternatively, place artificial flowers in a pretty planter. Use a planter which adds to the colour scheme. To elevate it, place 2-3 books underneath the planter.

Is your bed side table looking infinitely better now?

I would love to see what you have done with it. Feel free to share pictures or even ask for personalized tips.