Shopping edit – 8 best bedside tables for a bedroom update

The humble bedside table is a busy piece of bedroom furniture as it provides perching space for lighting, an alarm clock and reading matter *ahem* your Ideal Home magazine. Not only that, but the majority of bedside tables include storage space for hiding items you really don't want on show, such as wires, medications, receipts and other bits and bobs. With lots of great options now available, beside table storage stretches from drawers (whether one, two or even three), to shelves or cupboards – for more substantial storage space. You can shop bedside tables to suit your bedroom size and bed height, to make sure this new piece of furniture blends in with the rest of your decor, instantly.

Related: Bedroom storage ideas to declutter and make the most of your space

Whether your current bedside tables are looking a tad worse for wear, or you want to give your bedroom a slight update but you are on a budget, replacing your bedside table(s) is a smart idea. Mostly because this piece of furniture is probably the cheapest in your bedroom, therefore it won't cost you an arm and a leg to do so – unlike when it comes to replacing a bed frame or chest of drawers. We've handpicked all of the top bedside tables we could find online at the moment, from black bedside tables to small bedside tables, floating bedside tables and even slim bedside tables for space-savvy bedrooms. See our fave finds.

The best bedside tables

Made's Louis Bedside Table is one-of-a-kind, not just because of its contrasting front and uniquely shaped black metal legs, but because it's perfect for modern or mid-century style bedrooms or guest rooms. With a recessed handle, it offers space for your reading material, tablet or laptop to sit, as well as a spacious drawer for hiding your important stuff. You can also get a matching chest of drawers if you want to complete the entire set.

Buy now: Made Louis Bedside Table, £199, MADE

How cute is this bedside table from La Redoute? It's available in a grey-green colour or in white, while it boasts clean lines for a delicate finish. We say pop this bedside table in a teen girls' room – or inside a guest bedroom that's small in size as they are nice and compact. With a rounded top and a decorative beaded design on the drawer, this bedside table may be simple but it will definitely add something to a bedroom. With a slim drawer and a shelf for books and more, it sits on long solid wood legs to sit at the perfect height for your bedside.

Buy now: La Redoute Perle Bedside Table, £110, La Redoute

A favourite of ours and our actual bedside tables we own, these floating bedside tables are space-savvy and super affordable – not to mention they come in five different finishes. They're ideal for smaller bedrooms, while they offer both a drawer and a handy shelf. Use the shelf to pop your Ideal Home magazine or any other reading material atop, and hide your eyesore items, from your night cream to your medications, in the drawer with ease. The drawers are handleless for a sleek look. A modern, solid buy that's budget-friendly and ideal for teeny bedrooms.

Buy now: 17 Stories 1 Drawer Bedside Table, £57.99

We're seriously impressed by this Dunelm bedside table. The Anya Bedside Table is attractive and it makes good use of space, with a large drawer and a deep shelf. It sits on brass angled legs with a brass handle, and the rest of it is made of solid mango wood to stand the test of time. Completed with carved detailing on the drawer, it will be sure to add some texture to an otherwise simple bedroom. We say to pop it in a neutral space to make a statement.

 Buy now: Anya Bedside Table, £169, Dunelm

If you are buying just one bedside table, or you are attempting to squeeze a bedside table into a very tight space, then this rounded beauty might just be what you've been looking for. With an elegant marble top, a compact drawer and a shelf for your reading material or slippers to live, the Mini Marmo is versatile in the way it can be used as a bedside table or a side table. It's perfect for popping next to a sofa bed, as it whether folded away or with a sleeping person beside it, it will always look the part in your home. It's made of solid oak though is impressively lightweight, with vintage bronze handles and an easy to clean top (very important!).

 Buy now: Loaf Mini Marmo, £295, Loaf

This bargain buy from Habitat, the Mornington Rattan 1 Drawer Bedside Table, should be double or triple the price for what it looks like. Ideal for boho homes or those who just love a bit of rattan, it has one slim drawer and a shelf with a lot of room above it. We suggest storing your essentials in the drawer and using the shelf for a potted plant to live. Not just pretty but practical, too, this bedside table is made of FSC certified timber, while it even has soft-close drawers. We're obsessed and can't quite believe they're not yet sold out.

Buy now: Habitat Mornington Rattan 1 Drawer Bedside Table, £85, Habitat

The stylish Studio Bedside Table from Cox & Cox is the perfect mix of minimalist meets Scandi. With black metal legs, a wooden drawer and a simple handle, it's the perfect fuss-free bedside table. There's a matching cabinet available, also.

 Buy now: Cox & Cox Studio Bedside Table, £195, Cox & Cox

Available in four different colours from light mocha to white, anthracite and oak, this wide bedside table is a steal for the price tag. It boasts a deep, sizeable cupboard as well as a handy shelf and a top that could fit a lamp, potted plant and more atop. With a sleek metal frame and a glossy finish, it's ideal for modern bedrooms. The cupboard's door opens towards the floor with a pull of the sleek black handle.

Buy now: Hykkon Ronnie Bedside Table, £109.99, Wayfair

Where to buy a bedside table?

Still searching for a bedside table that you can buy online? Here's where else to shop for stylish bedside tables. Click through to see lots of options.

• Dunelm bedside tables
• Wayfair bedside tables
• Made.com bedside tables
• Habitat bedside tables
• Argos bedside tables
• The Range bedside tables
• John Lewis & Partners bedside tables

Do bedside tables have to match?

There's no right or wrong answer, it's ultimately a matter of personal taste. It's just that a pair is a more traditional approach to bedside tables – but that doesn't mean it's the only way.

a matching pair is favourable because it makes more of a star of a central bed, bringing order and balance to a decorating scheme. It helps to align the symmetry of the room, which can help to give the space a better sense of purpose. But if you are short on space, you might not have the room to accommodate two – in which case one is sufficient.

Perhaps your lifestyle choices means you don't require two, so don't feel because the 'rules' suggest you have to buy a pair – in this instance, it could be a complete waste of money.

Bedside tables are now more commonly sold as individual pieces of furniture, rather than as a pair or in complete furniture sets – as was the case in days gone by. Being sold as a stand alone piece allows shoppers the freedom to tailor their bedroom decor specifically to their needs.

If opting for a matching pair you could keep the look cohesive with matching wardrobes and chests of drawers for full-on coordination. Alternatively, you could go for mismatching for a more relaxed feel.

What if you don't have the room for a bedside table?

Mix things up with a wall-mounted bedside table design. These modern designs free up floor space and make even the smallest of bedrooms feel more spacious and well thought out. A simple wall-mounted design provides a plinth for bedtime essentials, without taking up valuable space.