The Mistake That Can Ruin A Vintage Bedside Table's Look

Have you ever felt love at first sight with a vintage piece of home decor? If you have, then you know that refurbishing and restoring it is only half the battle. Once you've cleaned, stripped, stained, painted, and completed all other upgrade tasks, you still have to consider how you will style it. Take a vintage bedside table, for example. While it's meant to hold a variety of items, ranging from a useful lamp to small knickknacks, you don't want to overfill your antique table, lest you lose its unique design in the process. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when decorating your vintage pieces is overdoing it. When it comes to bedside tables, it's imperative to avoid this for both aesthetics and functionality. Opting for simple and understated styling is the best way to ensure your new addition really shines. 

While there is no rulebook on how to decorate your nightstand, there are things to consider before just throwing a bunch of items on the tabletop. Using vintage bedside tables introduces a more elevated aesthetic that makes an impression its own. Many antique tables feature heavy embellishments, bold colors or patterns, polished wood finishes, and unique shapes. These alone are enough to make a statement. Learning how to style your bedside table minimally lets its natural style shine while keeping it tidy and organized.

One styling technique that can devalue your antiques is a cluttered surface. This is where styling comes in. When using antique pieces, you want to play to the dramatic or bold aspects and avoid drawing attention toward only the surface. Most bedside tables benefit from a lamp. Determine the style by picking out elements from the table and pulling that through to the lamp. Whether its finding a shade with similar patterns (think florals to match floral embellishments) or pairing colors that complement one another, this is a good starting point.

If you want something to match the vintage vibe of your table without overshadowing it, consider a worn metallic lamp base in brass or gold. This will add to the antique finish without being too much. Your lampshade can be simple to allow the brushed metallic serve as the main focus. You could also opt for a plain base and a more ornate shade with tassels or a floral pattern. 

Next, you can choose the other items you want to keep on your table. A tray is a good way to group pieces while still adding dimension. Style a small tray with some books, a candle, a diffuser, or a knickknack to group three varying pieces. You could also swap one of these out for a slim vase with greenery. 

If your vintage table is simple, then you can bring in a tray that features a bold pattern or color or even a shinier finish to add dimension. Even just bringing in a glass water jug and a clean glass cup or a glass vase can act as a styled element, and the clear material also allows natural light to pass through, making the whole setup seem less cluttered. You can always swap items out, but it's ideal to start with less and add on rather than overload your vintage table. If you have two tables, one could house these items while the other could hold another matching or mismatched lamp and framed pieces for a more personalized element.

When it comes to tips to decorate your side tables, there are numerous ways to nail a clean, stylish aesthetic. Keep in mind you can alternate your items or play around with scale, too. Mainly, you want to avoid using too many small items that will make your table come across as cluttered or too many big items that will make the display feel top heavy. Small wicker baskets or similar natural materials can also create storage while boosting the look of the vintage table.