Is a Bedroom Set with Bedside Tables Right for Your Home? Here’s How to Decide

A bedroom set that includes bedside tables is the right choice when you have at least 400mm of clear floor beside the bed, when you want the pieces to match in height and finish, and when you would otherwise end up buying bedside storage separately anyway. If the room is too narrow for anything beside the bed, or if your bed is an unusual height, buying the tables separately gives you more control.

Bedside tables look like a minor decision and behave like a significant one, because they are used every single day and because their height has to relate to the mattress rather than to the rest of the furniture. Here is how to work out which route suits your room.

The measurement that decides it

Before anything else, measure the clear floor between the side of the bed and the nearest wall or obstacle. Then subtract the walking space you need.

A bedside table needs a minimum of about 350mm to 400mm of width to be useful, and you still need roughly 600mm of walking space beside the bed. If the gap between bed and wall is under a metre, a conventional bedside table will make the route awkward.

In that situation there are good alternatives: a wall mounted shelf, a narrow floating unit, a slim console at the head of the bed or a shallow bookcase turned to face outwards. None of these come as part of a standard set, which is one of the clearest reasons to buy separately.

Also measure the height from the floor to the top of the mattress. This number, not the bed frame height, is what a bedside table should relate to.

Why height matters more than anything else

A bedside table should sit level with the top of the mattress or slightly above it, within about 50mm either way. Too low and you reach down awkwardly for a glass of water in the dark. Too high and the surface sits in your eyeline when lying down, which feels oppressive in a small room.

Here is where sets have a real advantage: a collection designed together will normally pair the bed and the bedside cabinet at compatible heights. When you buy separately you have to do this arithmetic yourself.

The complication is mattress depth. A deep pocket sprung mattress or a mattress plus topper can add 300mm or more above the frame. A divan base with a thick mattress can put the sleeping surface far higher than a low wooden frame with a thin mattress. If you use a deep mattress, check the set specification for mattress height assumptions, or expect to need a taller cabinet than the one supplied.

Our modern bedside cabinets UK sale listings give exact heights, which makes it straightforward to check against your own mattress before ordering.

The case for buying the set

Sets that include bedside tables have several practical advantages beyond convenience.

Finishes match exactly, because the pieces come from the same production run. This matters most with natural timber, where batch variation is real and where a piece bought a year later may be noticeably different in tone.

Proportions are related. Designers size the bedside cabinet against the chest and wardrobe, so drawer depths, plinth heights and edge details align. Separately bought pieces can each be attractive and still look unrelated in the same room.

Cost is usually lower than the same pieces bought individually. If you need the bedside tables regardless, the set is the more efficient purchase.

Symmetry is easier to achieve. Many sets offer a matching pair, which is what most people want either side of a double bed. Sourcing two identical cabinets later is harder than it sounds once a range has been discontinued.

The case for buying them separately

Separate purchase gives flexibility in three situations.

First, awkward room dimensions. If only one side of the bed has space, or if the two sides have different widths, a matched pair may not fit. Buying one cabinet and one wall shelf is a sensible asymmetric solution that a set cannot provide.

Second, unusual bed heights. If your mattress sits particularly high or low, the cabinet supplied with a set may be the wrong height, and you are better selecting one to match.

Third, deliberate contrast. Some of the most interesting bedrooms pair plain fitted storage with bedside pieces in a contrasting material: a metal frame, a marble top, a painted finish against timber. This only works when the contrast is clear rather than approximate.

There is also a budget argument. Buying a bed and chest now and adding bedside pieces later spreads the cost, provided you note the exact collection name so you can match it.

One table or two?

For a shared bed, two is almost always better. Each person gets a surface, a lamp and somewhere for a phone, and the arrangement looks balanced. Symmetry either side of a bed is one of the reliable ways to make a bedroom feel calm.

For a single sleeper or a room where one side of the bed is against a wall, one is enough. If one side is left bare and the room looks unbalanced, a low stool, a plant stand or a floor lamp restores the visual weight without taking drawer space.

In children’s rooms and guest rooms, one is usually sufficient and leaves more floor clear for other uses.

Drawer or open shelf?

A drawer hides everything, which suits people who want a clear surface and a tidy room. It is also the better choice if you keep medication, chargers or anything you would rather not display.

An open shelf keeps items visible and reachable, which suits readers and anyone who dislikes opening a drawer in the dark. Open shelves are also shallower in feel, which helps in a small room, though they do require tidiness.

A combination of one drawer above and an open shelf below is the most versatile configuration and the most common for a reason.

Whichever you choose, check the top surface area. A cabinet top under about 300mm by 300mm struggles to hold a lamp, a book and a glass at the same time, which is the actual job it exists to do.

Practical details worth checking

Socket access is the most commonly overlooked. If the nearest socket is behind the bed, a bedside cabinet with a rear cut out or an open back makes charging cables far tidier. Otherwise plan for a cable running across the floor, which nobody enjoys.

Stability matters if the cabinet is narrow and tall. A slim unit with a heavy lamp on top can be knocked easily, particularly in a child’s room.

Drawer runners should be smooth and quiet. A bedside drawer opened at night in a shared room is a genuine consideration, and soft close runners are worth having here more than anywhere else in the house.

Finally, think about how the piece relates to the bed frame. An upholstered bed with a wide surround needs the cabinet to sit clear of the frame, which can push it further from your reach than expected. Check the frame width, not just the mattress width, before deciding. You can compare frame dimensions across our fabric beds UK sale range, where overall footprint is listed alongside mattress size.

Making the decision

If your room has clear space either side of the bed, you want a coherent look and you need bedside storage anyway, buy the set. If the room is awkward, your mattress is unusually deep or you want a contrasting look, buy the bedside pieces separately and match the height yourself.

Either way, measure the mattress top height and the clear floor width before you order anything. Those two numbers resolve most bedside questions before they become problems. Full dimensions are listed on every product page at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

How high should a bedside table be?

Level with the top of the mattress or up to 50mm above it. Measure to the mattress surface rather than to the bed frame, since mattress depth varies considerably.

How much space does a bedside table need?

At least 350mm to 400mm of width, plus around 600mm of walking space beside the bed. If the total gap is under a metre, consider a wall mounted shelf instead.

Do bedside tables have to match the bed?

Not necessarily, but they should match each other if you have two. Matching the bed gives a calm coherent room; a clear deliberate contrast also works. An approximate match is the option that tends to look unresolved.

Should I choose a drawer or an open shelf?

A drawer suits tidy surfaces and hidden items. An open shelf suits readers and quick access. One drawer above an open shelf is the most flexible arrangement.

Is it cheaper to buy bedside tables as part of a set?

Usually, yes, if you need them regardless. Buying separately makes sense when the room is awkward, the bed height is unusual or you want a contrasting material.