One of the most common questions we receive at BedsideTables.au is: "Does my bedside table need to match my other furniture?" The short answer is no—but the longer answer involves understanding the principles of coordination, contrast, and cohesion that make bedroom design work.
In this guide, we'll explore the different approaches to matching bedroom furniture, from perfectly coordinated suites to thoughtfully curated eclectic looks. Whether you're starting fresh or trying to integrate a new bedside table into an existing space, these principles will help you create a bedroom that looks intentional and harmonious.
The Spectrum of Coordination
When it comes to matching bedroom furniture, there's a spectrum of approaches, each with its own merits and challenges.
The Complete Suite Approach
At one end of the spectrum is the matching bedroom suite—a bed, nightstands, dresser, and perhaps a tallboy, all from the same collection. This approach guarantees cohesion since every piece was designed to go together. The woods match perfectly, the proportions are balanced, and the style is consistent throughout.
The advantages are obvious: you don't have to think about whether pieces work together—they just do. This approach works particularly well for those who prefer a streamlined, hotel-like aesthetic or who find decision-making about decor stressful.
However, complete suites can feel somewhat predictable and may lack the personality that comes from a more curated approach. They can also be more expensive upfront, and if you tire of the style, replacing everything at once is costly.
The Coordinated-but-Not-Matching Approach
A middle-ground approach involves selecting furniture that coordinates without being identical. Pieces might share a common element—the same wood tone, similar lines, or complementary colours—while differing in other respects. This creates visual cohesion while allowing for more personality and interest.
The One-Thing-In-Common Rule
For furniture pieces to feel like they belong together, they typically need at least one unifying element: the same wood tone, matching metal hardware, similar silhouettes, or complementary colours. This single thread of connection creates enough cohesion for the eye to accept different pieces as part of a harmonious whole.
The Curated Eclectic Approach
At the other end of the spectrum is the deliberately eclectic bedroom, where pieces from different eras, styles, and sources come together. Done well, this approach creates a collected, personal feel that suggests the room has evolved over time. Done poorly, it can look chaotic and disjointed.
The key to successful eclectic styling is intentionality. Rather than randomly mixing pieces, create connections through colour, scale, or theme. A mid-century bedside table might sit alongside a contemporary bed frame if both share clean lines and similar wood tones.
Principles of Furniture Coordination
Wood Tones and Finishes
One of the most important factors in furniture matching is wood tone. When wood tones clash, the room feels disjointed. When they complement each other, even different styles can coexist peacefully.
Woods generally fall into warm or cool categories. Warm woods include oak, pine, cherry, and walnut with golden or red undertones. Cool woods include ash, some maples, and grey-washed or whitewashed finishes. While you can certainly mix warm and cool woods, it requires careful attention to prevent the space from feeling confused.
Wood Mixing Guidelines
- Safest: Stick to one wood tone throughout
- Easy: Mix light and dark variations of the same undertone
- Advanced: Mix warm and cool woods with neutral buffers
- Grounding: Use a neutral (white, black, grey) to unify disparate woods
Style and Era
Mixing furniture styles can add interest and personality, but some combinations work better than others. Generally, styles that share underlying principles work well together. Mid-century modern and Scandinavian pieces both emphasise clean lines and functionality. Traditional and French provincial both feature ornate details and curved forms.
More challenging—but certainly possible—is mixing very different styles, like a rustic farmhouse bed with sleek contemporary nightstands. The key is finding some element of connection, whether that's matching metal hardware, similar colour palettes, or consistent scale.
Scale and Proportion
Even when colours and styles coordinate, furniture that's mismatched in scale can feel wrong. A delicate, petite bedside table will look lost next to a massive, chunky bed frame. Conversely, a substantial nightstand can overwhelm a low-profile, minimalist bed.
When selecting bedroom furniture, consider the visual weight of each piece. Heavier pieces (larger, darker, more ornate) should balance with each other, while lighter pieces (smaller, simpler, airier) do the same. The goal is overall equilibrium rather than perfect matching.
Matching Your Bedside Table to Your Bed
The relationship between your bedside table and bed is the most important coordination to get right, since these pieces sit in such close proximity.
Height Coordination
As we discuss in our height guide, your nightstand should be within 5-10cm of your mattress top. But beyond functionality, the visual relationship matters too. A nightstand that's significantly taller than your mattress draws the eye upward, while one that's lower creates a sleeker profile.
Style Relationship
Your nightstand doesn't need to match your bed exactly, but it should feel like a natural companion. If your bed frame features clean, straight lines, a nightstand with similarly geometric forms will coordinate well. If your bed has curved elements or carved details, echo these in your nightstand choice.
Material Relationships
Consider the materials in your bed frame when selecting nightstands. A timber bed frame pairs naturally with timber nightstands (in complementary tones) or with metal and glass for interesting contrast. An upholstered bed allows more flexibility in nightstand selection since the fabric serves as a neutral backdrop.
When Mismatching Works
Sometimes, deliberately mismatching pieces creates a more interesting and personal space than perfect coordination.
Different Nightstands on Each Side
Having different bedside tables on each side of the bed has become increasingly popular. This can reflect each partner's different preferences and needs—perhaps one person needs drawer storage while the other prefers an open shelf for stacking books. It can also be a practical solution when you find one nightstand you love but can't source two.
For mismatched nightstands to work, maintain some elements of cohesion. Keep the heights similar, ensure the overall scale is balanced, and connect them through a shared colour, material, or style element. For instance, two completely different tables might both feature brass hardware or similar-toned timber tops.
Statement Pieces
Sometimes a piece is so beautiful or meaningful that it deserves to stand out rather than blend in. A vintage nightstand inherited from a grandparent, an artisan piece from your travels, or a designer item you've always admired can serve as a focal point even if it doesn't perfectly match the surrounding furniture.
When featuring a statement piece, give it visual breathing room. Keep surrounding items simple and let the special piece shine. Use colour or material echoes elsewhere in the room to connect the statement piece to the overall design.
Practical Coordination Tips
Take Photos and Samples
When shopping for a new bedside table to match existing furniture, take clear photos of your current pieces in natural light. Note the specific wood tone, any undertones (red, yellow, grey), and the style details. If possible, take fabric or finish samples with you when shopping.
Consider the Whole Room
Don't focus solely on matching furniture pieces to each other—consider how everything works within the room as a whole. Wall colour, flooring, window treatments, and bedding all play into the overall coordination. A bedside table that seems to clash with your bed might actually work perfectly when the rest of the room ties everything together.
Trust Your Eye
Ultimately, the best test of whether pieces work together is visual. If a combination looks right to you, it probably is right—regardless of whether it follows conventional matching rules. Interior design is as much art as science, and your personal aesthetic preferences matter.
Final Thoughts
There's no single correct approach to matching bedroom furniture. A perfectly coordinated suite can be just as beautiful as a thoughtfully curated mix of pieces. What matters most is that your bedroom feels intentional, balanced, and true to your personal style.
If you're unsure, start with pieces that share at least one connecting element—similar wood tones, complementary styles, or matching hardware. As your confidence grows, you can experiment with bolder combinations. Remember that your bedroom should be a space that makes you happy, so let your personal preferences guide your choices.