Making your Bedside Table more Stylish

Is your bedside table beautiful and inspiring when you walk into your bedroom? Does it need a few tweaks to make it more organised? Of course the size of your bedside table and the style of decorating you prefer will decide what you consider an attractive and useful arrangement. Here are some essentials you might like to include to make your night stand more stylish and functional:

Photo be Sanah Suvarna

• A lamp that suits your style: This may be functional and industrial looking, rustic or ornate or even quirky. Make sure the light is at the right height so that when you are reading in bed it is easy to see.  
• Books and/or journals: If you like to read in bed then a small pile of reading material may be essential. These can be stacked on top of each other or stood up with small weighted objects to act as bookends if you have the space.
• Something green: A pot plant, fresh flowers or faux greenery can liven up a room and bring colour and life to a bedside arrangement.
• A photograph, inspiring quote or artwork: Try to include something that is lovely to look at and makes you smile each time you see it.
• A small and attractive container or tray: This is a useful extra to hold small bits and pieces that accumulate next to the bed.
• A Scented Candle: It is always lovely to burn a candle to create a calming atmosphere before bed.
• A Clock: A charming extra that may help you keep to your morning schedule by showing the time at a glance.

Once you have decided on what you consider the essentials, you can clear away anything that might be extra clutter and then arrange what is left in a way that you find pleasing. Pinterest can be a great source of style inspiration! If you need some help on how to style your nightstand you may like to read Rachael's blog post at This is our Bliss, "Back to Basics: How to style a nightstand".

What are your nightstand essentials? Do you have any tips for styling a bedside table?

Creating an Inspiration Board

Are you feeling unmotivated when it comes to decorating a room? Or overwhelmed by the choices out there? Then an inspiration board might be the answer for you! I am hoping to create an inspiration board for our art room, which is a work in progress and often feels a bit cluttered with materials.

So what is an inspiration board (also called a mood board)? An inspiration board is a collage of images to inspire your imagination.

Why can an inspiration board be helpful? It is useful way to help to visualise ideas, especially when beginning a new project.

How do you go about making one? When creating an inspiration board, you can either make an actual physical board (see this HOUZZ article "12 Ways to Make that Inspiration Board Truly Inspiring" ) or you can create a digital version by using Pinterest or other digital media. Carrie Anton's "Inspiration in 6 Steps: A Guide to Mastering Mood Boards" discusses how to do this as well as the pros and cons of a physical versus digital form.

The following step-by-step guide outlines the process of creating a physical mood board for decorating a room:

First of all consider what items you already have in the room. Then reflect on what you would like to stay and what you need to go. It may be helpful to make a list for both categories. While you are doing this consider the purpose and functions of the room and plan sufficient furniture and storage to fulfil these needs.

Next look for inspiration in magazines and on sites such as Pinterest. Try to establish a mood, colour scheme and style that appeals to your imagination. Gather your materials as you go. In your inspiration samples you could include:

• Paint chips or colour charts
• Fabric swatches
• Wallpaper scraps
• Magazine cut outs and/or printed out photos of entire rooms, furniture pieces, accessories and soft furnishings
• A few words to describe the mood and style of the room

Then lay out your images and samples. Try to create a focal point for the room that ties all the elements together - this may be an artwork, a feature wall or even a fabric. Ideal Home magazine suggests that the largest area of colour in your room (walls and floors) have a generous size sample. They also suggest that for an harmonious room, you use the 70-20-10 rule: Keep 70% of the elements in a room one colour, add 20% in a second colour and 10% in an accent colour.

Finally, when you are pleased with your arrangement you can attach your collection to a board or possibly glue the collage onto cardboard to include in a home file or journal.

Have you used an inspiration board to plan a project? Did you choose a digital or physical board? What are your tips for creating an effective and helpful inspiration board?