Bedroom Design Guide
Floating bedside tables have become a defining feature of contemporary bedrooms, creating a cleaner, lighter look by keeping the floor completely visible.
Freestanding bedside tables offer something different: more storage, greater flexibility and often a stronger furniture presence beside the bed.
Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on your space, your storage needs and how you want the bedroom to feel.
Explore Designer Bedside TablesAt a Glance
Two different approaches to the bedside
Floating bedside tables
Mounted directly to the wall, floating bedside tables keep the floor clear and give the furniture a lighter, more architectural appearance.
✓ Visually lighter
✓ Excellent for smaller bedrooms
✓ Adjustable installation height
✓ Easy to clean underneath
Freestanding bedside tables
Sitting directly on the floor, freestanding designs normally provide more storage and can be easily repositioned as your bedroom changes.
✓ More storage options
✓ No wall installation
✓ Easy to reposition
✓ Greater choice of size and form
Floating vs freestanding bedside tables
The main differences become clearer when you look at how each style performs in everyday use.
Floating Design
Nova Nook TIM
The Nova Nook TIM Bedside Table is a strong example of how a floating bedside table can combine practical storage with a lighter, more architectural appearance.
Finished in Cremona Torro Oak, the design mounts directly to the wall, keeping the floor underneath completely clear and helping the bedroom feel less visually crowded.
The drawer uses both push-to-open and soft-close mechanisms, while the decorative waved front adds subtle character to an otherwise clean, contemporary form.
That makes TIM particularly useful if you want the simplicity of wall-mounted furniture without reducing the bedside table to a basic shelf.
Best for: contemporary bedrooms, smaller spaces and anyone looking for concealed storage without visually weighing down the room.
The Case for Floating
Why choose a floating bedside table?
Make the bedroom feel bigger
Because the floor continues underneath the furniture, floating bedside tables reduce visual clutter and can make the area around the bed feel more spacious.
Choose your perfect height
Unlike a freestanding table, the height of a floating design is determined during installation, allowing it to align more precisely with your mattress.
Easier cleaning
With no legs or base underneath, vacuuming and cleaning around the bedside becomes considerably easier.
A cleaner architectural look
Wall-mounted furniture creates stronger horizontal lines around the bed and works particularly well in contemporary and minimalist interiors.
Shop the Comparison
Two different ways to style your bedside
Floating
Bolia Cana
A softer interpretation of the floating bedside table, combining natural wood with woven cane detailing for a light, Scandinavian feel.
View Bolia Cana
Freestanding
Tamo Design Maya
A freestanding solid-wood bedside table raised on slender black legs, combining practical drawer storage with a lighter, more contemporary profile.
View Tamo Design MayaWhich bedside table should you choose?
For most bedrooms, the decision ultimately comes down to visual lightness versus storage and flexibility.
Choose Floating If…
You value space and simplicity
— Your bedroom is compact
— You prefer a minimalist aesthetic
— You want more visible floor space
— Easy cleaning is important
— You don’t regularly rearrange the room
Choose Freestanding If…
You value storage and flexibility
— You need more bedside storage
— You regularly move furniture
— You don’t want to drill into walls
— Your bedroom can handle larger furniture
— You want more choice of shapes and sizes
Small bedroom or large bedroom, proportion still matters
A floating design can be ideal for a small bedroom, but it still projects into the room. Always check its width and depth as well as the mounting height.
Likewise, a freestanding bedside table doesn’t necessarily need to feel heavy. Slim legs, rounded profiles and carefully considered proportions can create much of the same visual openness.
Comparing different sizes and storage configurations within our designer bedside table collection can help you find the right balance for your room.
Find Your Perfect Bedside Table
Floating, freestanding and everything in between.
Explore contemporary bedside tables from Bolia, Novamobili, Tamo Design and other leading European furniture brands.
Shop Bedside TablesBuying Advice
Frequently Asked Questions
Are floating bedside tables better for small bedrooms?
They can be particularly effective in smaller bedrooms because keeping the floor visible underneath the furniture reduces visual clutter. You should still check the width and depth carefully.
Do floating bedside tables have drawers?
Yes. Floating bedside tables can include proper drawer storage rather than simply functioning as shelves. Designs such as Bolia Luxe offer concealed soft-close storage.
What height should a floating bedside table be?
A useful starting point is to position the top approximately level with the top of your mattress so everyday items remain easy to reach.
Are freestanding bedside tables more practical?
They often provide more storage and are considerably easier to reposition. This makes them particularly useful if flexibility is more important than achieving a very minimal appearance.
Can you use different bedside tables on either side of the bed?
Yes. Different bedside tables can work beautifully if there is another element connecting them, such as similar height, related finishes, matching lamps or complementary proportions.