Style Your End Tables Like an Interior Designer

Tired of staring at the same boring end tables day after day? We don't blame you. End tables often get overlooked in a room's design, treated more as an afterthought instead of an intentional styling element. But interior designers know end tables hold huge potential to showcase personality and make a serious decor statement. With just a few key styling approaches lifted straight from the designer playbook, your side tables can be completely transformed.

Flip through the pages of any interior design magazine and you'll spot end tables brimming with character. Each surface, accessory, and detail has been handpicked to align with the room's overall aesthetic and functionality. But don't worry - you don't need years of training to adopt designer principles for your own tables. A few practical guidelines paired with personalized decorative touches are all you need to makeover your end tables with confidence.

Best Practices for Styling End Tables

Choose Items Strategically

When it comes to elevating basic end tables from boring to brilliant, a strategic selection approach is key. Instead of randomly tossing any item onto the surface, consider the fundamentals of scale, balance and symmetry to create an alluring tableau. For example, anchor the table with one substantial object like a statement vase, decorative box or coffee table book. Then coordinate a smaller companion piece like a mini sculpture, petite candle or slim frame. The pairing should be properly scaled to the size of the table - oversized pieces will overwhelm while tiny doodads can get lost.

• On a medium-sized end table, incorporate a large ceramic vase with a smaller bud vase filled with a single bloom.

• For petite end tables, keep it simple with just a short candle or mini plant paired with a singular photo frame.

This intentional selection process purposefully spotlights certain decorative elements while keeping surfaces from looking heavy and cluttered.

Style for Function and Form

While aesthetics certainly play a starring role, never forget an end table's function. After all, they don't get called accent tables, lamp tables or sofa tables as nicknames for nothing. When curating your end table collection, incorporate pieces that can multitask, serving stylish looks and everyday use.

Maybe there's a petite nook that's just right for storing TV remotes and reading glasses when not in use. Or an open shelving situation perfect for stacking vibrant coffee table books, display-worthy objects and baskets which can cunningly hide other household items like cables or charging cords when guests come calling.

Speaking of guests, coasters are a must for sweaty cocktail glasses. Just because they are functional though doesn't mean they have be boring. search sites like Etsy for handmade ceramic, wood and marble options packed with artisanal charm. The same approach applies when selecting table lamps. Pick a design you love which emits just the right glow to set the scene, whether an atmospheric evening light or work-friendly spotlight for paying bills.

Complement the Existing Design

Now comes the fun part - factoring personal style into the equation. When scouring sites like Wayfair and vintage shops for fresh end table additions, keep the room's overarching aesthetic in mind. The choices should seamlessly blend with current decor while adding a dose of distinction through color, texture or material variations.

For example, if the living room exudes traditional appeal with rich wood furnishings, opt for an End table showcasing aligned design details. We're talking turned spindle legs, carved accents and an antique brass or oil-rubbed bronze base paired with a marble top. The Same methodology applies to on-trend contemporary spaces. Choose a sleek glass-topped design perched atop a gleaming metal frame or solid-hued lacquered finish.

An alternative take on the traditional ethos? Shake things up with painted end tables. Unexpected black finishes feel fresh yet classic. For a more feminine touch, soft powder blue tables add delightful contrast to both modern and traditional rooms.

Mix and Match Materials Creatively

Throwing the design rule book straight out the window, displaying end tables of mixed materials in one space creates intrigue. This eclectic styling tactic infuses rooms with a worldly, collected-over-time vibe. But to prevent the look from skewing messy, some guidelines do apply.

Keep the color scheme and table silhouettes relatively cohesive. For example, a marble-topped brass table, rich wood nested tables, and a concrete and metal side table share common neutral tones along with slender frames and rounded edges. Then have fun with the materials and finishings themselves. Consider glass, concrete, ceramic, wicker, lacquered wood - mixing three to four should suffice for each room.

Layer Heights for Visual Interest

Ever notice how the most captivating tableaus have mini "vignettes" layered atop their surface? It's no coincidence. Designers embrace the power height,shape and color variations - drawing the eye to different points of interest. Translate that approach when decorating end tables in your home.

Using our traditional living room example, build upon the classic spindle table's round profile with decorative objects touting vertical shapes. Stack antique books from tallest to shortest, topped with a short round candle elevated on a crystal coaster. Or display coral branches in an arched glass vase next to a short round silver trinket box. Don't forget height variations in any direction too - incorporate ceramic pieces sculpted with dimensional detailing.

Display Meaningful Objects

The icing on the end table decorating cake comes down to those personal touches conveying individual style. Bring out treasured travel trinkets like sculptural bowls from exotic locales. Showcase Instagrammable cacti and succulents. Display heirloom family photos in unexpected frames. The styling options here are limitless.

Books also supply a tactile, comforting presence. Fill shelves or stack horizontally for impact. For extra flair, offset rectangular book piles with round objects in lush materials like velvet or leather - think jewel toned poufs or curvaceous decorative bowls.

Sentimental Touches

When in doubt, infuse end tables with sentimental objects making anyone who enters your home feel warm, comforted and special. Display timeless wedding photos, compile a series of meaningful souvenirs or shine a spotlight on your children's cherished art projects.

Experiment with Unexpected Touches

If there's one takeaway from the designer's handbook worth embracing wholeheartedly: signature statements. You know when you enter a space and something immediately intrigues you? A piece you just can't help staring at, sparking visual joy and maybe even an audible wow.

End tables present prime real estate to ignite that reaction through unexpected sculptural touches. Display vibrant handmade ceramics with organic, nature-inspired shapes to infuse any space in your home with an energizing punch of personality.

For more maximal impact, go all-out with bold ceramic pieces touting metallic accents, colorful reactive glazes, or quirky animal shapes. Their showstopping presence steals the spotlight, singlehandedly becoming the decorative focal point anchoring the entire table - and even the room itself.

Keep Surfaces Clear

For high traffic end tables near entryways, the name of the game is decluttering. You still want to incorporate special decorative touches, however maintaining clear surfaces remains essential. This allows you to neatly corral everyday items out of sight for quick grab-and-go access.

For a discreet storage solution, arrange ceramic vases, bowls and lidded boxes across a tray - which can be removed altogether when expecting guests. If open shelves or drawers exist, contain contents through the use of woven baskets and fabric bins. Their texture presents a pleasing visual contrast against the woodtone furniture. Come holiday season, easily swap decor elements in and out by housing items together.

Lighting Sets the Mood

Never underestimate the power of lighting when designing end tables that dazzle. Task lighting keeps functional needs covered through table lamps emitting both ambient and directed light ideal for reading. Then make a glittering statement after dark by incorporating decorative votive candles or glistening marble bases illuminated from below.

If end tables flank seating areas near windows, strategic placement prevents glare from outside light sources. Table lamps come in a variety of base materials from earthy rattan to sleek nickel. So shop options aligning with your interior design vision until finding the perfect match both aesthetically and functionally.

It's time to give those tired end tables new life and loads of decorative flair. Like a interior designer, thoughtfully curate displayed objects based on scale, texture, color and form. Factor in functional necessities like storage and lighting as well. Then infuse personal touches through unexpected materials, sentimental items or quirky ceramic accents reflecting individual tastes. Soon you'll have striking end tables acting as artistic anchors throughout every room in your home.