Vintage Bedside Tables
These vintage bedside tables span the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods, bringing practical surface space and period character directly to the bedroom.
Vintage Bedside Tables
Vintage bedside tables encompass small cabinets, cupboards, chests, and low tables designed to sit beside a bed. When searching for vintage bedside tables, buyers encounter diverse forms ranging from compact Edwardian satinwood cupboards to French Art Deco marquetry nightstands.
The selection includes pieces constructed in distinct styles such as Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Georgian Style. Many examples survive as matched pairs, combining functional drawers or cupboards with decorative surfaces of marble, glass, or polished wood.
How they were made
Cabinet makers utilised traditional hardwoods including mahogany, walnut, satinwood, oak, and ash, often applying intricate veneers or marquetry and parquetry patterns. Surface decoration frequently involved lacquering in Chinoiserie styles, hand painting, or mounting polished marble tops onto wooden carcasses.
Metal components such as brass, bronze, and ormolu provided structural support, handles, and decorative accents, particularly visible on columns, gallery rails, and lamp fittings associated with these bedside pieces.
Vintage Bedside Tables Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage bedside tables among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature bedside furniture spanning the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras, constructed from mahogany, walnut, satinwood, and marble.
What varies in quality
Quality separates pieces by the selection of timber grain, such as burr walnut or figured mahogany, and the precision of inlaid veneers. Superior examples display refined proportions, integrated drawer construction, and intact original stone or glass elements.
The distinction between standard utility items and finer workshop production rests on the execution of decorative details, including hand-carved mouldings, hand-painted lacquer work, and durable brass hardware.
François Linke·Fratelli Toso
The Vintage Bedside Tables Glossary
- Marquetry
- Decorative veneer work forming pictures or geometric patterns using various woods. This technique adorns the top surfaces and drawer fronts of many French nightstands.
- Parquetry
- Geometric mosaic woodwork used for repeating patterns on tabletops. It adds textural visual interest to twentieth-century bedside cabinets.
- Chinoiserie
- European interpretation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions, typically featuring painted lacquer. This style appears on distinctive ochre and yellow ground lamp bases and cupboards.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze mounts applied to furniture edges and corners. It provides ornamental contrast against dark French mahogany carcasses.
- Satinwood
- A light-coloured durable timber with a satin-like sheen, popular in Edwardian bedroom furniture. It offers a bright finish compared to traditional mahogany.
Vintage Bedside Tables: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right height?
Match the table surface level to the top of the mattress for comfortable reach during the night.
Consider the proportions of the bed frame when selecting between low cabinets and taller bedside chests.
Are these pieces sold in pairs?
Many listings offer matched pairs, which suit symmetrical bedroom layouts.
Single tables also appear frequently, offering character as individual accent pieces beside a bed.
What woods were commonly used?
Mahogany and walnut dominate the traditional English and French output across the Victorian and Edwardian decades.
Lighter timbers like satinwood and ash appear alongside painted surfaces and exotic veneers.
How do I care for marble tops?
Wipe marble surfaces with a soft damp cloth and avoid harsh acidic cleaners that etch the stone.
Use coasters under glasses and bottles to protect the polished finish from moisture rings.