5 *really* good things I bought for my bedroom
This West Elm lamp is an oldie but a goodie.
I never thought I’d be someone who gets in bed at 9 p.m., but here we are. Okay, I still rarely shut the lights off before midnight, but I finally have a bedroom where I want to hang out. For starters, it has a door—that alone is a huge upgrade from the studio apartments I’ve called home for the past four years. I’ve also got a king-size bed to sprawl out on, a TV that’ll take me straight to the latest episode of Love Island, and a roomy nightstand for my collection of eyemasks and to-be-read books. These days, getting under the covers is all I think about once I’m done with dinner. Here’s how I became that person. —Lydia Geisel, home editor
Seen and Saved
That nightstand I mentioned? It’s a really big deal for me, as I haven’t had room for a proper bedside table (you know, one with enough surface area for a lamp and at least one drawer) since I was in high school. Long before I got around to finding the right design for the job, I knew how I wanted my set-up to look and feel:
I got a glimpse inside Colin King’s bedroom during a house party celebrating his collaboration with Audo Copenhagen. Ever since, he’s been my go-to source for ideas. This setup he styled for Dobrink Salzman is a good reminder that a sculptural lamp can jazz up any basic table.
In the blink of an eye, your tabletop can be overtaken by old water glasses and hair ties. A simple tray, like the one in this space Lizzie Green designed, ensures things at least appear neat.
If my fiancé and I were to ever paint our bedroom, swathing the bedside tables in the same color as the walls would be a must, a la this Greg Natale space.
Why spend $1,000+ on a nightstand when you can get a similarly luxe effect with a swatch of patterned fabric over an old round table? Hotel Peter & Paul added a glass top to theirs in case of spills.
My mom set aside an antique nightstand that belonged to my grandmother in case I wanted it. After seeing this vignette by Jason Arnold, I think I can find a way to bring her Colonial-style furniture into the mix.
All of Amber Lewis’s bedrooms make me want to be better about reading at night—there’s something about the scale of the lighting.
I’m considering taking things in a mid-century direction like this Mike Moser project, down to the old-school alarm clock. Everyone says that going analog in the bedroom helps you catch better z’s!
If I hadn’t found two nightstands within my budget—more on that below!—I planned to attempt a mismatched look like this sweet scene by Jessica Jubelirer.
Tried It, Liked It
On a mission to see what bed rotting is all about, I’ve been scouring the market for pieces that give me the warm and fuzzies. Here are five really good things I bought recently.
Clockwise from top left:
While visiting Hudson, New York, the other weekend, we stopped into Les Indiennes’ outpost and scooped up a set of naturally-dyed pillow covers. I was totally charmed by the side tie closures and the smudges that indicate each one is made by hand.
Channeling Amber Lewis once more, I decided to go with Corador’s oak nightstands, knowing that I could fit a XL lamp and then some on the 26-inch-wide surface.
I keep some sort of fish-themed art in every room of our apartment; I’ve convinced myself it brings good luck. This little guy holds my earrings at night.
Does having a TV in our bedroom keep me up unnecessarily late most nights? Yes, but it’s totally worth it for the days when I’m feeling under the weather.
Speaking of lamps, when I first unboxed my new pair from Colin King’s West Elm collab, I’m not going to lie, they seemed giant despite being the smaller of two sizes. But once I set them up, I realized the scale was oversized perfection.
Side Notes
On my mind right now: Hand-printed wallpaper, Beata Heuman’s punchy paint, and three more things.
Prospect Refuge Studio, founded by designer Victoria Sass, just opened a gallery in the heart of Minneapolis. I can’t stop thinking about the jewelry-like light fixtures that Apparatus cofounder Jeremy Anderson created for the debut show.
As a dabbler in arts and crafts myself, I get a lot of enjoyment from watching others create amazing things (like wallpaper!) with their hands.
Vogue says crisp blue cotton shirts are in for summer 2025. I say the same goes for bedding.
I’d love to see a renovation featuring this punchy ochre color that Beata Heuman developed for the paint brand Mylands. Maybe on a front door or in a mudroom? Just saying.
My brother’s birthday is around the corner and a cookbook by a top NYC restaurant is one of those gifts that keeps on giving.