On my bedside table:

Wooden stature of Mary and small painted icon of Gabriel, brass-and-wood box for jewellery, a leatherbound notebook, alarm clock, Claddagh ring, mobile phone, and a brass, leatherbound spyglass.

Alarm clock, a book or two, lamp, journal and pen... I guess that's all I've got. No candle, flowers, or water, or the cats would have a field day.

Mint julep cup? *snort*

Lamp, large glass of water, small stack of home mags--including House Beautiful of course, eyeglasses, silk eye mask, old-fashioned clock (no alarm thank you I have kids for that task). Sorry no room for a mint julep cup. Now in the drawer I have pen & paper for middle of the night ideas and scissors for cutting pics out of mags. Unfortunately, my creative brain does not rest at night.

Here's my inventory vs. the House Beautiful list:
- battery-operated alarm clock, (sorry, not on a silver tray; and I don't think it's a quartz)
- water in a bottle (sorry, no carafe; that's in the guest room),
- no jewelry (that's in the jewelry box)
- good reading lamp
- no tissues (unless I'm sick)
- candle (I live in the lightning capital of the world, so it's helpful when -- not if -- the power goes out; the matches are in the drawer)
- magazine du jour on the floor, sometimes, next to the bed
- post-it pad w pen
- phone
- emery board (for annoying, raggedy nail which I don't discover until I'm in bed)

The mint julep cup is in the dining room, empty. In fact, I recently polished it and put it away after the Derby party on the 2nd.

Alarm clock, lamp and sometimes my glasses. That's it. I keep other things in the nightstand drawers.

Our only end table is actually the mini-fridge and it's busy with a marble chess set set up (though we never use it). We have a bookcase headboard that works as well as any nightstand though. Small radio, alarm clock, lamp, this little magnety thing you barely rock and it swings around (it's his, ask him), a couple handkerchiefs, and mine and his glasses cases since we both wear eyeglasses.

Some of these are just at night of course...
On top: Lamp, alarm clock, water, cell phone, glasses
Under Shelf: Some books, notebooks, lotion
Drawer: Probably another book, reading light, pen/pencils, a few rubbers, chap stick, silkish eye mask

Holy wow. Louis Vuitton suitcases as a bedside table? No, really?

I just laughed so hard I snorted gin out my nose.

On my table: coaster, water glass, tin with earplugs/earrings/etc., bubble lamp. Inside my bedside table, lots of books, medicine, lotion, reading lamp, what-have-you.

I use a bracketed shelf as a night stand since the room is small forcing my creativity. I have on that shelf a bottle shaped lamp, one of my pairs of glasses, my cellphone which I use as an alarm, an antique bell style alarm clock that does not work, and 5 books, one of which is Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. I read it when I can't sleep.

On my bedside table: lamp (Art Deco inherited from my dad), pretty candle glass, small painting propped against the wall while waiting to be hung. Sometimes some hairpins or hairties, for which, admittedly, a pretty tray would be useful.
My table is a tiny, cute side table. It doesn't have a drawer - I just make sure I get what I need before I go to bed and store things in my dresser.

On my bedside table: alarm clock (quartz, but Ikea nonetheless), lamp, and a book. Last item is optionnal, I rarely read in bed, I prefer the couch because of my hurting back. No flower, tissues are in the drawers, cell stays in the "office".

I guess I'm the minimalistic type.

alarm clock.

painkillers: headaches. lip balm, and books

Lamp, alarm clock -- plug in, but with back-up battery -- mouthguard, glasses, watch, book and coaster for water glass.

Purely utilitarian.

On the table: Simon Pearce glass lamp, a small stack of books (for both toddlers and adults), book of Sunday NY Times crossword puzzles and a pen, water in a glass or plastic bottle and/or sippy cup. It's also likely I'll find a small toy or doll, little socks, or something completely random like a wire whisk or a washcloth or some mittens (my children get around). In the drawers: hair elastics, alarm clock (rarely used), flashlight, more books, unlined journal for drawing and writing, a few design markers, mini reading lamp, a few diapers, wipes and a changing pad, baby blanket, tissues, lotion. So much for minimalism.

On the table: books, a scarf, some hair bands and clips, mobile phones, remotes. On the floor: a standing lamp, and a bottle of water.

For space reasons I got an Ikea helmer drawer unit to use as a bedside table - it's only 30 cm (1ft) wide. It's exactly wide enough to hold my drum-shaded ball-stemmed lamp, a glass of water and a radio. But because it's a drawer unit I have a box of tissues on one drawer, my current book in another drawer, and during the day I keep my (battery powered) alarm clock, lip salve, etc in another drawer. It means I have everything I need close to hand-reaching-out-from-under-the-duvet, but during the day it looks clean and uncluttered. I think I'm sold for life in the arrangement.

I had not realized this until reading this post...I have not had a bedside table since I was a little kid (10 or 12 maybe). hmmm, gives me something to think about when we move out of our camper and into a real house.

Left side, a lamp and a pile of unread New Yorkers. Right side, a lamp and a couple of very beautiful sea shells and a Japanese fan in case I get hot during the night. I can't keep glasses of water next to the bed because I knock them over, So...no julep.

Alarm clock
Reading light
body lotion
incense
lighter
lip balm
glass of water
a small stash of condoms (surprised no one has mentioned this one yet! Come on people, be safe, married or not!)
occasionally a book to read, but I usually read in the living room.
And for some reason... I currently have my wrench and drill set on my bedside table... Not to mention a bottle of turpentine.

Nolann, you're frightening me... ~:o)

Dimmer switch, lamp, candle, black lacquer box, Apple remote, iPhone (which serves as my alarm clock).

Lamp, tissues (allergies, etc.), super mini-Maglight (have you ever tried lighting a candle in the dark after an earthquake?), jewelry box from my Mom that acts as catchall, and a book. Alarm clocks are annoying and the light from them is supposed to be a bad for you (your room should be as dark as possible when you sleep). If I have to wake up a certain time, I just repeat the time in my head several times before I sleep and I usually wake up at that time or within a half-hour. Try it on a non-crucial day and see if it works for you!

On the wee table is a lamp, my cell phone which also functions as my alarm clock and a glass of whatever I've brought to bed.

My library is in my bedroom so the shelves within bed-reach also hold a roll of toilet paper as I'm out of kleenex, a candle that smells like clover, lip balm, hand cream and a box of 'personal items.'

Often, beside my bed is what I'm currently reading and my laptop.

reading lamp, telephone, cordless telephone and occasional reading material.

in a small trunk beside the nightstand are - books (i've been meaning to read for the longest time), remote controls, headbands, lotions/oils for bedtime relaxation, and my cellphone charger.

a tribal drum on the other side of the nightstand props up my wifi router.

see pic here:

two or three books I'm currently reading, a lamp, notebook and pen. My alarm clock is on the other side of the room or I would hit snooze endlessly.

I love the Louie Vuitton suitcases as a nightstand, even though I hate the purses. If you have them it's an awesome way to display them.

On top: A reading lamp, a silver framed photo, a lavender scented candle, little alarm clock and a ceramic dish for jewelry and other odds and ends.

Drawer: Pen & Pad of paper, bar of dark chocolate, mints and a prayer book.

On the shelf: About 5 assorted books and a box of tissues.

A clock radio, reading lamp, glass of water, book of crossword puzzles, and a pen.

Am I the only one who uses my cell phone as my alarm clock?

Other items: Stack of books I'm slowly working through, lamp, small jewelery dish for easy earring removal when I roll into bed.

Cell phone as alarm clock: No, you're not the only one. My boyfriend does that. I do it when I travel.

Reading lamp, alarm clock, wrinkle cream, hand cream, lip balm, coaster, water glass, glasses. It's crowded...

lamp
bose radio
glasses
tissue
hair bands
water glass
book du jour
lotion

Where is the bed in that picture from???

OK....so my occasional beer bottle isn't as classy as a mint julep cup. The rest of the time a lamp, clock/radio and remote to the TV is allI keep on my night stand.