apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

how about the CB2 clear nesting tables (which i plan to get for the same purpose). one set would cover both sides of the bed and are they are perfect for a small space.

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=117

Maybe I'm being influenced by the colors contest, but I would get something brightly colored, maybe orange like the pillow. You could even get something used and paint it - and re-paint if you don't end up liking it. I feel like added white furniture would over-emphasize any mess you might make on the floor or around the room, since you've already got white bedding.

If storage is not a necessity, I am a fan of the ceramic garden stool these days. West Elm has a few options, but they are available at several local, catalog and internet sources.

Along similar lines, I just bought a plant stand from Bombay Company and it works great. Just enough surface on top for my alarm clock and a glass of water/glasses, and a shelf at the bottom for whatever else I decide to put there.

or just get a massive cylindrical vase for 40 bucks at Garden Ridge and turn it over and use the bottom as your surface. I did the same thing but with a round slab of marble that I found for 20 bucks at an antique shop.

P2, I have been trying to find one of those, but most are too short for side tables (livingroom). The ones I see are usually 16" or 18" high, and I am looking for one around 26" - 28" high -- any ideas on sources for the taller ones?

Oh, and I like this for the bedside table above -- aluminum!

For cheap and simple and still really nice, maybe just get a couple Ikea Benjamin stools at $20 a pop. I have them as end tables in my living room and people comment on how great they are so much I'm ashamed they were cheapo. Otherwise, it may be too big for you, but I love my PBTeen Locker bedside tables. They are transparent enough and simple but with one big drawer.

Or, as a temporary measure, those particle board three-legged small round tables from places like Ballard Designs covered with a table cloth. Super cheap, and the added bonus of hidden storage.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

patrick (the other one), ceramic stool was on my original list, but I have cats (bad ones) and feel it is pretty likely that they will knock it down and break it - only one, right after the model is discontinued, that is how bad they are. I am thinking of the white concave drum stool at West Elm because it is wood with a similar look.

Max Othermoxx, love the locker look but over budget (to which I am clinging)...but am adding benjamin sanded and painted (thanks circlebloom!) to the mix of ideas.

West Elm & Room & Board both have versions of the c table above without wheels. I seriously thought about getting one, but then my roommate and I went to Ikea and I ended up using one of the cheapo Lack tables in bright red. My roommate uses the tables for chairs (!)

Actually, have you thought about using shelves in those corners? Might be easier to find a good fit that way vs getting a bedside table.

I doubt a cat could knock over and break a ceramic garden stool, any more than any of the options you're considering.

I also think you do not need the same solution on both sides of the bed.

patrick (the other one) -- I agree about using 2 solutions and need to just figure out which 2. I would like a bigger table top and ideally room underneath for my basket of ready to read books for "my side". The other side really just needs room for a lamp (I have two of the one in the photo), so garden stool option ideal on that side.

Great bed to work with...

My instinct is to introduce a contrasting texture.

How about these? They are a riff on your peekaboo table... (make sure to click on the individual cubes to get a better sense of them). You could create your own variation.
http://www.farm21.co.uk/cubes.html

Personally, I really like antique kilim stools, quite low to the ground. It breaks up the expected modernity nicely.
http://www.rugstore.org/pages/kilim_stools.html

Or, staying modern, these Eames Wire Base tables in white
http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=0293

Monika1 -- I love all your ideas!! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question and for the links to great suggestions. You have really got me thinking.

Oh Bklyn Jacquelyn, I have had more table ideas (they keep popping into my head). None of them respect your budget, but I think that in your case, you just need one such table; you don't need to book-end your bed.

First thought was the Platner Side Table... the contrast of thin white metal with heavy dark wood, round with rectangular, would be lovely. Poetic.
http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=11505

The Noguchi Cyclone Side Table -- round, delicate metal legs --
http://www.kidonyc.com/detail.htm?item=isamu%20noguchi%20cyclone%20table

Another Noguchi, the Prismatic Table -- white paper origami, but it is metal -- lovely play of materials and scale --
http://www.accurato.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=193

Werner Max Moser's Moser Table -- round, contrast of materials, glass with red -
http://www.architonic.com/1022618

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec Metal Side Table (in red) -- fun!
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/Metal_Side_Table.html

I use stacked hat boxes for my bedside table. They're actually full of hats, so it was great for conserving the space in my tiny tiny apartment.

I bought two white Helmer drawer units from IKEA to finish my black-and-white bedroom and could not be happier with my choice. Very practical for hiding all that misc bedside clutter, small enough to fit in a slim space, and on wheels so they're easily moved when I make the bed.