apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Blogging House Beautiful... Tablescapes

02.27.hb2.jpg

02.27.hb.jpg This month's issue of House Beautiful shares with us some tips for creating the perfect bedside table for your house guests.

House Beautiful editor-at-large, Senga Mortimer, hits the main points after the jump...

 
 
  • House Beautiful first suggests keeping current magazines on-hand in one drawer of the nightstand, while being sure to keep another drawer empty for your guest's own belongings.
  • Provide guests with an alarm clock.
  • Don't go cheap on your guests. Outfit their bedside table with quality, beautiful and meaningful pieces from your personal collection instead of cheap versions of everything.
  • Make guests feel at home, but don't clutter up surfaces. Every item you leave out on the table should be useful.
  • Flowers are a lovely addition to the tablescape, but just a few stems is enough - no huge bouquets here.
  • Leave a dictionary and pen within easy reach for guests who like to do a little reading in bed before sleeping.
  • Provide a lamp.
  • A cozy finishing touch: a small plate of cookies for a midnight snack.

Tags

Blogging..., bedroom, House Beautiful, bedside table

Related Links

Share

Comments (16)

Anyone know if the quilt at the bottom of the bed is available online? Thanks!

posted by Sandie on 2008-02-27 09:10:44
view Sandie's profile

i know i love to read the dictionary before bed (?)

posted by a to the toy on 2008-02-27 09:15:13
view a to the toy's profile

About the quilt- I saw several almost identical to this at TJMaxx the other day...

posted by a to the toy on 2008-02-27 09:16:18
view a to the toy's profile

Thanks Anna!

posted by Sandie on 2008-02-27 09:23:57
view Sandie's profile

suggests keeping current magazines on-hand in one drawer of the nightstand

Given a house large enough to have a guest room, that's actually a great idea for storing the magazine backlog that's not quite ready for the recycling bin.

posted by wende in the twin cities on 2008-02-27 09:28:45
view wende in the twin cities's profile

And you want them to write with the pen in your dictionary?

posted by Joan A. on 2008-02-27 09:30:36
view Joan A.'s profile

Is it true that people with these lovely nightstand arrangements never have to blow their noses at night?

posted by Aldyth on 2008-02-27 09:38:28
view Aldyth's profile

Absolutely, Aldyth! They never need to blow their noses, plug in a laptop, set down their own glasses, or otherwise engage in unseemly bodily functions.

When you embrace good design, you evolve beyond these needs.

posted by wende in the twin cities on 2008-02-27 09:45:53
view wende in the twin cities's profile

1) Wende, you make me laugh :)
2) A DICTIONARY? Ridiculous.

posted by gretchenann on 2008-02-27 10:02:14
view gretchenann's profile

I think a small dictionary and thesaurus are nice additions. I know that when I'm writing or reading in bed, I often wish for one. The pens are a nice idea because sometimes you need one for your journal or the newspaper or what have you. For that matter, a simple composition notebook on hand might be fun. (And there are those people who underline passages, highlight and write in the margins of their books - ones they own - as much as that idea may horrify the book purists out there).

Kleenex really does need to be on hand somewhere. Maybe a thin box in the drawer next to those magazines. And a covered water carafe! I love those things.

posted by zuzupetals on 2008-02-27 10:33:06
view zuzupetals's profile

I knew I wasn't living right, but didn't quite know where it was going wrong. You offer wise and gentle counsel, Wende, and I am the better for it.

Sniff. Where's my tissue box?

I guess I have more work to do.

posted by Aldyth on 2008-02-27 10:39:11
view Aldyth's profile

I would love advice on how to be a good host to guests who are sleeping on an air mattress in the living room.

posted by Jenny in DC on 2008-02-27 11:34:51
view Jenny in DC's profile

Maybe they hid their tissues inside that drum shaped ottoman thing. That's not a bad idea actually...

posted by spaceagemouse on 2008-02-27 13:01:31
view spaceagemouse's profile

Um, if you were having YOUR picture taken, wouldn't *you* take the Kleenex out of your hand?

Perhaps they are suggesting the little luxurious *extras* here, the ones that make the stay special. Perhaps they assume their astute readers already know to provide things like sheets on the bed, Kleenex on the bedside and toilet tissue in the guest bath for their visitors...

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-02-27 13:28:52
view patrick (the other one)'s profile

Jenny in DC, I totally agree. I mean, my guests have to sleep on an Aerobed in the living room and walk through the bedroom to get to the bathroom. I've been assuming that free housing in New York is a good enough way to make their visit special, but what am I missing?

posted by gretchenann on 2008-02-27 14:41:50
view gretchenann's profile

Where can I get those pillow shams? my laundry guy bleached my similar version and a rusty brown isnt the same as my chocolate shams. Thanks!

posted by rointhecity on 2008-02-27 15:35:09
view rointhecity's profile