Take me a-side.

Whew! Have you recovered from all the festivities lately? I’m talking about National Left-Handers Day (Aug 13) and National Thrift-Store Day (Aug 17), and National Mail Order Catalog Day (Aug 18th), of course. ParTAYYYY, am I right? It’s like August was made just for me.

But today we are talking about side tables, and I’m sorry to say that there is no National Side Table day. Sad trombone. (There is a National Buffet Day on Jan 2, although that is probably less about furniture and more about all-you-can-eat-good-times).

But anyhow, I say we celebrate side tables here anyway, starting with this one from the Infamous Janet, whom you’ll remember as a big winner in the Mystery Thrift Off. Check out how she worked her creative magic on this ’80s garage sale table. She asks “When doesn’t navy, white and gold improve something?”

Answer: never.

Next, I used to have this same little plain-Jane table, and I thought the only fix for it was draping it in a floor-length grandmotherly-style tablecloth. (I really did. I had two and they flanked my bed for yeeeeaaaarrrrss. They were beige tablecloths and I topped them with office style desk lamps, like you might find in a college dorm. I wish I had pictures, but the whole scene was really just too exciting for your eyeballs to handle. You’ll just have to imagine it, for your own safety).

Emily gave her side table a big boost of personality with some asymmetrical stripes, and it can totally stand on its own, no tablecloth necessary! Please someone go back in time and teach this to my 2003 self.

See this and more at Our House, Now a Home.