16 of the best plinths & pedestals for minimalist interiors – plus how to style them in your home

I often find myself using plinths and pedestals in my client designs and styling work. They may sound rather grand – the kind of thing you’d find in a museum rather than a home – but they’re incredibly useful. They’re ideal for showcasing ceramics, plants and vases of flowers, drawing attention to something that might otherwise get lost within the wider space, and they can double as side tables, nightstands and more. They’re also very handy if you need to add a bit of height to show off a favourite object or elevate a flat-looking room, and they can create instant focal points out of otherwise-empty corners.

Here are 16 of the best plinths and pedestals for minimalist interiors, with options to suit all budgets and sizes of space. There’s also a range of designs and materials, from rustic oak to sleek walnut, marble and metal. And to help you make the most of the decorative possibilities that plinths and pedestals can offer, I’ve included a few tips on choosing, positioning and styling them at the end of the post.

1. New Works ‘Mass’ walnut side table, £603.25 with an integrated drawer or £380 without, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
2. Kristina Dam Studio black powder-coated steel pedestal table, £410, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
3. Urban Nature Culture ‘Veljet B’ Sunkay-wood side table, £197, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
4. Audo Copenhagen ‘Plinth’ tall side table in white Carrara marble (also available in rose Calcutta Viola, beige Kunis Breccia, black Nero Marquina and grey Kendzo marble), £861, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
5. ‘Hendrix’ chrome drinks table / pedestal, £149, West Elm
6. Audo Copenhagen ‘Plinth’ pedestal in beige Kunis Breccia marble (also available in rose Calcutta Viola, white Carrara, black Nero Marquina and grey Kendzo marble), £1,048, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
7. Ferm Living tile-effect concrete and glass-fibre ‘Pillar’ pedestal, £348, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
8. ‘Baldr’ ribbed pedestal in black-stained mango wood (also available in a natural finish), £245, Vaunt Design
9. Fluted earthenware drinks table / pedestal, £149, West Elm
10. Audo Copenhagen ‘Volume’ aluminium side table, £492, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
11. ‘Capstan’ black mango-wood side table, £199, Swoon Editions
12. Ferm Living ‘Burl’ burl-wood pedestal, £524, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
13. Black wooden pedestal, £99.99, H&M Home [AD – affiliate link]
14. ‘Merlin’ solid-oak side table, £125 for a small size, £165 for a medium size or £220 for a large size, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
15. Ferm Living ‘Staffa’ concrete and glass-fibre pedestal (suitable for indoor and outdoor use), £464.38, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
16. ‘Affe’ pedestal in dark oak (also available in natural oak, whitened oak and black-stained oak), £299, By Crea [AD – affiliate link]

Tips for choosing & styling a plinth or pedestal

Size, scale & proportion

If you have a specific object in mind for your plinth or pedestal, make sure you choose a design that’s large and sturdy enough to hold its size and weight. You don’t want the whole thing to become wobbly or unstable.

Always take scale and proportion into account, too. A small vase or sculpture will likely get lost on a low, wide plinth and would benefit from something taller and slimmer. Conversely, a bulky item on a narrow design will only look top-heavy and jarring, while a very tall object might work best on a shorter plinth to balance out the overall proportions.

Above: perfect sizing and scaling from Audo Copenhagen and Kristina Dam Studio.

Shape & material

When choosing a plinth or pedestal, think carefully about what material will work best with your overall scheme. You might want to select something complementary, or you might decide to use your plinth / pedestal to add an element of contrast to the space. In my living room, for example, I’ve offset the glass coffee table and chrome chair with the warm, textured oak of La Redoute’s ‘Merlin’ design.

I always think plinths and pedestals work best when there’s a note of contrast between them and the items they display, too. I love seeing smooth-sided, angular plinths topped with rustic textures and organic shapes, or clean-lined pieces on plinths with irregular forms. Avoid using shapes and materials that are too similar for both the plinth / pedestal and the display piece and you won’t go far wrong.

Above: the ‘Merlin’ plinth in my living room, and a beautiful contrast between the straight lines of Ferm Living’s ‘Pillar’ pedestal and the wavy shape of the sculpture on top.

Positioning

Make sure you position your plinth / pedestal carefully so that it can be appreciated from all angles. If it’s going to form the main focal point of a space, you might want to place it on its own with no pieces nearby to distract from it. That said, plinths and pedestals don’t need to sit alone to have impact – as long as the object on top isn’t obscured, they can work brilliantly in corners, to the side of tables and chairs, or even peeking up behind sofas or bathtubs.

Whatever you do, you’ll want to avoid high-traffic areas and through routes where your plinth / pedestal might get knocked – especially if it’s being used to display something valuable or an item that you really cherish.

Above: a plinth as a focal point in a hallway styled by Tine K Home, and a marble pedestal along a dining room wall from Audo Copenhagen.

Grouping

Finally, plinths and pedestals can look stunning when lined up in pairs or trios, or when arranged in clusters of differing heights. This is also a great way to show off collections of objects – perhaps treasured sculptures or ceramics – while ensuring that each individual item can still be appreciated in its own right.

Above: a trio of identical plinths used to beautiful effect at Swedish hotel Sjöparken (see more here), and a group of Audo Copenhagen marble ‘Plinth’ tables of varying heights.

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I share here.

Image six by Abi Dare; all other photography courtesy of the respective brands above