Some bedside tables offer both a drawer and open shelving which gives you flexibility in what stays hidden and what can be displayed. A stack of design books on the shelf looks intentional. A lamp and a small plant reads as curated. The drawer still handles the items you want out of sight. This combination works well if your bedroom is styled rather than purely functional. The shelf needs to be deep enough to actually hold something but not so deep it creates dust traps. The drawer should be proportional to the overall piece. A good shelf and drawer combination gives you options for how you style your bedside without forcing you into one direction.