On the M8 it is done really simple: if it is upside-down, it can't wake from tapping. Super simple and fluent in daily life (once you know it).
With my old Moto X, I could just wave my hand over the phone while it was laying next to me and a minimal version of the lock screen with clock and notifications would show up.
On my current phone (Pixel) it does the same with a double tap: clock, notifications, nothing else. The phone doesn't unlock until I use the fingerprint reader or swipe my lock pattern.