Posted by Kerrie Kelly in Home Design

​One of the most necessary pieces of furniture in the bedroom is the nightstand—it’s the first thing you see when you wake and the last thing you see before you sleep.

Nightstands not only help anchor the style and feel of your bedroom, but they also serve a multitude of purposes. From handy storage of bedroom goods to a work surface for late-night inspiration, these pieces are fantastic for keeping your must-haves close.

We’ve rounded up our favorite designer-approved nightstand styles that are sure to take your bedroom from drab to fab in no time!

Bedroom With Wooden Nightstands

Nightstand Basics

Gone are the days when nightstands had to match to a T. Nowadays, these bedroom essentials have little limits—after all, as one of the main design elements that anchor your bedroom space, they should show off your unique style. There are just a few basics that should be considered when choosing a nightstand:

  • Whether your bed is a low platform or raised high, your nightstand should be close to the height of your mattress to keep things within easy reach.
  • Make sure your table lamps are around shoulder height when sitting up in bed. This allows for sufficient light when reading or scrolling through the internet at night.
  • Evaluate your bedtime routine to determine how much surface area you’ll need in a nightstand. For instance, if you’re reading at night, your nightstand should have sufficient space for books, a cozy table lamp and reading glasses.

​From there, the types and styles of nightstands to choose from are endless. Keep these basics at hand during your search and it’s bound to be effortless.

Bedroom With Nightstands With Mirror Drawers

Nightstand Syles

Ready to get matched with your perfect nightstand for your bedroom? Here are some of our favorite types of nightstands to choose from.

Traditional Nightstands

​Traditional nightstands with built-in storage keep things nearby and tucked away for easy middle-of-the-night access. Drawers are handy for tools, gadgets, books and any miscellaneous items you’d like to have in reach but out of sight. These are also great options for those with limited space or that like keeping surfaces free of stacks of books and clutter.

Nesting Tables

​We love nesting tables as nightstands in the bedroom. Not only do they offer something different visually, they’re also extremely versatile—after all, is there anything better than having three tables in one?

Nesting tables are wonderful for bedrooms that have multiple seating areas, like an owner's suite with a reading nook that needs a side table pulled out every once in a while. They are also great choices for those that like having a variation of surfaces to work with, as they create an instant tiered nightstand.

Nightstand With Nested Shelves

Dressers

​If space is tight, consider using a single low-profile dresser to serve double duty as a nightstand. Not only do they offer more bang for your buck when it comes to surface area, but they also provide enough space for a pretty vignette or display of your favorite collection.

Have enough space to work with? Choose two bedside dressers instead of nightstands for a dramatic effect.

Bedroom With Dressers as Nightstands

Mismatched Nightstands

More and more homeowners are starting to mix it up with varying nightstands. They’re the perfect piece of furniture for playing around with different styles and vintage finds.

If you want to keep things slightly cohesive, choose tables around the same height. This allows for matching lamps to stay at the same eye level.

Choose ones with similar finishes and mix up the decor, or choose ones with radically different finishes and styles and keep the decor similar on both sides.

Bedroom With Mismatched Nightstands

Unique Alternatives

​There are a number of unique alternatives to traditional nightstands. After all, if it has a surface and a height that works for your space, it could be a fantastic option for a bedside table. Here are a few examples:

  • Stacked vintage trunks and antique bar carts offer a vintage option with a unique touch of texture and patina.
  • Secretary desks are unexpected nightstand choices, allowing a variety of surface heights and additional drawers for storage.
  • Tray tables add a functional surface big enough for a lamp and a few books.
Bedroom With Floating Nightstands

​No matter what the choice, stretching outside the typical nightstand choices can yield fantastic results no matter what your style. What nightstand styles have you been eyeing for your space?



Author

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Kerrie Kelly

Author

Kerrie Kelly from Kerrie Kelly Design Labs is an interior designer who writes for The Home Depot about kitchen design. She loves to provide advice on a myriad of topics such as “how to make your kitchen feel more open.” To get some more inspiration and kitchen design ideas, visit homedepot.com.

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