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The Best Nightstand

Last updated on November 3, 2023
Best Nightstand

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A nightstand functions as both an aesthetic accessory to put alongside your bed and as a place to conveniently store important items. Usually featuring a solid top and one or more drawers or shelves, a nightstand makes it easy to have your alarm clock, glasses, medications, phone, books and other important items in a convenient place. It can also provide a place to help declutter the bedroom.

Examine the nightstand’s style and color to determine if it fits in well with your other bedroom furniture. If your bedroom has handcrafted wooden furniture, you’ll find that a solid wooden design blends in well for a classic look. Bedrooms with modern furniture made of steel or featuring brighter colors can work well with a compact metal or a sleek glass nightstand.

MOREThe Best White Nightstand

You’ll want to think about the nightstand’s size so that it both fits in your space and is easy to reach from your bed. As a rule of thumb, stick to a nightstand about as tall as your mattress’s top so that you can easily reach items. Measure the space beside your bed and leave a few extra inches on both sides to make sure you find a nightstand with an appropriate width.

Keep your storage needs in mind as well. While you can easily find a simple nightstand that will hold a few key items on top, you can find plenty of models with several drawers or shelves if you need them. Some nightstands will feature deeper drawers you can use to store clothing.

Don’t forget about the nightstand’s sturdiness. While you may not need something heavy-duty to hold an alarm clock and phone, storing books or supporting a lamp will mean you need a durable model. Check the materials making up the nightstand along with the weight limits for the unit and compartments to make sure you get enough stability for your needs.

If you plan to use your nightstand as a place to charge gadgets overnight, know that some models offer handy charging stations that make this easier. For example, some models have a USB port along with a built-in lamp so that you can charge your phone and see to read at night.

Our Picks For The Top Nighstands

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Winsome Claire One-Shelf Wooden Bedroom Nightstand

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Winsome

Claire One-Shelf Wooden Bedroom Nightstand

Holding up to 50 pounds, this wooden nightstand comes in a modern style. You get an open shelf on bottom and a top drawer with a simple round knob. The top has a slight curve for a casual look.

Overall Take

Clean and CasualKeeping it simple but with a modern flair, this study wooden nightstand can blend in with just about any existing bedroom furniture.

 With Built-In Lamp

Brightech Madison Built-In Light Bedroom Nightstand

Brightech

Madison Built-In Light Bedroom Nightstand

If you're looking for more than a place to store items, this wooden bedroom nightstand provides a built-in lamp and USB charger. It features a narrower design for small rooms and has two compartments. You can choose between white, black and brown versions.

Overall Take

Functional DesignNot only do you get a sturdy nightstand with multiple compartments, but this option gives you the modern conveniences of a lamp and charging port.

  The Best Value

mDesign Wood Top Easy Pull Drawers Night Stand

mDesign

Wood Top Easy Pull Drawers Night Stand

The mDesign Night Stand Organizer Unit is an excellent choice for temporary or small spaces. With the Best Value rating, this nightstand offers two fabric drawers for storage, a metal frame and a laminate top you can use this anywhere. College students can afford this nightstand and put it to good use in their small dorm spaces.

Overall Take

AffordableThis inexpensive mDesign Night Stand Organizer Unit is ideal for dorm room spaces and budgets.

 Also Consider

Winsome Daniel Accent Contemporary Night Stand

Winsome

Daniel Accent Contemporary Night Stand

The simple design and sleek black color of this night stand make it extremely versatile. It not only looks great next to a bed, but also provides extra storage space next to a sofa or in a craft room. The nightstand features three drawers that do an excellent job of keeping your room organized and free of clutter.

Overall Take

Most VersatileThe raised legs and metal hardware on this night stand give it more of a contemporary look.

What to Look For

  • Since nightstands often come unassembled, take a look at the instructions beforehand if possible. This can help you save headaches that could happen if you buy a model that is tricky to assemble or requires extra help you might not have. You can often find these on the manufacturer’s website.
  • To prevent yourself from bumping into your nightstand in the dark, avoid placing it too close to your bed. Generally, you’ll want to leave a few inches of space between the bed and nightstand. Also, consider your walking path out of your bed so that you place the nightstand far enough back to the wall.
  • If you purchased your bedroom furniture as part of a set, check whether the manufacturer has a matching nightstand available to save some time looking for a good match. Of course, you can still always consider a similar style that will complement your existing furniture.
  • When considering nightstand materials, it helps to think about your cleaning preferences. If you’d rather not spend time polishing wood, you can clean glass and metal nightstands with a simple spray and wipe. In any case, dust your nightstand with a soft cloth regularly and try to give it a good clean every few weeks or as often as needed.
  • If you’ll use the nightstand’s shelves or drawers for heavy items, distribute the weight evenly to prevent damage. Having too much weight on top versus bottom comes with the safety risk of the nightstand potentially tipping over.
  • You have plenty of ways to spice up your nightstand if you find it too plain. Adding a decorative lamp, some candles, a few pictures, or a small plant can turn a simple nightstand into a sophisticated addition to your bedroom. For more functionality, you could even put a mirror on the wall behind the nightstand.

More to Explore

You’ll be surprised to know that the bedside table where you might place your phone, glasses or alarm clock once had an even more important use. Early nightstands from the 19th century actually featured a commode that typically pulled out discretely from a bottom drawer.

Back in those days, many people didn’t have indoor toilets that they could flush like we do now. So, a nightstand provided a convenient place to use the bathroom so that people didn’t have to make the trip outside in the middle of the night.

Despite the different use, these antique nightstands usually still had a handy drawer and top to store important items like the modern version does.

More to explore