Hold Your Bedtime Essentials on the Best Nightstands
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mDesign Storage Dresser Nightstand -
Winsome Daniel Nightstand -
Prepac Fremont 2 Drawer Nightstand -
Nathan James 32704 Harper Mid-Century Oak Wood Nightstand -
VASAGLE Side Table with Drawer and Shelf Nightstand -
Buyer's Guide
As one-third of a person’s life is spent in their bedroom, this space ought to be peaceful yet functional. Not only do nightstands act as a nice décor element to your bedroom, but they also store tons of your nighttime essentials.
Nightstands serve multiple purposes: you can place lamps, water, an alarm clock, books, your nighttime skincare products, medicines, candles, and much more right next to your bed. It’s a nice way of adding storage, design, and convenience.
There’s an impressive variety of features and styles for you to choose from to find the ideal piece for your room’s arrangement. We’ve put together this guide to help you find the best fit for your bedroom along with five of our top picks for the best nightstands in 2022.
mDesign Storage Dresser Nightstand
- Very simple assembly
- Quality construction with non-woven breathable synthetic fabric
- MDF wood top with plastic feet covers on legs for floor protection
- No support under the drawers
Winsome Daniel Nightstand
- Three drawers for ample storage
- Contemporary design with metal accents for a modern look
- Solid construction with 4” legs
- Assembly instructions may be hard to follow
Prepac Fremont 2 Drawer Nightstand
- Easy to assemble
- One open shelf and two drawers
- Simply wipe to clean
- Poor instructions manual
Nathan James 32704 Harper Mid-Century Oak Wood Nightstand
- Easy 15-minute assembly
- Floor protectors for all four legs
- Strong frame construction with pinewood legs
- Not cheap
VASAGLE Side Table with Drawer and Shelf Nightstand
- Maximum static load capacity of 44lbs
- Full assembly instructions with the kit
- Rustic and industrial look
- Small pre-drilled holes
Here are the best nightstands of 2022
mDesign Storage Dresser Nightstand - Best Overall
This simple nightstand features soft, fabric drawers available in a range of colors to match your bedroom. The frame is made of sturdy stainless steel and has adjustable feet so you can ensure the top surface is even. And don't worry— the adjustable feet won't scratch your floor. With two drawers, you have plenty of space to store extra bedside items. The drawers have an insert that goes on the bottom to add extra support if you're storing heavier objects. Additionally, the top of the nightstand is a solid, water-resistant wood material, providing you with ample stability to hold a lamp, books, water, chargers, and more.
- Very simple assembly
- Quality construction with non-woven breathable synthetic fabric
- MDF wood top with plastic feet covers on legs for floor protection
- No support under the drawers
Winsome Daniel Nightstand - Runner Up
This black, sleek nightstand is made from high-quality composite wood and features metal hardware. Its style is sure to fit in with any existing décor to complement your bedroom. The nightstand has three drawers, each just over 4 inches high, giving you plenty of space to store your items in an organized manner. The composite material is sure to stand up to wear and tear and has a beautiful finish that looks like real wood. Also, the metal hardware and legs add a nice touch of contemporary style to the nightstand.
- Three drawers for ample storage
- Contemporary design with metal accents for a modern look
- Solid construction with 4” legs
- Assembly instructions may be hard to follow
Prepac Fremont 2 Drawer Nightstand - Honorable Mention
This nightstand has a classic, sophisticated look. It has two drawers and one open shelf, perfect to hold the items you use most often yet keep them out of the way. Unlike some other nightstands on this list, this piece has gliders for the drawers to ensure smooth opening and closing without scratching the material. There are also stops to make sure the drawers don't get pulled all the way out. The material is strong and has a great finish, available in a wide variety of wood tones, from espresso or cherry to black or gray, so you can match it to your current bedroom furniture.
- Easy to assemble
- One open shelf and two drawers
- Simply wipe to clean
- Poor instructions manual
Nathan James 32704 Harper Mid-Century Oak Wood Nightstand - Contender
This is a beautiful mid-century nightstand that comes in four amazing finishes, with combinations of wood, black and white. The brass hardware is antiqued for a vintage, timeless look. The nightstand features simple legs that elevate the two drawers off the ground and close to your bedside. The drawers are made of solid wood and are on glides for a smooth opening. With a convenient space-saving design, you can still fit plenty of items inside without compromising the space in your room. Plus, assembly is a breeze as the legs simply twist on.
- Easy 15-minute assembly
- Floor protectors for all four legs
- Strong frame construction with pinewood legs
- Not cheap
VASAGLE Side Table with Drawer and Shelf Nightstand - Consider
This nightstand has a beautiful rustic design that will fit perfectly beside your bed. The blend of black industrial metal and rich, brown, rustic wood will add a nice touch to your bedroom space. Although there's only one drawer, there is plenty of space beneath it on the bottom open shelf. You can easily store larger, taller items on the shelf, which is an advantage other nightstands don't have. The top is nice and sturdy to hold a lamp or other heavy items, and assembly is quick and easy. Plus, if your floor is a bit uneven, you can simply adjust the feet on the legs to even out the nightstand.
- Maximum static load capacity of 44lbs
- Full assembly instructions with the kit
- Rustic and industrial look
- Small pre-drilled holes
Buyer's Guide
A nightstand adds the perfect touch of sophistication, convenience and style to your bedroom. Before making a final purchase, here are some of the important attributes that you need to keep in mind when buying a nightstand.
What are some things to consider when buying a nightstand?
To make sure you get a nightstand that fits in well with your room and space, make sure you’re considering the following:
Height
The main reason most of us love nightstands is the convenience and ease they bring. The average mattress height is somewhere near 25 inches, so make sure the nightstand you’re getting is as tall as that for a consistent look and easy access.
Get a low-profile nightstand if you have a short bed. For a bed with mattress box spring, you'll want to consider getting a taller one.
Storage space
Every nightstand ought to have at least one drawer or shelf. Figure out your storage needs and things that you need right beside you. It’s always better to pick a nightstand with multiple drawers so it can store more items.
If you don’t want much storage space, you can go for sleek options with minimalist, contemporary designs with small drawers or even no drawers at all. Some open construction nightstands also look very classy and chic, too.
Surface area
The top of your nightstand should have enough space for all that you’re planning to keep there. It should at least be wide enough to keep a table lamp, tissue box, or alarm clock. If you have a habit of keeping a lot of things on your nightstand, get one that has plenty of surface area.
Material
The material your nightstand is made of can have a huge impact on the way it looks and feels in the room. If all of the furniture in your room is modern and contemporary, get a sleek-looking nightstand with matching finishes, for example.
On the other hand, a natural wood nightstand will be more suitable for traditional-style bedroom furniture. Glass accents or polished metal nightstands give a more vogue feel to the space. A heavy, bulky nightstand will be great if you have a big wide room or you plan on placing huge lamps or decorations on it.
You don't want to compromise on the durability of your nightstand if you choose a cheap material. If you have other nice, expensive furniture, cheap materials may stick out like a sore thumb.
What are some popular nightstand styles?
Your nightstand doesn’t have to match with everything else in the room. You can choose to spice things up by mixing traditional styles with modern designs or put shabby-chic nightstand next to mid-century furniture.
To make a better decision, you need to know all the options you have. Here are the four most popular nightstand styles:
Boho
Boho is a modern style that goes with almost anything. You can’t go wrong with this one. This style incorporated an eclectic mix of patterns, colors, and textures. This kind of nightstand will give a more relaxed, personalized, and layered feel to your room. If you wish to make your room cozy and laid back with just the right amount of style, get a boho nightstand.
Mid-Century Modern
Mid-century modern style nightstands will have neutral finishes, tapered legs, and geometrical graphics. You can easily distinguish these from their shapely designs and iconic cuts. You will notice prominent wood grain detailing on most of these and at least two drawers. This is great for people who want to mix traditional furniture with somewhat modern looks while keeping good storage space in the deal.
Modern
Modern style nightstands are usually black or white, with neat designs. They often come with sleek chrome accents as well. You will notice either straight lines or a lot of off-kilter and asymmetrical cuts and designs in this style. Modern design nightstands are often bold but can blend in well with other modern pieces.
Farmhouse
This nightstand style usually has X-shaped designs on their sides or back. You will see aged metal, distressed wood, brushed nickel hardware, baskets, or drawers in these. They have a lot of character and texture to them, so if you’re planning on getting one of these you might want to keep all the other furniture simple to let the nightstand make its statement.
What are bedside nightstands made of?
Bedside tables or nightstands are made from a variety of materials. It could be wood or metal with touches of marble or bronze. You can contrast and complement different types of materials to make your bedroom more interesting.
Here are some common materials for nightstands:
Metal
Metal nightstands are known for their sturdiness and durability. They are easy to maintain and give a nice modern and industrial feel to the whole space. You can find great minimalistic metal designs on the market.
Wood
Wood nightstands will perfectly complement practically any room, whether it's rustic, mid-century, or farmhouse style. They are durable, long-lasting, and a forever classic style that will go with any kind of space. They do require a little more upkeep than the metal ones and you will have to be aware of possible damage, as you don't want the wood to chip or splinter.
Wicker/Rattan
Rattan accents have a unique texture that brings a soft feel to the space. This material looks great on transitional, Scandinavian, coastal, and eclectic spaces.
How wide should a nightstand be?
There's no hard and fast rule about the width your nightstand should be. You should always keep the dimensions of your nightstand in mind when you’re selecting the right height for it.
With rooms getting smaller and apartment living becoming a lot more common, modern-day living requires a lot more storage space than it used to. Some people even end up eliminating bedside nightstands from their bedrooms to save space.
Here are some important questions that you need to consider when selecting the width:
- Will the bedroom look cluttered if you put a wide nightstand on both sides of your bed?
- Will the nightstand fit comfortably by the side of your bed?
- What will you be placing on top of it?
- If your bed has drawers, will they open if you put a nightstand next to it?
Mainly, the room and surrounding space will determine how wide a nightstand you can fit in your room. Make sure you’re considering the functionality and convenience above all.
Conclusion
When selecting a new nightstand for your room, make sure you’re considering the style, size, material, and visualizing the final look.
We picked some of the best nightstands in 2021 for you in hopes that you can easily select one that goes with your taste and bedroom design.
Nightstand FAQ
Q: How can you decorate a nightstand?
A: Keep it practical. You can put a small plant, lamp, books, decorative items, or alarm clock. Keep it minimal, classy, and above all, purposeful.
Q: How tall should my nightstand be?
A: Consider the height of your bed frame and mattress. Tall nightstands are 30 inches in height while smaller ones could be 20 or 18 inches.
Q: How far should a nightstand be from the bed?
A: It should be within a comfortable reach. Place it just one or two inches away from your bed.
