Ideas for Nightstands: Must-Know Rules of Selecting Them

A night stand is a night stand, right? Wrong.

What goes next to your bed obviously needs to be functional, but night stands aren’t a one-size-fits-all piece of furniture. To help put some bumpers on your exhaustive list of bedside table options, Alicia Lacy from Curbly shares ideas for nightstands and her must-know rules she recommends when selecting nightstands for the bedroom:

Height. Measure and make sure your nightstand isn’t too tall or too short for the height of your bed. There’s nothing worse than too short nightstands! While it’s totally up to you whether you prefer a taller or short nightstand, a good rule of thumb is no taller than 4 to 5 inches above your mattress. Yeah, it’s a little Goldilocks, we know, but you’ll thank us later.

Function. There are plenty of ideas for nightstands, but it’s important to understand what you want it to do. Don’t be constrained by what’s considered a “nightstand,” either. Find a piece that fits your functional needs, whether that’s a side table, storage cabinet, chest of drawers or even a small console. For some, simplicity will do. For others, the more options and features, the better.

Profile and style. If you’ve got a king-size bed or large statement headboard, opt for a heftier nightstand. More minimalist and modern? Go with a delicate or sleek option, like a simple side table with a glass shelf.

READ MORE ON CURBLY: His and Hers Nightstands: Styled Two Ways.

International Lux Round Side Table night stand for her