Nightstands
How to Choose a Nightstand
The right nightstand starts with the space beside the bed rather than with a particular style. Height determines its relationship to the mattress, width and depth determine how much room it occupies, and storage changes both its capacity and its appearance. From there, material and mounting help narrow the field.
How tall should a nightstand be?
Nightstands range from 11 to 30.5 inches high, with most falling between 22 and 26 inches. The right height depends on the bed beside it. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress on the bed actually in the room, then choose a nightstand that lands close to that measurement. A piece a little below the mattress top is easy to reach down to. One a little above keeps objects higher beside the bed.
How wide and how deep, and how much room does a drawer need to open?
Widths run from 17 to 36 inches and depths from 12 to 21 inches, with the middle of the category around 25 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Pieces from 17 to 19 inches wide are the narrow end of the range, while 34 to 36 inches starts to read more like a small chest. Drawer clearance needs to account for the drawer as it opens, along with any furniture or wall directly in front of it.
One drawer, two, three, or open storage?
A single drawer keeps the case relatively simple, while additional drawers divide storage into separate spaces and give the front of the nightstand more visual weight. Open storage leaves contents visible and accessible. A cabinet door conceals them instead. A nightstand with storage can combine any of these arrangements, depending on what needs to be kept close at hand and how much should remain out of sight.
A floating nightstand or one on the floor?
A floating nightstand is fixed to the wall, usually with a French cleat, and does not touch the floor. The space underneath remains open. A floor-standing nightstand establishes a footprint on the floor, whether it rests on legs, a pedestal, or a plinth. The choice can come down to how much furniture should occupy the floor around the bed and how firmly the bedside piece should register in the room.
Which material, and how does each one live beside a bed?
Wood brings visible grain, with solid wood, oak, walnut, and white oak each giving the surface a different character. Marble and travertine have the natural variation of stone, while metal and lacquer offer more uniform surfaces. Cane and rattan introduce woven material into the case. Each has different care requirements, so the finish and manufacturer's cleaning instructions matter alongside appearance.
Do a pair have to match, and do they have to match the dresser?
A nightstand set of 2 can create symmetry on either side of the bed, but matching is not required. Different nightstands can work together when there is a relationship in scale, height, material, or finish. The dresser does not have to match the nightstands either. Furniture in the same room can relate through proportion and finish without being identical.