Common Questions About Choosing the Right Nightstand for Your Bedroom

As far as interior decorating goes, many pieces of furniture are considered to be essential in the bedroom, from lamps to room dividers. However, having a nightstand is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture you could have in your room. Basically, a nightstand or a bedside table is the ultimate bedside companion that can come in quite handy. If you’re planning to get one for your room, here are some common questions you need to ask to know which nightstand is the best for you.

What Are Nightstands Used For?

Nightstands, simple as they may be, have a surprisingly long history. Before the invention of bathrooms and indoor plumbing facilities, people use chamber pots if they need to relieve themselves in the middle of the night. Back then, nightstands are small wooden cabinets used to store chamber pots when not in use.

Today, nightstands come in all shapes and sizes and are now mainly used to support things like alarm clocks, bedside lamps, medical equipment, and basically anything the user fancies. You can even store books, lotions, medications, or other personal items. Like their predecessors, nightstands may come with drawers and shelves for storage.

Why Are Nightstands So Short?

Compared to a standard table or desk, nightstands are shorter in order to be level with a bed frame. Though taller variations do exist, nightstands are generally lacking in height to allow a person to use them easily even when they’re lying down in bed. They’re not actually designed for working or eating while in bed, so it wouldn’t make sense to make them taller than the bed frame.

How Wide are Typical Nightstands?

Many commercially available nightstands are made to accommodate the average mattress height of 25 inches. In terms of width, they can range anywhere from 20 to 40 inches wide. When choosing a nightstand, you must always consider what items you’ll be storing in it and on top of it. This, along with the space available in your room, will influence your decisions on how wide of a nightstand you’re planning to purchase.

How Close to the Bed Should Nightstands Be?

They are called “bedside tables” for a reason. You want to place your nightstand as close as possible to your bed so you can easily reach out for it. However, putting it way too close does have its problems. You can easily knock items off of the top of your bedside table that way. Placing it within close proximity is ideal. You can then adjust the distance between your nightstand and your bed until you reach a comfortable distance. It should be near enough for you to reach it without knocking anything off the table.

Conclusion

While a perfectly comfortable bed is the centerpiece of any bedroom, it won’t be complete without a nightstand sitting on both sides of the bed. Nightstands are also an essential part of the bedroom, meaning you need to take careful consideration of what type of nightstand to buy. These questions should be able to help you figure out what you want for a nightstand.

For modern furniture and interior design pieces, Legacy Decor can help you find just the right pieces for your home. From accent furniture and privacy screen panels to leather barstools and beddings, you’ll surely find anything you need to make your home look great. Contact us today to order any of our furniture pieces.