Posted by Lauren Jaques - Senior Buyer on 5th Mar 2024
Bedside Tables: How to Choose the Best Fit for Your Needs
In the market for a new bedside table and don’t know where to start? For such seemingly insignificant items of furniture, bedside cabinets are surprisingly difficult to shop for. Not only are nightstands required to be practical – acting as storage and as a place to put your alarm clock, lamp and glass of water – but they need to perfectly suit your bedroom too. Nightstands should look good with other furniture, be the right size to fit all of your important bedtime bits and pieces and manage not to get in your way too.
So where do you start when it comes to choosing the best night tables for your bedroom? Right here, with our comprehensive guide to all things bedroom furniture, from measurements, to storage to design…
Why you need a bedside table
Most of us have a bedside table yet it seems like such a small and unimportant item of furniture when compared to the other, larger storage pieces in your room. As experts in all things bedtime we think differently. In our opinion, a good nightstand is an invaluable investment.
Bedside tables offer invaluable storage
When you live in a home with limited storage, every nook and cranny, drawer and cupboard counts. A good bedside table may contain just a couple of drawers or a small cupboard but it’s amazing what you can get in there! Ideally sized for jewellery, watches and other small, precious pieces that might get lost in larger drawers, a nightstand keeps your valuables neatly organised and nearby.
Bedside tables provide a place for essentials
There are those things that it’s important to keep close to you at night, such as your glasses or contact lenses, medication or your smartphone. With a generously sized bedside table you’ll have space for all those things that you can’t be without, helping you to sleep easy knowing that those vital items are close to hand. In addition to personal belongings, a bedside cabinet gives you a spot for the book you’re currently reading, a glass of water or a cup of tea, a lamp and an alarm clock.
Nightstands make your sleep routine easier
Wash your face, moisturise, read a chapter or two while you sip a cup of chamomile tea, brush your teeth and then it’s time for light’s out. Most of us have a regular routine we follow as we prepare to settle in for a good night’s sleep. Having a bedside cabinet ready loaded with the essentials you need to streamline that routine can make bedtime far less stressful. With a bedside table you can keep your night serum and moisturiser to hand, put your book down and switch off your light, all without leaving the comfort of your bed. It’s also just the spot for your partner to leave that first morning cup of coffee.
Bedside cabinets complete a room
Bed frame, wardrobe, dressing table, chest of drawers, bedside tables. It’s the classic bedroom suite and there’s a reason it shouldn’t be messed with! As well as being highly convenient, nightstands finish a bedroom perfectly, filling in those empty spaces next to a bed that might otherwise look glaringly empty. Bedside cabinets chosen to complement your existing furniture (and there’s no need to be matchy-matchy if that’s not your style) is the ideal finishing touch for a well-designed bedroom.
How to choose the best bedside tables for your bedroom
The bedside tables you choose will depend on a number of factors, including your budget and your own personal taste. Here are some considerations to bear in mind when you begin browsing:
Bedside tables to suit your style
Yes, a bedside cabinet needs to be practical but it should look great too. If you’re into modern industrial you might opt for a cool metal or concrete-look nightstand. Love that rustic vibe? Bare wood or rattan might be right for you. And if your bedroom is all about glamour and indulgence why not seek out a bedside table clad in fabric or tinged with gold and glass? Your bedside cabinet is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night so it should be practical, yes, but it should also bring you joy.
One or two bedside cabinets?
If you share a bed you’ll probably opt for a bedside table each, but what if you’re a solo sleeper? If you sleep in a single bed or if you push your bed up against the wall one bedside cabinet will do. However, when it comes to furnishing a larger room with a double bed using a single bedside table can look unbalanced – in this case two units is a sensible choice, ensuring your room looks complete. As a bonus, two bedside tables means double the storage, giving you plenty more space for your belongings while ensuring that overnight visitors are made to feel welcome and comfortable too.
Built-in or freestanding bedside tables?
While most of us plump for freestanding nightstands, floating bedside table options are available too. These make for a neat finish and can leave floorspace clear for easier vacuuming and an increased sense of space. In addition to those that are affixed to a wall (or even carved into it in some cases), shelving built into a bed’s headboard is available too. However, be aware that building in bedside tables does make changing up your bedroom’s style that bit more difficult when the time comes.
How do you use your nightstand?
When choosing a bedside table you’ll want to think carefully about how you’re most likely to use it. The items you’ll store on and inside it will dictate the size of a table and the type of storage you’ll choose. Like to keep a Teasmade to hand? You’ll need a large, open top surface. Keep a lot of books on your nightstand? Look for shelving over drawers. Using an illuminated alarm clock? Dodge glass or mirrored tops that will reflect the light of glowing digits.
What to Look For When Shopping For Bedside Cabinets
When you’re ready to hit the shops refer to this handy guide to choosing the best nightstands for you and your bedroom…
The right size for your bedside table
As a rule a bedside table should be the same height as your bed with the top hitting even to the top of your mattress. Shorter or taller and a bedside table can look uneven and be awkward to reach. When it comes to overall width, however, the choice is yours. If you need to save space look for a narrow bedside table design of under 50cm. Larger sizes will, of course offer more space for your belongings. Consider the space you have between your bed and the wall or other furniture too. A bedside table that butts up against the bed can look over-large and make noise as you move about in bed.
Which material is best for a nightstand?
Long gone are the days when a bedside table was only available in classic wood. Now you’ve got a whole host of options to choose from when it comes to material. Metal-built bedside cabinets are a popular choice for modern settings. But though hardwearing and easy to clean these can be noisy as you put your phone or mug down on them at night. Fabric-covered tables are a great option for a softer look that matches your headboard, however these are harder to clean and can stain. Additionally, if you have pets they may view fabric nightstands as scratching posts. Wood is hardwearing and attractive but do protect the top with coasters to avoid ring marks from your morning cuppa.
Bedside tables: the best for storage
How much storage do you need? If you’re all set, a simple stool-type bedside table may be all you need to keep the basics to hand at night. However, if your home is short on hideaways for all those bits and bobs nightstands can provide some much-needed storage. Bookworms should look for open shelving for their many tomes while those with smaller items to store may prefer one or more drawers. Cabinets with front-facing doors, meanwhile, are ideal for the storage of taller items such as toiletries.
What bedside cabinet style do you love?
The most important question you’ll need to ask yourself when shopping for new bedside tables is what’s your style? Choosing a well-made table that you’ll love for years to come will avoid the risk of having to start from scratch in a few months time. It’s also more likely that your new nightstand, chosen because it suits your everyday taste rather than a fleeting fad, will stand up to re-use when you redecorate, fitting in with new decorative schemes.
Our Best Bedside Table Picks
Unsure which bedside cabinets are best for you? Here are just a few of our favourites for every taste and requirement:
The best night tables for small spaces
Just 40cm across, this velvet-look upholstered bedside table will fit into almost any small space while also offering generous storage in two deep drawers. Whether you’re after a black nightstand or a grey bedside table, there’s a version to suit your needs with pink, teal and beige versions also available to help bring a touch of glamour to your bedroom.
The best nightstands for storage
Wider than average at 60cm across, the Sicily white bedside table includes two large drawers just made for keeping things well organised. Though we like all-white for a neat finish, this nightstand is also available in a range of other colourways to suit your personal style and decorative scheme. Part of the wider Sicily range, this smart bedside table will match other furniture, including wardrobes and chests of drawers, helping you to maximise storage in the bedroom.
The best bedside table to stand the test of time
When it comes to timeless looks and robust build you really can’t beat oak bedside tables. Simple and stylish, the Delphine three drawer bedside table in Light Oak is the perfect choice for a home that ignores fads and fashions in favour of longevity. Fully assembled on arrival, these wooden nightstands are also a great choice for those who hate flatpack.
The best nightstands for children’s bedrooms
What budding superhero won’t love this Spiderman bedside table complete with drawer and bookshelf for storing bedtime stories? A cute design for young kids, this low bedside table is low enough to sit alongside smaller beds. Gaming teens, meanwhile, will love this sleek woven fabric Recharge black or grey nightstand. Incorporating a drawer for all their gadgets, wireless charging, plus a charging port for wired charging of smartphones or controllers, this smart bedside table also offers cool colour-changing LED lighting.
The best bedside table for modern homes
A small bedside table is ideal for the reduced dimensions of contemporary bedrooms. The sleek Silvia grey bedside table doesn’t just look the part in modern rooms it also takes up minimal space. Featuring a tempered glass top, this nightstand also provides the perfect place to rest your morning brew.
Brilliant bedside tables at Bensons for Beds
When it comes to furnishing bedrooms nobody knows quite as much as the team at Bensons for Beds. In addition to our fantastic range of beds and mattresses, we also offer a complete selection of bedroom furniture to help you create your dream night time sanctuary.
Making your life a little easier, when you buy your nightstands from us not only will you be offered a range of finance options, including Klarna, to help you spread the cost of your purchase but you’ll enjoy delivery, to your bedroom, on the day of your choice too. Even better? For a small fee we’ll build flatpack furniture for you too!
To place an order or for more information call into a local Bensons for Beds showroom or give us a ring on 0808 144 6160.
