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Home 101: Elements of the Nightstand

The nightstand can truly and honestly be the make-or-break element of your bedroom. It’s a tricky little bugger because you want it to be super functional, decorative, not obnoxious but also chic…. But at the end of the day you just want it to hold your chapstick.

So we’re breaking it down to the basic elements that compose a good — yet functional — nightstand.

1. The Nightstand Itself

There are a couple of key components that make a great nightstand choice.

Height: your nightstand should be an inch or two taller than your mattress. It will look a little dinky and dis-proportional if it dips below your mattress line, so always air on the side of taller. Choosing this height is dependent on SO many variables, do you have a boxspring? Platform bed? Single Matress? Most nightstands come at standards heights around 20inches and higher, so before you select your piece, measure your mattress height and go from there!

Storage: This is totally preference. Some people LOVE a good pedal stool nightstand that’s slender, non-intrusive and chic. Other’s need the drawers to store their pj’s and other night-time routines. The more you can store IN your nightstand the less you have to store ON your nightstand.

Style: You used to by FULL matching sets including dressers, armoires and bed. Nowadays, there’s beauty in the mix! But you still want to have some unity. Take account your bed legs, materials and color. This example is a velvet headboard paired with a sleek wood stand, and the duo is working some serious magic.

Functionality: What kind of space are you working with? Do you want to have a desk in your room but can’t figure out where to put it? Maybe a desk/nightstand combo is just what you need! If you just need your nightstand to hold a lamp, the pedal stool side table is just what you need. We’ve even seen some RIDICULOUSLY chic ballroom chairs function perfectly as a nightstand.

2. Decorative Stack

Studies show the significant benefits of unplugging an hour before going to bed. So whether you want to journal, read or skim a magazine, it’s always a good idea to keep a casual read or two handy on the nightstand. 3. The Tiny “Catch-All” Dish

This dish is dainty and cute and oh-so-pretty, but it is also SUPER handy. It can hold those earings you forgot to take out before going to bed, corral your chapstick to prevent it from rolling off the table or hold your rings while you apply your nightly lotion. This tiny-little-always-overlooked-power-tool of decorating comes in so, so handy.

4. Easy Reach Lighting

How many times have you gotten all tucked in, nuzzled up and cozy in bed…. Only to realize the light is still on from your pre-bedtime reading? Yeah, it sucks. Easy reach lighting can help to prevent this. AND in the morning it’s a softer light that you can reach as a stepping stone to get you out of bed because you don’t have to fully commit to the cold floors to get any form of light on. There are two forms of lighting to consider here.

Mounted Lighting: The pro of this form of lighting is that it frees up your entire nightstand to do whatever you want with it. It’s chic, it makes a statement and it’s super practical. The con is that it takes quite a bit of effort and commitment. If you like to move your furniture around, this is not a good option for you.

Lamp: Lamps come in all shapes and sizes and can seriously make a design statement. The only con is that they take up quite a bit of room on your nightstand, but they’re also typically a lower price range and they’re a great option for those who like to switch things around. Changing the style or color of your lamp can make a BIG impact in any room.

5. Greenery

If you’ve been following along with us for more than like 5 seconds then you will quickly deduce that greenery is always the answer. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to a fresh bundle of flowers? Or you can opt for a small potted plant that you don’t have to constantly refresh.

6. Compartments

Compartments fall in similar functionality to the Tiny Dish. A consolidated mess is a lot easier to handle, and in this case, it makes “clutter” uber chic. This can hold your watch, phone, wallet or keys in a totally elegant way.

A couple of other tips and tricks

– Simple is best when it comes to setting up your nightstand. The worst thing a nightstand could be is a total cluttered mess that you constantly knock over in the early morning when trying to swat at your alarm.

– Be extremely selective with what goes on your nightstand, after all, it’s the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning! Adding a treasured photo is always a good idea here.

– Hide your cords! Or, ditch the electronics altogether and charge them elsewhere. A big mess of cords totally ruins any aesthetic efforts you make.

– Keep a pen and notebook on hand: Do you wake up in the middle of the night with a BRILLIANT idea, but can’t remember it in the morning? Keep your notebook on hand. So go forth! And make your nightstand excellent!

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