From carrying chamber pots in the old days, the nightstand scaled up the ladder and became a staple in all bedrooms.
So…
What Is A Nightstand Used For?
A nightstand can hold all the essentials you need to get ready for bed. It can also improve a bedroom’s aesthetics and help you build habits. Moreover, storing valuables, gadgets, and emergency items on the nightstand can be highly convenient.
To make the most out of your bedroom space, let’s jump right in with some of the best uses of a nightstand!
Top 9 Ways To Use A Nightstand
A nightstand can be a very versatile piece of furniture if you know how to use it right.
Here are nine ideas to consider.
1. Helps You Get Ready For Bed
One of the most common uses of a nightstand top is to keep all the essentials close to the bed, from the alarm clock to a glass of water to calm you down before sleeping.
If you need any other sleeping tools and gadgets like an eye mask, earplugs, or an ambient sound machine, this is also the perfect place to keep them.
On the other hand, if you wear prescription glasses, you’ll also know how vital that little table can be.
Before sleeping, you can either put the glass in its case or just lay it on the nightstand with the lens facing upward to prevent scratching.
Either way, it beats having to put them under the pillow and risk breaking or bending them during the night!
2. Keeps Emergency Items At Hand
Aside from holding all the bedtime essentials on the top, the nightstand drawer can actually act as a mini emergency kit.
Ideally, you’ll want to have a small flashlight in case the electricity goes off at night.
A packet of spare batteries can also come in handy if you use a battery-powered alarm clock.
However, you can customize your emergency drawer to hold exactly what you need.
For one, you can have a first-aid kit, medication, safety whistle, intercom, or even a quick sugary snack if you want to.
3. Declutters Your Bedroom
With a small organizer tray or basket on your bedside table, you can really cut the clutter from your bedroom.
Your remote controllers, hairpins, scrunchies, phone charger, and tissue box can all go in there.
Basically, anything that doesn’t have a designated spot in the bedroom and might come in handy during the night is a valid option.
However, you need to keep in mind that not all nightstand tops will be large enough to hold your bedtime essentials and a decluttering tray.
Another neat trick is to stock any larger items, like a trash bin, storage boxes, or even sneakers underneath.
Of course, this will work best for a floating or single-drawer nightstand.
4. Builds Habits And Caters To Light Bedtime Reading
Building habits can be a struggle for many people, especially at the end of a long and exhausting day.
That’s why you could use the nightstand to remind you of all the things you should be doing before going to bed.
For instance, you can keep your meditation tools or dental floss on top.
This way, you’ll be less likely to skip your routine every night.
Alternatively, you can keep a book on the nightstand to help you work on your reading list faster.
Not only is it a great way to relieve stress, but it can also cut down your screen time and improve sleep quality!
To avoid straining your neck, make sure you prop your body with a sturdy pillow.
Don’t forget to use a low-wattage light bulb in your bedside lamp.
5. Keeps Your Valuables Safe And Sound
Not everything that will go into your nightstand has to be associated with bedtime.
If you have a nightstand model with a drawer, it can be a good place to store your valuables.
This might work well for people who take off their earnings, rings, and expensive watches before bed.
It can also be a good fit for keeping cash, spare keys, and important documents.
It’s usually better to check that your nightstand drawers have a functioning lock system as an extra safety measure.
Then, you can hide the key somewhere inconspicuous around the bedroom.
You could always just put it with the key chain, but it’s better to leave it at home in case you lose the chain altogether.
6. Treats You To A Cup Of Coffee In The Morning
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, you can treat yourself to a 2-in-1 coffee machine with an integrated alarm clock to keep on your nightstand top.
Some models are programmable, so you can get the brewing started even before the alarm goes off.
This way, you’ll get to wake up every day to the aroma of a freshly-brewed cup of coffee!
The only downside here is that most models will only make enough for one cup.
So, if you share the room with a partner, they either have to get another machine for their nightstand or wait and take turns.
While it’s not impossible to use a regular coffee maker on your nightstand, it might not be as safe as something made specifically for the bedroom.
Plus, you want to get something petite to avoid overcrowding your nightstand top.
7. Reflects Character And Sets The Mood
All that functionality aside, the nightstand also serves an aesthetic purpose.
It can complement your bedroom style, boost the atmosphere, and say a lot about you as a person.
Thankfully, it’s not hard to find the perfect design for you.
While going for a minimalistic approach is always a valid option, you can try to get creative here.
For instance, it’s usually worth the shot to go to your local thrift store and take a look at the vintage and second-hand nightstands.
You can make the piece your own with a bit of DIY restoration and customization.
Even something as simple as a decorative vase or a framed picture on top of the nightstand can help make the whole bedroom feel more like a comforting space!
8. Balances The Symmetry And Proportions Of The Bedroom
For some people, a bedroom without a nightstand can look bare because putting the tables on the side can ground and frame the bed.
However, to preserve the symmetry, you might not get as much freedom with the customization process.
After all, getting two matching nightstands can help you balance the room.
Additionally, you have to keep the size difference in mind.
Usually, a smaller nightstand looks more proportionate next to a petite bed frame since you don’t want two wooden stands towering over your bed!
As a general rule, the nightstand should be 2 to 3 inches lower than the bed’s surface.
This blends them in nicely without worrying about hitting your head on the corner if you roll at night.
9. Doubles As A Living Room Side Table
If you ever have a large group of guests over and don’t have enough side tables to hold the drinks, the nightstand can save you in a pinch.
All you have to do is clear the top, wipe the sides clean, pop some coasters on it, put it next to the couch, and call it a day.
Just make sure you remove all fragile and valuable items from the drawer first!
