I began to struggle with reaching for that water glass on my nightstand. It seemed like every night I was doing this ridiculous dance in front of my bed. I eventually gave up on trying to fit through the gap. Most bedside tables were designed for large master bedrooms, and my bedroom was nowhere near that size.
After what I would later refer to as “the great furniture shuffle of 2019,” I realized how much better things could be. I had recently moved into a smaller bedroom. The standard nightstand took up far too much space. In fact, every day I would have to practically jump over the top of the thing just to get dressed.
Something was going to have to give.
This is when I found the magic of super thin nightstands. I’m referring to pieces that may only be six inches deep but still will allow you to store all of your bedside items. One of my first attempts at purchasing a very thin nightstand was a sleek metal and wooden piece by West Elm. This piece was seven inches deep but 24 inches tall. Since this unit was a vertical piece, I could stack my books, glasses, phone charger and that ceramic dish where I put all of my jewelry without taking up a lot of floor space.
However, what I quickly learned was that not all of these ultra thin nightstands are the same. I experienced this firsthand when I purchased a beautiful acrylic piece from Wayfair. Although it looked great, it was extremely unstable. I ended up having to replace it after only three weeks of use. The last straw occurred when I nearly knocked my lamp off the floor during a particularly aggressive reach for the snooze button.
From there, I became fixated with finding wall mounted solutions. There’s something almost magical about storing bedside items that aren’t touching the floor. I ended up installing a floating shelf with a small drawer from IKEA (their LACK wall shelf with the hidden compartment). The shelf was placed approximately 18 inches above my pillow. It was a total game-changer. The space underneath the shelf appeared immediately larger than my tiny room. Plus, I was able to vacuum underneath the shelf without having to play with the furniture version of Tetris.
Although the installation process wasn’t without its drama. I managed to drill into a water line (thank goodness it didn’t result in a full-blown flood it was simply a slow drip), used some colorful new vocabulary and asked my neighbor Tom to come assist me in an emergency capacity. However, once it was installed? Total genius. Everything I needed was at arm’s length. No clutter on the floor.
Corner solutions deserve a special shout-out here since corners are grossly underutilized in small bedrooms. I discovered an on-line triangular nightstand that sounded crazy but trust me on this and fits perfectly into the corner between my bed and window. It provides just enough space for the essentials, but the triangular shape allows it to be positioned in such a manner that it doesn’t jut out into the path like a traditional rectangle does.
For renters who can’t install wall-mounted units, consider an over-the-bed table. I was skeptical at first (it seemed a bit too hospital-like), but my friend Sarah has this adjustable C-shaped table that slides under her mattress and places perfectly above her bed. She uses it for her morning coffee, evening reading and all of her bedside items. When she’s not using it, it disappears. Fantastic for studio apartments or shared bedrooms where each square inch counts.
I want to tell you about stacking solutions since they’re so efficient. Instead of one big clunky nightstand, why not try two or three small ones that can stack or nest together. I’ve got a set of three metal baskets of varying sizes that I can arrange however I like. At times, I’ll stack them high and narrow. At other times, I’ll place them across the wall. The flexibility is wonderful, and it also makes it easy to add additional surface space for guests. If I need to do so, I can separate them to create multiple bedside spaces.
What I have learned about small-space nightstands is that height is usually more important than width. A tall, slender piece can provide just as much storage as a short, broad one. My current setup consists of a ladder-style nightstand that is only ten inches wide but nearly four feet tall. With five shelves, I can divide my books from my chargers from that water glass that somehow ends up covered in dust at some point during the night.
As for budget, you don’t need to break the bank. Many of my best finds have come from thrift stores and online marketplaces. For example, I bought a vintage plant stand for $20 that works perfectly as a bedside table. The various tiers are great for layering storage, and the narrow profile won’t overwhelm my small room. I painted it and styled it to make it appear as though I’d spent ten times as much.
However, the true test of whether you’ve made the right decision is whether it matches your real-life habits, not your aspirational ones. I thought I would keep my bedside area clean and minimalistic. Reality check I’m someone who reads three books at the same time, has two water glasses on the go at all times and charges approximately seventeen devices per night. My nightstand needed to accommodate this chaos, not combat it.
Measure carefully. Use your measuring tape. I really can’t stress this enough. The adorable nightstand that looks amazing online may be exactly two inches too wide for your space. Believe me, I’ve learned this lesson multiple times and yet still forget it whenever I fall in love with something that looks nice.
Also, consider how it will function when you’re half asleep. Glass surfaces show every fingerprint and collect dust like nobody’s business. Sharp edges become hazardous to your shins in the dark. Flimsy construction becomes catastrophic when you’re fumbling for your phone alarm. Occasionally, the slightly less attractive but more functional option is the correct one.
Your bedside storage should make your life easier, not create an obstacle course in your bedroom. Regardless of which method you choose floating shelves, tall skinny towers, etc. the right solution is the one that meets all of your needs without making you dread getting out of bed in the morning.
