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Why nightstands and bedside tables are the most versatile piece of furniture you own

Here are some of the best ways to use nightstands in your unconventional interior design.

By LLM Reporters   |  

Are you needing a small piece of furniture to fill an oddly shaped space or a specific need? There are a lot of different options out there, but if you’re coming up short then it might be time to think outside the box. Often, the best piece of furniture for the job is one you might not have considered, yet when you try it out, it works perfectly.

One of the most under-used items in most people’s homes is the bedside table, or nightstand – which, while traditionally placed beside the bed and used for lamps and bedtime reading materials, is actually far more versatile than you might imagine. While many small spaces throughout your home could benefit from a small piece of storage or display furniture such as this, it can often be difficult to find something specifically designed for such instances, and with a variety of different styles and designs to choose from, there’s a nightstand to suit every aesthetic.

From modern to bohemian, shabby chic to retro, interior design styles thrive on versatility and multi-functional furniture, and for an eclectic look, the humble nightstand has an interesting role to play. Here are some of the best ways to use nightstands in your unconventional interior design.

bedroom with nightstand
One of the most under-used items in most people’s homes is the bedside table, or nightstand – which, while traditionally placed beside the bed and used for lamps and bedtime reading materials, is actually far more versatile than you might imagine

In the craft room

If you have a room in which you love to spend time unwinding and indulging in some arts and crafts, a nightstand can make for a useful piece of furniture when it comes to keeping your supplies organised. The plastic drawer and organiser systems many people use for their materials and tools might be practical, but they certainly won’t do much for your aesthetic, and are one of the fastest ways to detract from the luxury feel of your home. Not only that, but they also don’t hold up well to heavy use. 

You might think the answer is to find more durable options meant for a garage or office location, but office and industrial furniture is often unattractive and will detract from your careful interior design efforts – whereas a nightstand is sturdy enough to hold a plethora of supplies without breaking and will make for a beautiful feature, too. Head here for a great selection of quality nightstands and to find a nice sized, quality chest of drawers to go with yours.

As part of a small home office corner

Almost half of Brits – and Americans, too – are now working remotely, at least on a part-time or occasional basis. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a spare bedroom, finished basement, or loft space you can use for a home office, you’ve likely had to fashion one in an unused corner of another room like your living room, family room, or your bedroom.

The smaller your office space is, the less obtrusive it will be for both you and the rest of the household – and a nightstand is the perfect piece of furniture for the job. Not only will it take up minimal space, but you can also get one with drawers in which you can store all of your files and office supplies. It will also act as a desk surface for an additional monitor or printer – making it the ultimate space-saving choice.

table in playroom
If you have a separate playroom or family room in which your children tend to play, nightstands can be a great way to organise the area

In the playroom

If you have a separate playroom or family room in which your children tend to play, nightstands can be a great way to organise the area, and are short enough that even toddlers can help put things away when playtime is over. 

Choose one with sturdy drawer construction, which will ensure it is more durable than almost any toybox and will look far more stylish, too.