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We have no regrets buying these.
While some furniture may be optional—such as end tables, entryway consoles, or foot-of-bed benches, to name a few—others are essential, including the best nightstands. So, rather than spend hours online reading reviews, exploring ratings, and poring over specs, we decided to look within our own homes for some good picks. Luckily, there were plenty to choose from, and we selected our top five. From larger nightstands with built-in charging ports to compact alternatives that can fit into even the smallest of spaces, there are plenty of finds worthy of a spot in your home. We can definitely vouch for the quality of these nightstands.
If you're looking for an upgrade to your current nightstand or need some ideas for decorating a new space, you've come to the right place. Ahead, we share everything you need to know about these pieces, some of which come with white-glove delivery, are on major sale, or ship within two days. No matter which one you end up adding to your cart, you really can't go wrong. Our advice? Don't wait too long to click "order" because these pieces are so good, they won't be available for long.
Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie upgraded her dresser setup to Thuma’s Nest Dresser; she wanted a set that matched that glossy Walnut finish. Thuma’s Essential Nightstands provided that elegant upgrade, plus some genius storage. “I can be a bit of a hoarder, so I need nightstands with some serious storage,” McKenzie says. “These are essentially mini-dressers. I love them so much that one is my bedroom nightstand, and the other is my entryway ‘drop zone.’ The top drawer is soft-close, and the bottom drawer is push-to-open, so it’s super easy to access anything I need. Even the craziest junk drawer items look collected in this nightstand.”
When tester Jessica Cherner and her then-boyfriend (now husband) moved into a new apartment, they brought quite a few pieces from their former homes while they waited for the newly ordered furniture to arrive, and this skinny nightstand definitely did its job as a stand-in. "When I ordered our Pottery Barn nightstands, I did not realize they would take nearly 10 weeks to arrive. I couldn't go that long without a nightstand, so I brought these from his old apartment until the new ones came in, and they were perfect. No, they don't have storage, but they offer a surprisingly large surface area considering their size. They're also so lightweight that I can carry them with one hand," Cherner says. The top, designed to look like granite, is a thick plastic that's almost impossible to stain, scratch, or damage in any way.
“When I saw that (former House Beautiful Next Wave designers!) Pierce and Ward collaborated with West Elm last year, I knew I had to buy something,” Digital Director Blair Donovan says. “I ended up ordering a pair of the Wedge nightstands, which were admittedly a splurge, but I love that the tapered silhouette sets these apart from other standard bedside tables. Both fit perfectly beside my bed without taking up too much space, yet the drawer and bottom shelf offer more storage than I expected. There’s also plenty of tabletop surface on each to style books, lamps, candles, and more.”
Even if you have a small nook to fill, you can find a nightstand that maximizes space and storage capacity. “A small bedroom was the concession I made on my most recent apartment hunt (because there's always something),” Deputy Commerce Editor Heath Owens says. “I was determined to fit a nightstand on either side of the bed, and I needed functional storage, so a cutesy styled stool wasn't going to cut it. I went with a classic two-drawer chest from IKEA (topped here with a separate bookshelf) to make the most out of my limited space.”
If you like to stay on top of trends, you may want to snag this Wade Logan nightstand, which makes a good case for reeded wood. Plus, with both a drawer and an open cubby, there's plenty of space to store anything you'd need while in bed. "This has enough space up top to double as a side table, which is great for my habit of working in bed. The fluted front adds some visual texture," McKenzie says. "I also love the open cubby for decorative storage: I plan to fill it with extra-large coffee table books and a few trinkets, creating an inviting space at my bedside."
You'd be hard-pressed to find something wrong with this Crate & Barrel nightstand. It comes in neutral shades to match any room and has ample storage space, plus an in-drawer integrated power strip with two outlets and two USB ports. It has soft-close drawers and comes with anti-tipping hardware. The mahogany used in this piece is also FSC-certified, meaning the product has met strict environmental criteria from The Forest Stewardship Council.
"It’s amazing how much storage space the Crate & Barrel Keane nightstand gives you," tester Elyse Moody says. "I fit all of my pajamas in the bottom drawer and all my electronics in the top one, where there are two outlets and two USB ports at the back for invisible charging. The shelf and top surface (which has a nice raised edge) have plenty of room for all my in-progress murder mysteries and biographies, various linen sprays, and lotion. Oh, and my alpaca. It is a luxury compared to my old, tiny nightstand. It immediately made my bedroom feel more pulled together." Moody also notes that the nightstands were delivered to her second floor and were plugged in behind her bed by the pros: "It was the easiest thing ever," she says.
If you're furnishing a starter space, like a first apartment, but still want a nightstand that's made to last, McKenzie's pick is an excellent option. "When shopping for my very first set of bedroom furniture, budget was my main concern. I wanted to find a set that made the most of my tiny apartment, didn’t look too dated, and cost under $1500, which felt like a tall order," she says. "Upon finding the Tobyn set at Raymour and Flanigan, my wallet and I took a sigh of relief. The hardwood on the nightstand had a modern, smooth gray finish, a welcome feature given how much I hate splinters. Simple metal drawer pulls add to the modern look, and the drawers have so much space they basically function as extra dresser drawers for me. It has a kind of stocky build, which helps with overall sturdiness. I had it for nearly three years before replacing it.”
How We Selected the Best Nightstands
When it came to picking out the best nightstands, we evaluated the products on several elements. First, are they well-made? Second, are they functional (read: do they have drawers, charging ports, or built-in LED lights)? Third, are they stylish? No one wants an ugly piece of furniture disrupting their decor. As with all shopping stories, we like to poll our expert team of editors for their tried-and-true picks that checked off the boxes. Many of us own nightstands we love, so if they were still available for purchase, we included them in our roundup. We made sure that the nightstands in question lived with the editor reviewing them for a period of at least six months. Luckily, all of them held up quite well.
What to Look for in the Best Nightstands
The "best" nightstand will depend on your personal preferences and needs, but here are several helpful tips to consider as you shop.
Size: Before you even start looking for a nightstand, measure the space on your bed's right and left sides (if you're looking to buy a set). This will determine how wide of a nightstand you can get. For instance, if a wall blocks one side of the bed, you may only need one nightstand. If you have a giant primary bedroom, you might want to get a wider nightstand to fill in the space. Additionally, ensure you know your bed height, as this will affect how tall or short you need your nightstand to be.
Material: Nightstands come in many different materials, from solid oak wood to engineered/manufactured wood to marble and a mix of all the above. While solid wood signals that the furniture piece is high quality, it can be more costly than pieces made with a mix of MDF. Your budget will likely dictate the material you get for your nightstand.
Style: If one element varies from person to person when buying a nightstand, it's the style. Some people prefer more vibrant patterns on their furniture, while others opt for a more minimalist or rustic look. We made sure to pick nightstands that will appeal to all your senses and decor style, so rest assured you'll find something you like—or, at the very least, be inspired to try a new style you haven't thought of before.
Features: A nightstand should have at least a surface area and/or one drawer or compartment for storage. Beyond that, however, any additional features are up to the buyer's preference. Some of our editors appreciate that their nightstands have hidden charging stations for their devices, which is quite useful in today's digital age. If your bedroom lacks a window, boob lights, or wall sconces, you could go with a nightstand that has built-in LED lights to give your room the brightness it needs. Some nightstands have removable legs if you want them to be lower to the ground or negative space to showcase more of your bedroom walls—a good option if you like your wallpaper. Consider the most important nightstand features to you, then shop for them accordingly!
Why Trust House Beautiful?
House Beautiful is dedicated to finding the best pieces for your home, no matter what your budget or design preference is. As shopping editors on a non-stop mission to incorporate the best of the best decor into our own homes, we are constantly surveying our favorite brands' new releases to test for ourselves (and ultimately recommend to readers). When it comes to recommending products, we love to combine our own expertise with thorough research and testing to give you first-person accounts of the market's best home products. Plus, the editors at House Beautiful have covered bedroom essentials from all angles, including recommending the best mattresses, the top table lamps, and everything in between. In addition, whether you need guidance on more online places to shop, we've got you covered. Our editors made sure every story is well-researched, and if needed, testing is involved, so that you can feel good about the products we're recommending.
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