This post is all about finding alternatives to a bedside table if you’re looking for something different or if you’re furnishing a small space.
What can I use instead of a bedside table?
Last year my housemate and I were flat hunting in Clapham, London. We found the most perfect 2 bedroom top floor house in an old Victorian terraced house. The street was beautiful, it was a 2 minute walk from Clapham North Tube station, the only problem was the smaller bedroom had no space for a bedside table. The room was roomy enough but tucked into a cove with the space next to the bed doubling up as the walk way into the bedroom.
We put our deposit down and I went on a mission to solve the ultimate renters problem, what do you use as a bedside table when there’s no room for a bedside table? I trawled through furniture sites for divine inspiration for alternatives and found some genius ideas. As well as ideas for alternative bedside tables for rooms with limited space, I have included pieces of furniture that you may already own that could easily double up as a bedside table.
What do you do if you don’t have room for a bedside table?
If you don’t have any room for a bedside table then let me introduce you to your new best friend, the walls. Your bedroom walls can serve as brilliant support for a number of alternatives to keep your glass of water, phone and books on. I have found and listed some great shelves that you can use as a bedside table. From hanging shelves to floating shelves, these are ideal bedside table alternatives for renters as you can put them up using command strips or hooks that won’t leave a mark.
Another great alternative is a bed caddy which tucks under your mattress and hangs to the side of the bed. You can store all manner of things in here and it takes up minimal room. Bed shelves are a great and really cheap alternative to a bedside table. These wooden shelves hang off the side of the bed side and can store a fair amount.
Is a bedside table necessary?
On your search you might be wondering do I really need a bedside table. Whether a bedside table is necessary or not is completely personal to your night time routine. I can’t imagine not having somewhere to keep my phone and a glass of water at night. Bedside tables also help to keep things neater in your bedroom.
If you don’t have space for a solid table and have no choice but to put things on the floor next to you then this can get easily cluttered. Purchasing an alternative bedside table such as a hanging shelf allows you to store the essentials in a designated space. These items also allow you to add decoration to your room and make it feel more like your own.
How do you make a cheap nightstand?
The list below features some items that you might already have in your home. These pieces such as chairs, crates, coffee table books and stools can make perfect alternative bedside tables. In 2022 we’ll see more and more crates like the HAY ones below used for storage. A really cheap alternative to a bedside table is to buy a few of these and stack them upside down to your ideal bedside table height.
How much should a nightstand cost?
A bedside table can range massively in price. I believe you can make a chic bedside table on a small budget. The Amazon kitchen stools listed below are a really cheap alternative and look just like normal bedside tables. They come in a range of colours with solid wooden frames and are great if you’re furnishing your bedroom on a budget. You can spend as much or as little as you like on a bedside table. The furniture listed below come in at a range of price points so you’ll be able to find the perfect alternative table whatever your budget may be.
Do you need 2 bedside tables?
Having two beside tables isn’t always necessary. It depends on the needs of the person in the bed! You can have no bedside tables, one bedside table, two bedside tables or mismatched bedside tables. The bedside is your oyster! I always prefer two matching bedside tables with matching lamps for perfect symmetry. Having two bedside tables will obviously up the price but purchasing two of the cheaper alternatives such as the Amazon kitchen stools will come in at an affordable £50 for both tables.
What is the difference between a bedside table and nightstand?
The difference between a bedside table and a nightstand comes down to the storage, a nightstand typically has one or more drawer and a bedside table has no drawers. A bedside table and a nightstand are both small tables that are kept next to the bed. The difference between a bedside table and a nightstand also comes down to cultural differences. Bedside table is the term frequently used in the UK whereas nightstand is more commonly used in the US. As a Londoner I use bedside table much more frequently and will refer to all bed side tables regardless of storage options as a bedside table, although I do think nightstand sounds cooler.
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Here are 33 genius alternatives to bedside tables:
- Box Shelf – from Cox & Cox
- Lamp Shelf – from The Range
- Hanging Shelf – from Urban Outfitters
- Crates – from Urban Outfitters
- Wooden Trunk – from Wayfair
- Shelved Mirror – from Cox & Cox
- Leaning Shelves – from Garden Trading
- Stool – from Urban Outfitters
- Bench – from Wayfair
- Bookshelves – from Oka
- Rattan Trunk – from Oka
- Nest Table – from M&S
- Floating Shelves – from Urban Outfitters
- Drinks Trolley – from Soho Home
- Rattan Table – from Oka
- Locker – from Wayfair
- Woven Trunk – from Oka
- Side Table – from Urban Outfitters
- Console Table – from M&S
- Ottoman – from Oka
- Bath Bench – from Graham and Green
- Desk – from Graham and Green
- Step Stool – from Wayfair
- Bed Shelf – from Dunelm
- Wooden Crate – from Urban Outfitters
- Coffee Table Books – from Urban Outfitters
- Plant Stands – from Wayfair
- Coffee Table – from Urban Outfitters
- Bed Caddy – from Waterstones
- Bar Stool – from Graham and Green
- Lamp with built in table – from Pooky
- Dressers – from Graham and Green
- Pouf – from Soho Home
This post was all about alternative bedside tables. We hope you found everything you were looking for!
