7 Small Nightstands That Don’t Feel Like a Design Compromise
As someone who spent years hopping between tiny apartments in New York City, I know firsthand that when you have a cramped bedroom, every inch matters. If your bed takes up the bulk of your floor space, you’ll need a small nightstand or two to squeeze in by its side. But a petite option doesn’t need to feel like a design compromise.
Instead, it can be an opportunity to play around with texture, color, and silhouette. Take a classic example like Kartell’s modular Componibili shelving that stacks three tiers of shelving in one slim silhouette and can moonlight in a more spacious room or home office. For mapping out small bedrooms, start with a tape measure. Between 13 and 16 inches of clearance should give you enough space for essentials like a glass of water and a book, though one or two drawers of storage never hurts for keeping things like sleep masks close at hand. Here, a curation of small nightstands that make the most of limited space.
Our Top Picks for Small Nightstands
Specs
- Dimensions: 13.4" W x 16.4" D x 22" H
- Materials: Solid poplar with a painted finish
For Open Storage
The rounded design and open shelving of this solid wood side table give it a lighter silhouette, which can help a small space feel less cramped. Place an orb light on the bottom shelf to lend your bedroom a cozy glow.
For a Lacquered Look
Specs
- Dimensions: 16" W x 18" D x 26" H
- Materials: FSC-certified solid poplar wood frame and sides; engineered wood top and drawer fronts; high-gloss enamel finish
Even minimalists need storage space. West Elm’s Pierce & Ward nightstand leans into the lacquered trend with a sleek, pared-back design that houses three drawers offering plenty of room for all your nightstand clutter. This multifunctional piece would also look right at home ina living room or entryway.
For an Art Deco Aesthetic
Specs
- Dimensions: 23.6” H x 15” W x 16.9" D
- Materials: Oak, mappa burl, steel
Stained in a burgundy Bordeaux wood finish, this burl wood bedside table exudes elegance, with notched handles and a slight pedestal base to give it an extra boost. Opt for an equally petite table lamp here, or play off the dark wood finish with a vintage vase and a bouquet of fresh flowers.
For Floating Storage
Specs
- Dimensions: 6" H x 19.75" W x 15.25" D
- Materials: Solid Beech and veneered American Black Walnut, engineered wood, steel
Clean-lined is one way to describe this floating drawer nightstand from Article. Yes, this wall-mounted piece only has one drawer, but the pared-back style gives your primary bedroom more visual breathing room. In fact, interior designers say that creating negative space in a small room can make it feel larger.
For a Sculptural Silhouette
Specs
- Dimensions: 15.5" W x 14.75" D x 20" H
- Materials: FSC-certified engineered hardwood, white oak veneer and wood
Leave it to Sarah Sherman Samuel to introduce a sculptural, gallery-worthy nightstand to flank your bed on both sides. The raised blocks on the facade give it a tactile element, while concealing two interior shelves for stowing away a pajama set or your morning pages.
For Tucking Things Away
Specs
- Dimensions: 23” H x 12⅝ Dia
- Materials: Injection-molded polycarbonate
Though the iconic Kartell Componibili design first appeared in 1969, the modular form still feels remarkably current, with sliding doors that conceal any unmentionables you want to keep close at hand. It’s available in classic, solid color options or a DWR exclusive two-tone motif. Contributor Erika Owen, who uses hers as a guest room side table, calls it “the hardest working design in my apartment, by far.”
For a Double-Duty Table
Specs
- Dimensions: 16" W x 16"D x 18" H
- Materials: Solid oak and solid walnut
The Sundays Field Stool is anything but one-note, thanks to its variegated oak and walnut stripes. Even though it doesn’t come with any built-in storage, it still works surprisingly well as a bedside companion when floor space is tight.