If you’re feeling extra creative or want a different accent for your bedroom, you might want to do away with the nightstand and use something a little bit more unique instead. They will make your room look fun and creative and may even give you the additional storage space you need.
1. Bar cart
Bar carts come with 2-3 shelf levels and can serve as an additional place for you to store your things to keep them within easy reach. Unfortunately, they can be big and bulky, so they aren’t that suitable for rooms with limited space. Plus, all sides are open, so you need to make sure it looks neat almost all the time.
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2. Baskets
Instead of a bedside table that can fit a few things, why not get baskets with lids that you can also stack on top of one another? The challenge with baskets in place of bedside tables is that you will need more space if the baskets are big and they can’t carry items that are too heavy or they might get broken.
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3. Books
If you’ve got some old books lying around and are looking for ways to repurpose them, you can create a little stand out of them. You have to be careful though, especially if they aren’t securely placed on top of one another. There’s a chance you might knock it down along with some of the items you have on top of it.
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4. Bookshelf
Having a bookshelf as an alternative to a nightstand is ideal for avid readers. You can keep the books you’re reading close by while placing a lamp or other things you need on the topmost table. Shelves take up a lot of room, though, so you need to make sure you can fit them by your bed.
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5. Chair
A chair can be a fun, useful alternative to your bedside table, although it can be tempting to pile anything on top of it. If you want to use a chair instead of a bedside table, make sure to get one with a solid, straight seat so your things don’t tilt and spill or fall.
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6. Crates
Crates are great ideas for rustic- or industrial-themed bedrooms. The challenge with crates though is that they can be difficult to stack as the top remains open. An alternative would be to place a crate upside down so it serves as a table and can hold your lamp and other things.
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7. Document drawer
While document drawers and filing cabinets are more often associated with offices, you can also use them instead of a nightstand. They usually have 2-3 drawers where you can store your items safely. The only downside is that they are a bit plain so they won’t add much of an accent or pop to your room decor.
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8. Dresser
Instead of getting both a dresser and a nightstand, why not get a good-sized dresser and place it beside your bed? You’ll get to save up some money and some room that way. There are various kinds of dressers, but you have to make sure to get one that fits the size and look of your room.
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9. Floating shelf
Floating shelves are great alternatives to nightstands if you don’t have much floor space. You can also place a variety of things from books to a bottle of lotion to a glass of water. The only challenge is if the place isn’t your own and you might not be allowed to drill holes into the wall.
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10. Floor lamp
Another way to save both space and money is to buy a floor lamp. It’s 2-3 shelves stacked on top of each other with a lamp at the very top. That way, you can keep your gadgets and some books close by for a little nighttime reading before going to bed. Don’t expect it to be able to hold so much stuff, however, as they are usually very narrow and small. If you don’t need the shelves, you can just opt to get a lamp.
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11. Leaning ladder shelf
Leaning ladders are creative, fun, and save you quite a lot of space. You can use them as your nightstand and more as you can place several things on them, such as books, picture frames, plants, and other necessities. They come in various sizes, so make sure you have enough space to fit them next to your bed.
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12. Old leather suitcase
If you’ve got some old leather suitcases lying around, instead of throwing them away, you can repurpose them into nightstands. You can stack them on top of one another and even place some things inside that you don’t always need.
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13. Ottoman
Ottomans are great alternatives to nightstands because they can double as a stool if you need extra seating space. Some of them also come with a hidden storage space so you can store other items you want to keep hidden. However, to make sure the items on top won’t spill or get knocked over easily, you might want to put a tray to keep them safe.
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14. Plants
If you don’t need extra storage space in the form of a nightstand but are looking to place something next to your bed so it doesn’t look too empty, you can always opt to put plants. They brighten up your room and bring in a little bit of nature. Make sure, however, that you know how to care for the plants as some of them have very specific instructions:
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15. Platform bed
If you have a big space beside your bed that you want to utilize, you can opt to place a platform bed instead of a nightstand. That way, you’ll have an extra bed in case you have a guest staying over. It needs a lot of space though, so measure your area before you get one.
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16. Rope swing
If your ceiling can sustain it, why not make your room fun by putting up a rope swing by your bed? Just be careful if you have kids playing around as they might accidentally fall off it.
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17. Side table
A side table could work just like a nightstand. You’ll be able to pile things right on top of it and they come in various colors, styles, and sizes so it’s easy to find something that will suit your room. It doesn’t provide much storage space, though, other than the top table.
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18. Stackable trunk set
If you’re going for a rustic, vintage vibe for your room, you can purchase a set of trunks that can be stacked up on top of each other. They are a bit heavy and difficult to move around especially when full, but they also provide additional storage space.
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19. Stool
A great alternative to a nightstand if you don’t have much space is a stool. You can get one of the higher ones often used in kitchens or a footstool that kids usually step on if they can’t reach high spots. They are small so they don’t take much space, but you can’t store that many items on them either.
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20. Tree stump
Tree stumps in place of nightstands make great statement pieces and add a bit of accent to your bedroom. They might be heavy to move around and sometimes they can only fit a few things, but overall they are good to use.
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21. Wall hooks
If you need space for hanging things instead of a place to store things, you can get wall hooks to hang beside your bed. The only danger is that if you aren’t that careful, they can end up making your space look too cluttered especially if you have too many things hanging.
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22. Wall shelves
Wall shelves are just like floating shelves in the sense that they are attached to the wall. Instead of just having one tier, though, they usually have two or more. This is a great alternative if you have a lot of things you want to put by your bed. Just make sure you have enough space and that you can actually drill holes into your wall.
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23. Wooden chest
A wooden chest as a nightstand alternative works just like trunks and suitcases, but usually, you just have one instead of several stacked on top of each other. If your chest has a flat lid, you can even place a lamp and some books, aside from using the inside to store other items. They can be bulky and heavy to move around to make sure you have the space for this.
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