At a Glance:
Benefits of Coordinating Nightstands
How to Pair Nightstands with Bed
Featured Nightstands to Put Next to Your Bed
How to Choose a Bed with Nightstands
A well-coordinated bedroom creates a calm and cohesive environment, making it a place where you can unwind and relax. One of the most important elements in bedroom design is the relationship between your bed and your nightstands. While some may overlook this detail, the right pairing of nightstands and bed frames can enhance the aesthetics of your room, improve functionality, and contribute to a better layout. Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating your bedroom, understanding how to coordinate your bed with nightstands is the key to achieving a balanced and stylish look.
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Shop NightstandsBenefits of Coordinating Nightstands
Nightstands are like end tables for the bedroom. Ideally, they’ll be about 24 to 27 inches tall. Also known as a bedside table, your nightstand is the closest piece of furniture to your bed, so it’s important that they pair well together. For example, a black bed with white nightstands can create a high-contrast look perfect for a contemporary bedroom, while a low-profile platform bed with floating nightstands is perfect for a minimalist modern design.
Coordinating your bed frame with nightstands offers a range of aesthetic and practical benefits. However, as with all design decisions, there are pros and cons to consider before you dive in.
Pros:
✅ Visual Harmony: A cohesive pairing between your bed and nightstand creates a polished, well-designed look. When these two elements complement each other in terms of material, color, and size, they enhance the overall appearance of your bedroom.
✅ Improved Functionality: Coordinating nightstands are not just about looks—they also provide valuable storage and convenience. Choosing nightstands that are the right height and size for your bed ensures easy access to essentials, such as lamps, books, or glasses of water.
✅ Balanced Proportions: Matching the scale of your nightstands to your bed ensures the space feels proportionate and balanced. For example, a king bed with nightstands looks more cohesive with larger nightstands, while smaller beds pair better with more compact options.
Cons:
❌ Limited Design Flexibility: While coordinating your bed frame with nightstands can create a cohesive look, it may limit your creativity. But that’s only the case if you think you need to buy from the same set—you don’t! Sometimes, a more eclectic approach, with contrasting furniture pieces, can make a space feel more dynamic. In fact, if you have two nightstands, they don’t even have to match.
❌ Potential Cost: Investing in a coordinated set can sometimes be more expensive, especially if you're opting for custom or designer nightstands to match a unique bed frame.
While coordinating your bed with nightstands can bring balance and beauty to your room, it’s important to consider the functionality and aesthetic flexibility that works best for your personal taste and budget.
→ Learn more: Wooden Bed Frame Buying Guide
How to Pair Your Nightstands with Bed
Coordinating your nightstands with your bed requires more than just matching colors or styles—it involves considering the size, functionality, and overall look of your bedroom. Here are five key tips so you can learn how to pair nightstands with bed:
1. Match Proportions and Scale
The first rule of coordinating your bed with nightstands is to ensure they are proportionate to one another. For example, if you have a king or queen-sized bed, you’ll want to pair it with larger, more substantial nightstands. Similarly, smaller beds like a twin or full are better suited to compact nightstands. The goal is to avoid pieces that overpower or are dwarfed by each other, ensuring balance across your bedroom.
2. Consider Style Compatibility
While your nightstands and bed don’t have to be a perfect match, they should at least complement each other in style. If your bed frame has a sleek, modern design, look for nightstands with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. On the other hand, if your bed features a more traditional or ornate design, nightstands with elegant details, like carved wood or vintage hardware, may work best. A cohesive style ensures your bedroom feels intentional and thoughtfully put together.
3. Focus on Height Compatibility
The height of your nightstand in relation to your bed is crucial for both functionality and aesthetics. As a general rule, your nightstands should be no more than 5 inches lower or higher than your mattress. This allows for easy access to items on the nightstand while you’re lying in bed, such as a glass of water, a phone, or a lamp. Taller nightstands can create visual imbalance, while nightstands that are too short can be awkward to use.
4. Material and Color Coordination
When pairing your nightstands with your bed, consider the materials and finishes. If your bed frame is made from dark wood, you might choose nightstands in a matching wood tone to create a cohesive look. Alternatively, mixing materials can also be an effective strategy—combining a wooden bed frame with metal or mirrored nightstands can add texture and interest to the space. Just make sure that the colors and finishes complement each other without clashing.
5. Prioritize Functionality
Functionality should never take a backseat when choosing nightstands. Think about how you’ll use your nightstands daily. Do you need ample drawer space for storage, or is a simple tabletop enough for a lamp and a book? If your bed is the focal point of a smaller bedroom, you might want to choose nightstands with built-in storage to maximize space. On the other hand, if storage isn’t a priority, an open, minimalist design might suit your needs.
By paying attention to these details—size, style, height, material, and functionality—you can create a beautifully coordinated look between your bed and nightstands, enhancing both the aesthetic and usability of your bedroom.
→ Learn more: 8 Favorite California King Bed Styles
Featured Nightstands to Put Next to Your Bed
Keep reading for our favorite nightstand picks from Idler’s Home.
homestyles Seaside Lodge Off-White Nightstand
Shop this homestyles Nightstand
This is the dream nightstand for a coastal, cottage, or farmhouse bedroom! With a weathered wood finish and an X-frame, it is a charming piece that will warm up your space and add character instantly. We love the contrasting nickel hardware, the drawer, and the open space for storage or display. In terms of pairing this nightstand with a bedframe, you could go with a weathered white bed frame or a rustic wood bed frame in a light or dark tone. You could even pair it with a metal bed frame for a more traditional look.
Signature Design by Ashley Belachime Black Nightstand
Shop this Signature Design by Ashley Nightstand
This sleek nightstand is perfect for a modern or contemporary bedroom design. With an upholstered bed frame, you could also dress it up for a glam design. We love the simple silhouette, pewter handles, and classic black color. It adds two storage drawers to your bedroom without taking up too much space. You could easily pair it with a black nightstand or an upholstered nightstand in almost any color. We recommend two nightstands on either side of the Signature Design by Ashley Belachime Black Queen Panel Bed.
Featured Signature Design by Ashley Nightstand Review:
“Arrived quickly and they look great. (Bought 2) Only had to install the handles when they arrived. Modern without being too trendy. Sturdy, deep drawers. Exactly what I needed!”
Signature Design by Ashley Cabalynn Light Brown Nightstand
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This nightstand features a light brown glazed finish, aged pewter handles, and two storage drawers. We love the arched framing on the drawer fronts, perfect for a mid-century modern, boho, or natural modern bedroom design. When it comes to pairing this nightstand with a bed, you can embrace an all-wood look with the Signature Design by Ashley Cabalynn Light Brown Queen Storage Panel Bed. You can’t go wrong with the timeless look of a wooden bed, and this one has four storage drawers. For a more luxe look, the Signature Design by Ashley Cabalynn Light Brown Queen Upholstered Bed is an elegant option.
Signature Design by Ashley Willowton Whitewash Nightstand
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This shabby chic nightstand is perfect for a farmhouse or coastal design. We love the rustic touches—from the whitewashed wood to the distressed plank-style top and the brass hardware. Although this nightstand has an antique feel, it’s equipped to handle your tech with an electric outlet strip with USB ports. You can pair it with the Signature Design by Ashley Willowton Queen Panel Bed for a cozy and cohesive look. We love the plank-style head and footboards, as well as how the top of the head and footboards echo the nightstand’s top.
Featured Signature Design by Ashley Nightstand Review:
“This was a find for me because we already had a couple of the matching pieces! The sale on it was great! It's spacious and sturdy and I absolutely love it!”
homestyles Merge Brown Nightstand
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Whether you love modern style, want to keep it minimal, or desire a slightly retro look, this is the ideal nightstand. It works well in minimalist and mid-century modern bedroom designs. We love the open storage, perfect for keeping books by your bedside, and the drawer offers extra storage. It features a simple silhouette with a unique grooved top, which is designed to hold your phone and help you manage your cords. This nightstand pairs perfectly with the homestyles Merge Brown Queen Bed.
Featured Homestyles Nightstand Review:
“This Merge nightstand is exactly what we were looking for. It has a modern look with a large open area to stack books or electronics and a pull drawer to stash small items. It was quick and easy to assemble. I was really impressed with the quality, the engineered walnut finish wood is very sturdy and the drawer slides smoothly. There is a groove on the top that can be used to hold a phone, my daughter doesn't use that too much, but said it works well for watching videos.”
homestyles Oak Park Black Open Nightstand
Shop this homestyles Nightstand
This sophisticated black nightstand features a traditional silhouette. You could pair it with a black bed, like the homestyles Oak Park Black Queen Panel Bed, or an upholstered bed frame for a chic look. This nightstand offers a storage drawer along with a shelf for open display. The matching hardware creates a monochromatic look to create a peaceful bedroom retreat. In fact, this nightstand would also work well in a Japandi bedroom design, which combines traditional Japanese style with Scandinavian elements.
Featured Homestyles Nightstand Review:
“Was in need of a new nightstand and a universal one as well. The craftsmanship of this product is excellent. For the price and quality you cannot beat this brand. I bought the bed stand shortly after because of how sturdy the other products were!”
Signature Design by Ashley Aprilyn White Nightstand
Shop this Signature Design by Ashley Nightstand
This nightstand instantly brightens up your bedroom, making it perfect for small bedrooms. It offers plenty of storage with both an open cubby and a spacious drawer. The leather drawer pull and white wood finish make this perfect for a boho, Scandinavian, or modern bedroom design. You can keep things neutral or pair it with warm desert tones or cool earth tones. For bed frame pairings, you have a few choices: the Signature Design by Ashley Aprilyn White Full Bookcase Bed, the Signature Design by Ashley Aprilyn White Full Platform Bed, or the Signature Design by Ashley APrilyn White Queen Panel Headboard.
Featured Signature Design by Ashley Nightstand Review:
“I LOVE my nightstands. They complete the moody, mid-century modern-farmhouse vibe I was going for. It was super simple to put together (by myself), and the instructions on step 11 gave me a good laugh! ;) I'll buy furniture from any company with a sense of humor! I look forward to using my nightstands for many many years to come! :)”
→ Learn more: How to Choose a Dresser with Mirror for Your Bedroom Style
How to Choose a Bed with Nightstands
We’ve recommended some great nightstands, but what if you already have nightstands you love? The next step is to choose a bed frame that complements them. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a bed to pair with existing nightstands:
1. Bed Size and Nightstand Proportions
Just like when you pair nightstands with your bed, the size of your bed should be proportionate to your nightstands. For example, if you have large, substantial nightstands, a king or queen-sized bed will help balance the look. Smaller nightstands pair better with low-profile queen beds, full beds, or twin beds.
2. Style Matching
If your nightstands are modern with sleek lines, look for a bed frame that shares similar characteristics. A bed frame with too much contrast in style may look out of place. On the other hand, if your nightstands have a traditional or vintage feel, look for bed frames that feature elegant or classic detailing.
3. Material and Finish
Coordinate the materials of your bed frame and nightstands for a cohesive look. For example, a metal bed frame may work well with metal nightstands or wooden ones with metal accents. If your nightstands are made from wood, choose a bed frame in a similar finish or one that works well without competing.
4. Color Palette
Make sure that the color of your bed frame either matches or complements the nightstands. A neutral-colored bed frame, like white or gray, is a versatile choice that pairs well with most nightstand finishes. If your nightstands are a bold color, opt for a more subdued bed frame to avoid overwhelming the space.
→ Learn more: 7 Queen Bed Frame Looks You’ll Love
Knowing how to pair your bed with nightstands may be the key to pulling your whole bedroom design together. After all, the bed is the natural focal point of the bedroom, and when you’re looking at the bed, you can’t help but notice the nightstands too. At Idler’s, we have a diverse selection of nightstands in every size and style, so you can find the perfect complement for your bed frame.
FAQ
What size nightstand for a king bed?
For a king bed, larger nightstands work best to create a balanced and proportional look. Nightstands that are 28 to 30 inches wide are typically ideal for king-sized beds. They provide ample space for lamps, books, and other essentials while ensuring the room doesn’t feel overcrowded.
How wide is a bedside table?
Bedside tables generally range from 16 to 30 inches wide, depending on the size of the bed and the room. For twin or full beds, a 16-20 inch wide nightstand works well, while for queen or king beds, 24-30 inch nightstands provide a more balanced appearance.
Should nightstands be lower than the bed?
Nightstands should ideally be the same height as the top of your mattress or slightly lower. This ensures easy access to items like lamps, phones, or water while lying in bed. If the nightstand is too high, it can look awkward and may be uncomfortable to use.
Where to buy nightstands near me?
For a great selection of nightstands in a variety of styles, sizes, and materials, visit us at Idler's in California. We offer a wide range of nightstands that can complement any bed frame, helping you create a cohesive and functional bedroom space.
Why Trust Idler’s Home?
At Idler’s Home, we believe in providing the highest quality products and service to our community. Over the span of 70 years (and counting), our business has seen successful growth, with over 100 employees and five locations along the central coast of California. Not only do we offer major appliances, quality furniture, and the best mattresses but we also provide hot tubs and swim spas and perform kitchen design services. In addition, our trained professional installers can set up all appliances we sell while our factory-trained technicians service and repair them if they ever break down. Suffice it to say: Idler’s is dedicated to helping you make the vision you have for your home a reality.
Shop Bedroom Furniture at Idler’s
Envision the possibilities for your home and shop bedroom furniture online at Idler’s. Our friendly team is always happy to help you find nightstands to pair with your bed — whether you call us, email us, or use our online chat feature. Or better yet, stop by any of our five Central Coast locations to experience the quality of our products yourself. Visit us today!
→ Learn more: 4 Smart Tips for Buying a Twin Bed and Mattress