Types of Bedside Tables: Styles, Materials and Storage

Key takeaways

• There are four main types of bedside furniture: open tables, classic nightstands, enclosed cabinets and compact drawer chests, each suiting different storage needs and room sizes.
• Materials such as solid wood, veneer, metal, glass and rattan all have distinct strengths; solid wood is durable and repairable, while veneer and engineered boards are lighter and more affordable.
• Storage layouts range from minimalist open shelves to three-drawer units; choose based on what you actually keep by your bed, not just what looks good in photos.
• Style labels like modern, rustic, industrial and Scandinavian mainly describe proportions, colours and finishes; almost any style can work in a small room if you pick the right footprint.
• Tech-friendly designs, such as a bedside table with built-in charging, are increasingly common and can reduce cable clutter if you rely on multiple devices.

Main types of bedside furniture

Many people use the terms bedside table, nightstand and cabinet interchangeably, but there are useful differences between them. Understanding the main types helps you quickly narrow down what will actually work next to your bed.

Open bedside tables

Open bedside tables are the simplest option: usually a top surface with legs and perhaps a single low shelf. They take up less visual space than bulkier units, so they are ideal if you want your bedroom to feel airy or your bed already dominates the room.

These designs work best for light sleepers who prefer an uncluttered look and do not need to hide much. You get easy grab-and-go access to a book, glasses or a phone, but anything you store will be visible, so they are less forgiving if you tend to accumulate clutter.

Classic nightstands

Nightstands usually combine a usable top surface with one or two drawers and sometimes an open shelf below. They strike a balance between openness and hidden storage, making them the default choice in many homes.

This is also the category where you will increasingly find tech features, such as the Bella bedside table with adjustable LED lighting and charging. These hybrid pieces blur the line between furniture and gadget, which can be very handy if you charge multiple devices overnight but do not want trailing extension leads.

Bedside cabinets

Bedside cabinets tend to have a single door or a combination of a drawer above and a cupboard below. They provide more vertical storage than a nightstand while keeping everything hidden away, which is particularly helpful if your bedroom doubles as a home office or you share the room and do not want everything on show.

Compact cabinet designs like a slim cabinet with drawer and shelf are useful in narrow gaps where a deeper chest would feel bulky. They also make sense if you like to keep medication, skincare or small tech items nearby but out of sight.

Small bedside chests

Small chests of drawers adapted for bedside use typically offer two or three drawers, with a footprint that is slightly wider or deeper than a standard nightstand. They are excellent for anyone short on storage, such as in homes without much built-in wardrobe space.

The trade-off is visual weight. A three-drawer chest either side of the bed can look substantial, which can be good if you want a more grounded, traditional feel but less desirable in a very compact room. If you are considering this route, you might also want to explore bedside table alternatives for small spaces, such as wall shelves or ladder units, for comparison.

Before falling for a design, list what you actually keep by the bed. Your habits will often tell you more about which type you need than any style label.

Common materials for bedside tables

Once you know the overall type you prefer, material is the next big decision. It affects not only how your bedside looks, but how it wears, how heavy it is and how easy it is to clean or repair.

Solid wood

Solid wood is a classic choice for bedside furniture and suits both traditional and modern rooms depending on the design. Oak, pine, acacia and rubberwood are common. Properly finished, solid wood is durable, can be lightly sanded if scuffed and often gains character over time.

The downsides are weight and cost. A solid wood three-drawer chest will usually be heavier than veneer or particleboard equivalents, which matters if you move furniture often. If you are weighing up real wood against alternatives, the dedicated guide to solid wood versus veneer bedside tables goes into much more detail.

Wood veneer and engineered boards

Many affordable bedside tables use a core such as MDF or particleboard covered with a thin veneer or laminate. This approach keeps weight and price down while still allowing a woodgrain or painted finish. It also enables more precise, clean-lined shapes that suit modern and Scandinavian styles.

However, once veneer or laminate is chipped or swollen from moisture, repairs are harder. These materials are best kept away from persistent condensation and direct splashes. Check assembly instructions and weight limits if you plan to keep heavy books or equipment on top.

Metal and industrial finishes

Metal bedside tables and mixed metal–wood designs are popular in industrial and contemporary bedrooms. Powder-coated steel frames with wooden tops or drawers create a slim, graphic profile and are usually very sturdy.

Pure metal cabinets can be surprisingly light, though they may show dings if knocked. They are a sensible choice if you like a minimal, slightly utilitarian look and are happy to embrace a few signs of wear over time.

Glass and high-gloss designs

Glass-topped or high-gloss bedside tables reflect light and can help a small bedroom feel brighter. They pair naturally with modern upholstered beds and neutral bedding, especially in white or light grey colour schemes.

Fingerprints, dust and scratches are the main considerations. Glass needs regular cleaning, and high-gloss lacquered surfaces can mark if you slide objects across them. Coasters under glasses and felt pads under lamps are simple safeguards.

Rattan, wicker and natural fibres

Bedside tables that incorporate rattan panels, cane fronts or wicker baskets introduce warmth and texture. They sit particularly well in boho, coastal or relaxed country schemes, softening straight modern lines.

These woven materials do not like prolonged damp or strong direct sunlight, which can cause sagging or fading. They are best in reasonably stable, dry rooms where you are happy with a slightly more relaxed, organic look as they age.

Bedside storage formats

The same type of bedside furniture can be configured in multiple storage layouts. Choosing the right configuration often has more impact on daily usability than any material or colour decision.

Single-drawer designs

Single-drawer bedside tables offer a handy place to hide smaller items like glasses, lip balm or a notebook while keeping the overall unit light and compact. Many combine the drawer with an open shelf below, so you get both hidden and visible storage in one piece.

This format is a practical midpoint if you do not have many small items but want to tidy away the essentials. It suits both open tables upgraded with a drawer and slimmer nightstands in smaller rooms.

Two- and three-drawer bedside chests

Two-drawer units offer more organisation, often with a shallower top drawer for personal items and a deeper one for bulkier belongings such as spare bedding or chargers. Three-drawer chests maximise storage, effectively acting as a mini chest of drawers beside the bed.

They are ideal in guest rooms with little other storage or in compact flats where every centimetre counts. The main downside is that the extra visual weight can crowd a small room, so keep proportions in mind and consider lighter colours if you go for this option.

Open-shelf and cubby designs

Open shelves and cubbies make sense if you are a tidy person who likes to see everything at a glance. They are great for stacks of books, storage baskets or decorative items and are usually visually lighter than drawers.

If you know you are prone to leaving things scattered, consider combining an open shelf with at least one drawer. That way you can keep the most visible parts neat without having to become a minimalist overnight.

Hybrid storage with charging features

Some modern bedside tables blend drawers and shelves with built-in charging stations, cable routing or lighting. A good example is the Kailyn bedside table pair with power outlets and USB ports, which allows you to keep chargers connected without a separate extension lead.

These designs suit device-heavy households where phones, tablets, e-readers and smartwatches all compete for sockets. Just pay attention to where cables exit the unit and whether that works with your nearest wall outlet and bed position.

Think about what you reach for in the dark and where it will live. If it needs to be found quickly, it probably belongs in the top drawer or on the surface, not buried in a deep lower drawer.

Matching styles to bedroom themes

Once function and material are sorted, style is where you can really tailor your bedside tables to your bedroom. The same basic layout can look very different depending on proportions, leg shape, hardware and colour.

Modern and minimalist bedside tables

Modern bedside tables usually feature clean lines, simple hardware and neutral colours such as white, grey or black. Minimalist designs may even hide handles altogether, relying on push-to-open drawers or discreet cut-outs.

These styles are particularly forgiving in small rooms because they tend to have slim legs or a simple boxy shape that sits close to the wall. If you like this clean look, the guide to white and light-coloured bedside tables can help you weigh matte versus gloss finishes and different shades.

Rustic, country and farmhouse styles

Rustic and country bedside tables emphasise natural textures and a relaxed, lived-in feel. You will often see distressed paint, visible woodgrain, turned legs or metal cup handles. They work especially well with wooden beds, linen bedding and warm, layered lighting.

If you are torn between clean modern and more characterful rustic pieces, it can help to think about the rest of your furniture, not just the bed. A separate guide comparing modern versus rustic bedside styles explores how each direction changes the mood of a bedroom.

Industrial and urban styles

Industrial bedside tables lean on metal frames, darker wood tones, exposed hardware and sometimes locker-style doors. They are a natural fit for loft-style bedrooms but can also give a bit of edge to a more neutral space.

Black metal frames with warm wood tops are a flexible middle ground: they add structure without feeling too heavy, especially if you choose versions with slender legs or open bases to keep floorspace visible.

Scandinavian and soft modern styles

Scandinavian-influenced bedside tables combine clean shapes with light woods, soft whites and tapered legs. The effect is calm and airy, ideal in compact bedrooms or anywhere you want a relaxed, uncluttered feel.

These designs often include one or two drawers with simple round knobs or cut-out handles, offering enough storage for essentials without looking boxy. Pairing them with light walls and uncluttered surfaces amplifies the sense of space.

Choosing for room size and layout

Even the most attractive bedside table will frustrate you if it does not suit your room size or bed setup. It is worth taking a quick look at your layout before you commit to a particular type or style.

In very small bedrooms, narrow units or open tables with a slim profile will keep the room from feeling cramped. Taller, narrower cabinets can work where there is little floor width but more vertical space. If space is extremely tight, you might prefer solutions from the round-up of small and narrow bedside tables designed for compact rooms.

In larger rooms, you have more freedom to use wider bedside chests or sturdier cabinets to visually anchor the bed. Just remember that bigger is not always better: you still want to be able to move comfortably around the bed and open drawers fully without hitting doors or radiators.

Always check height as well as width. A bedside table a few centimetres above or below the top of your mattress is usually easiest to reach, especially for lamps and drinks.

Tech-friendly and multi-functional designs

As homes fill with more devices, tech-friendly bedside tables are becoming a distinct type of their own. Some include built-in charging stations with USB ports and sockets, while others integrate lighting or hidden cable channels.

For instance, a pair like the Kailyn bedside tables with power strip lets both sides of the bed charge multiple items while keeping plugs and transformers out of sight. Meanwhile, designs similar to the Bellah table with app-controlled lighting and drawers can double as a subtle night light and mood lighting as well as storage.

If you read or work in bed, consider whether your bedside table also needs to function as a small side table or laptop perch. A model with a generous top and stable base will serve you better than a tiny pedestal design, even if it means compromising slightly on style.

Conclusion

Understanding the main types of bedside tables – from open designs and nightstands to cabinets and compact chests – makes it much easier to choose something that genuinely fits your room and lifestyle. Once you factor in materials, storage layout and style, you can narrow the field to a handful of options that will look good and work hard every day.

It can also be worth thinking about how your needs might change. If you expect to add more devices or share the room in future, a design with built-in charging like the Kailyn power bedside tables or a flexible option such as a slim cabinet with drawer and shelf might serve you longer.

Above all, choose pieces that support how you actually live rather than an idealised picture. A well-chosen bedside table can quietly make your bedroom feel calmer, more organised and more inviting every time you turn out the light.

FAQ

What is the difference between a bedside table and a nightstand?

A bedside table is a broad term that can refer to any small table or unit beside the bed, including open designs with no drawers. A nightstand usually implies at least one drawer or enclosed space for storage. In practice, many retailers use the words interchangeably, so it helps to focus on the actual design and storage rather than the label.

How tall should a bedside table be?

Most people find a bedside table works best when the top surface is roughly level with, or slightly below, the top of the mattress. That way it is easy to reach a lamp or glass of water without stretching. If you have an unusually high or low bed, look for models that match its height rather than relying on standard sizes.

Are charging bedside tables safe to use overnight?

Bedside tables with integrated power strips or USB ports are generally designed for continuous use, but you should still follow basic electrical safety. Avoid overloading sockets, use suitable chargers for each device and ensure ventilation openings are not blocked by bedding. Choosing a purpose-built unit, such as a bedside table with integrated power strip, is usually safer than improvising with multiple loose adapters.

Is it better to have matching bedside tables on both sides of the bed?

Matching bedside tables create a balanced, symmetrical look that many people find calming. However, there is no rule that they must match. In small or asymmetrical rooms, using two different units that suit each side's space and storage needs can be more practical. Keeping some elements consistent, such as colour or handle style, helps different pieces still feel connected.