Floating Nightstand: How High to Mount It and Why

Short answer

Mount at
mattress height
Lisa
30 x 12.2 in
Fixing
screwed to the wall

Mount a floating nightstand with its top level with the mattress, or up to about 2 in above. Lisa is 12 in wide, 12.2 in deep, solid oak on a welded steel frame, screwed to the wall.

Floating bedside table Lisa with black steel frame, solid oak top and sand vegan leather straps, mounted on the wall.

A floating bedside table is a shelf with the job of a nightstand. With no legs, the floor under it stays clear: easier to clean, and in a small bedroom it makes the room read larger. The trade-off is that you choose the height once, with a drill. This guide is how to get that height right and what the wall has to take.

How high do I mount it?

Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress, with the bedding on. Mount the top of the table at that height, or up to about 2 in above.

Most beds put that between 19.7 and 25.6 in. Mark both sides at the same height before drilling. A floating table is unforgiving of a inch off.

Will it hold?

Lisa's steel frame screws directly to the wall, so it is as strong as the fixing. In solid wall, use plugs and screws for masonry. In plasterboard, use cavity fixings rated for the load or find a stud.

A lamp, a book, a phone and a glass are what it is made for. It is not a seat and not a step.

What fits on it?

Lisa's top is 30 by 12.2 in: a small lamp, a phone and a glass, or a book. Two vegan leather straps under the top hold magazines and a paperback.

If you need a drawer for chargers and glasses, Iris with legs is the better buy.

Floating or with legs?

Floating if the floor is small, if you hoover under the bed often, or if the bed frame is low and you want the line kept clean.

With legs if you rent and cannot drill, want a drawer, or move the bed around.

Measure the mattress, then drill once

Top
solid oak
Frame
welded steel
Storage
two vegan leather straps

Top level with the mattress, both sides marked together, fixings for your wall. Lisa: 30 x 12.2 in, solid oak on welded steel, vegan leather straps for books. Made in Sweden, 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

How high should a floating nightstand be?

Its top level with the mattress, or up to about 2 in above.

How is a floating nightstand fixed?

Lisa's steel frame is screwed directly to the wall.

Will a floating nightstand hold a lamp?

Yes. A lamp, a book, a phone and a glass.

What size is Lisa?

12 in wide and 12.2 in deep.

Does Lisa have a drawer?

No. Two vegan leather straps under the top hold magazines. Iris has a drawer.

Which finishes?

Black frame with natural, dark or black oak, straps in Sand, Jade Black or Chocolate.

Shop the bedside tables in this guide

All bedside tables
  • Made in Sweden
  • 10-year warranty
  • Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot