How to Choose a Bedside Table: Height, Size, Drawer or Shelf

Short answer

Height
level with the mattress
Iris
64 x 40 x 35 cm
Width
about 40 cm

A bedside table should sit level with the top of the mattress or up to about 5 cm above. Iris is 64 cm high, 40 cm wide, 35 cm deep with a drawer. Lisa floats on the wall. Affe is a 59 cm oak pedestal.

Bedside table Iris in all black: welded steel frame, Jade Black leather straps and a black laminate top.

Bedside table and nightstand are the same piece: British and American words for what you reach for in the dark. The right one is the right height for your bed, wide enough for a lamp and a glass, and has the storage you will actually use. This guide is those three numbers, plus when a floating table beats one with legs.

How high should a bedside table be?

Level with the top of your mattress, or a few centimetres above. Your hand lands on the top without lifting your shoulder off the pillow.

Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress. Most beds land between 50 and 65 cm. Iris at 64 cm suits a standard to high bed. Affe at 59 cm suits a lower one. Lisa goes on the wall at exactly the height you choose.

How wide?

Wide enough for a lamp, a phone and a glass: about 40 cm. Iris is 40 cm wide and 35 cm deep. Lisa is 30 by 31 cm, enough for a small lamp and a book. Affe has a round ø30 cm top, for a glass and a phone, with the lamp on the wall.

In a small bedroom, the depth matters more than the width: it decides whether you squeeze past the bed.

Drawer, shelf or neither?

A drawer hides the clutter: glasses, chargers, medicine. Iris has one, fitted and running on delivery.

Lisa has two vegan leather straps under the top that hold magazines and a paperback, and nothing to open. Affe is a pedestal with no storage at all, for the bedroom that is already tidy.

Do the two sides have to match?

No. A pair of Iris reads calm and hotel-like. Iris on one side and Affe or Lisa on the other works if the finishes relate: black frame and black oak, or beige frame and natural oak.

The two sides of a bed often have different needs. One person wants a drawer, the other wants floor space.

Is there a nightstand with charging?

Not from us. None of our bedside tables has a built-in outlet. A cable through the gap behind Iris or Lisa to a wall socket is the simple answer.

Mattress height, then storage

Iris
drawer, 64 cm
Lisa
on the wall, 30 x 31 cm
Affe
oak pedestal, 59 cm

Top level with the mattress. About 40 cm wide for a lamp and a glass. Iris for a drawer, Lisa to keep the floor clear, Affe for a small oak table. Made in Sweden, 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

How tall should a bedside table be?

Level with the top of the mattress or up to about 5 cm above.

Is a nightstand the same as a bedside table?

Yes. Nightstand is the American word.

How wide should a bedside table be?

About 40 cm fits a lamp, a phone and a glass. Iris is 40 cm wide.

Do you make a bedside table with a drawer?

Yes. Iris has one drawer.

Do your bedside tables have charging ports?

No. Run the cable to a wall socket.

Should both bedside tables match?

Not necessarily. Keep the finishes related if you mix.

Shop the bedside tables in this guide

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