Black Nightstands

How tall should a nightstand be?

Level with the top of your mattress is the target, within about two inches either way. These stand 21 to 28 inches high, which covers a low platform bed through to a thick mattress on a taller frame. Measure from the floor to the top of the made bed rather than to the frame, because a mattress and bedding together add more height than people expect.

Does black work beside a black bed?

Yes, provided the two blacks differ in finish or texture. A matte black nightstand beside a matte black bed reads flat and the two pieces merge. Pair a matte frame with a nightstand that has some sheen, a metal handle or a wood grain showing through, and the bedside reads as a separate object. If both pieces are the same finish, put a lamp or art between them to break the field.

What lamp goes on a black nightstand?

A light shade. A black lamp on a black nightstand disappears against the wall at night and gives you nothing to aim for when you reach over. Cream, brass or clear glass all read clearly against black. Keep the lamp 24 to 27 inches tall so the shade bottom sits near eye level when you are sitting up in bed.

What size fits your bedside?

These are 18 to 28 inches wide and 15 to 24 inches deep. Leave a couple of inches between the nightstand and the bed frame so bedding does not catch on the corner. Depth is the number to check against the bed: a nightstand deeper than the frame breaks the line of the wall and makes the bed look pushed forward.

Drawers, shelves or a charging station

Most of this collection has drawers, running one to three per unit. Open shelf models suit a small room, where a closed black box can look heavy. Several include a built in charging station, which is worth more at the bedside than anywhere else in the house because it removes the cable that otherwise trails across the top. Some models here are wall mounted and float clear of the floor.

What are they made from?

Solid wood, engineered wood, particleboard and metal. Black is usually a painted or laminated finish rather than the natural color of the material, so the finish quality matters more than on a wood-toned piece: a thin black coat shows every edge chip as a pale line. Metal framed models avoid that failure entirely. Construction: engineered wood and MDF on select models.

Keeping black looking black

Black shows dust and fingerprints more than any other finish, which is the practical cost of choosing it. Wipe with a barely damp microfiber cloth and dry straight after, and avoid silicone polishes, which leave a haze that is very visible on a dark surface. A matte black hides fingerprints better than a gloss one and shows dust more.