Wood Nightstands

How tall should a nightstand be?

Level with the top of your mattress, within about two inches either way. These stand 20 to 29 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 bed frame, because the mattress and bedding together add more height than people expect.

Solid wood or engineered?

This collection has both, and the split follows the form. The freestanding nightstands are mostly solid wood. The wall mounted floating models are particleboard, because a piece that hangs off a bracket is designed to be light rather than heavy, and solid stock would work against that. Each listing states its construction, so check there rather than assuming from the finish.

How can you tell them apart?

Look at the drawer edge and the end panel. On solid wood the grain runs over the edge and continues on the other face, and the pattern never repeats. On a printed or veneered panel the grain stops dead at the edge band, and the same knot shows up on more than one surface. Weight is the other clue: solid wood is noticeably heavier for its size.

What size fits your bedside?

These are 16 to 26 inches wide and 16 to 18 inches deep. The narrow end suits a tight gap between the bed and a wall and still takes a lamp and a book. Depth is fairly consistent across the collection, so an open drawer projects a little over a foot into the room whichever you choose. Leave a couple of inches beside the bed so bedding does not catch.

Finishes and what they hide

Walnut, oak and natural, with bronze and brass hardware. Walnut is darker with a tight figure and hides rings and marks best. Oak reads light with an open grain that disguises dust. Natural is a clear finish that shows the wood color and, being the palest, shows water marks soonest. A darker finish is the practical choice for a bedside that holds a glass.

Drawers, shelves and charging

Most models here have drawers, one to three per unit, and some add an open shelf below. Two drawers is the useful default: the top for things you reach for in the dark, the lower for storage. A few include a built in charging station, which is worth more at a bedside than anywhere else because it removes the cable that otherwise crosses the top surface.

Caring for the top

Use a coaster and wipe spills immediately, because water is what marks a wood finish and a bedside table sees more liquid than any other surface in the room. Dust along the grain with a dry or barely damp cloth. Avoid sprays containing silicone, which leave a film that is hard to remove. On solid wood pieces a mark can be sanded out and the finish rebuilt; on veneered and particleboard pieces it cannot, so the finish is the only protection there is.