Finding a side-sleeper-friendly mattress or supersoft (not sweaty) sheets might be high on your priority list when furnishing a bedroom, but don’t let your nightstand(s) be an afterthought — a glass tabletop can house your white-noise machine and headphone headband stylishly, while a rattan table with a drawer can discreetly stash any nighttime accessories you don’t want on display.
It can be tough to source stylish yet not ludicrously expensive options that fit your room’s vibe and your budget, so, below, we did the work for you. We dug through our archives to gather the best-rated, most-affordable wooden, metal, colorful, and transparent nightstands that interior designers and tasteful side-table enthusiasts own, as well as easy-to-store and matching-set options. Best of all, nearly every pick is available on Amazon and rings in at under $200.
Best wooden nightstand
Strategist contributor and interior designer Laetitia Wajnapel wanted a versatile nightstand that could double as a side table, and this Tangkula model fit the bill — her family has used it as a laptop stand, desk, cat perch, and more. She says she was drawn to its C-shape and mid-century Scandinavian look with a circular white tabletop and minimalist birch legs that remind her of Alvar Aalto’s stools or armchairs. It also comes with a removable fabric panel (with a small pouch for extra storage) that installs between the legs (that screw in easily with the included Allen wrench and two screws, Wajnapel says).
For a statement option, this well-reviewed Hausmann nightstand is shaped like a helixlike twist and is carved from one solid piece of walnut-brown wood. Reviewers say they like how it looks alone as an eye-catching stool or paired with a glass tabletop for more room and a high-contrast look. Note that because every item is handmade, each is unique and will have slight variations in the design and grain.
Best metal nightstand
Although Strategist contributor Billy Domineau uses this utility cart as a bathroom storage piece, he says it’s equally at home as a bar cart, spice rack, workshop organizer, or nightstand. The coated-steel stand has four wheels for easy maneuvering and an adjustable middle section you can raise or lower to fit items of different heights. Domineau says similarly priced carts often use thin metal grates and easily breakable plastic fasteners, while the Råskog “can stand the test of time while sporting an elegant, slightly futurist look.”
Best glass nightstand
“This table WOWED us. The quality, the sturdiness is out of this world,” one reviewer says of Fenghua’s S-shaped nightstand. The versatile glass piece can be used vertically with shelves for storage, or it can be turned into a coffee table with a slot holder if flipped horizontally. And the surface only takes seconds to clean with a simple wipe-down.
Best mid-century nightstands
In a previous version of this story, one reviewer said Décor Therapy’s walnut-colored nightstand is shockingly well built for the price. “They’re 100 percent wood — no particle board, not even for the drawer bottoms — and completely sturdy,” he says. “The piece is absolutely beautiful and it’s functional too,” a second buyer writes of the table, which has one drawer, black hardware, and tapered legs. She says that “it was incredibly easy to put together and embodies the modern retro-revival of ’60s minimalist furniture … I now have two.”
This well-reviewed Awasen mid-century nightstand is similar to Décor Therapy’s, with one drawer and tapered legs, but it’s more affordable by $20 and the top piece is made of rattan. “Its clean lines, natural walnut finish, and solid wood legs create an elegant and timeless look that enhances the overall aesthetic of my room,” one reviewer says, while the material “adds a unique touch to the design, providing both visual interest and texture.” Another buyer says the table was simple to put together and the wooden legs felt good quality — they’re also unlikely to scratch the floor, since the feet have nonslip pads.
Best colorful nightstand
This wooden nightstand comes in more than ten hues (like vibrant coral and cobalt blue) and is an instant way to brighten up a plain room. With a top drawer and two bottom shelves, the table has ample storage space, and its narrow silhouette means it can fit in tight areas. Reviewers say it’s solid and easy to assemble with one saying “there’s no wiggling in the joints or where it’s screwed together. There were no issues with missing pieces or hardware, and it became a table in less than an hour.” If you prefer a more natural finish, the table also comes in a few wood-stain finishes.
Best foldable nightstands
If your aesthetic leans more minimalist than colorful, this transparent acrylic nightstand is a sleek and sophisticated choice. You can pick from several table tops, such as rectangular and round trays, and a curved-lip surface (the size and price varies). Every option comes with foldable legs, which are useful for storage. One grandmother says she uses it for her grandchildren and herself when she serves snacks, especially since spills stay in the tray. “It’s very thick and sturdy and easy to use,” she says. “It looks very elegant.”
If metal is more your style, this gold-finish side table is made from coated steel, meaning it’s rustproof and easy to wipe clean. The stand has two tiers and a lip around each shelf to prevent anything from falling off, and because they’re removable and the legs are collapsible, you can neatly fold the whole thing away. It also comes in black and white.
Best nightstand for storage
This metal chest with a wooden tabletop and fabric drawers from mDesign is small but roomy. One reviewer says the drawers are deep but not too long or wide, so the stand fits well in any size room, and another says she appreciates that they’re sturdy and spacious for their size. “I was able to fit roughly 100 diapers and four packs of wipes in the drawers,” she says. “Worth it!” Many say the stand looks more expensive than the price suggests, and a few say assembly is as simple as screwing the wooden surface on the metal frame and inserting the drawers.
For even more storage, in a previous version of this story, we called this durable side table — with two square drawers that fit side by side and two rectangular drawers that span the width of the dresser — the best-rated nightstand. It’s well reviewed with buyers saying they like the sophistication of the mahogany wood-grain laminate top and black metal scroll header and frame. “It is so beautiful in person,” one says. “I would buy this again and I will if I have use for another.”
Best nightstand set
In a previous version of this story, one reviewer said that these matching industrial nightstands with black steel frames and a rustic wood top are great value for the price. “Easy to assemble, very sturdy, and the laminate wood-grain surface is easy to wipe off without worry about ruining real wood … At this price for two, they were a steal,” they said. Plus these little tables are heavy-duty — they can support up to 44 pounds, and the two sturdy mesh shelves underneath can be positioned flat or slanted to carry an additional 11 pounds each.
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