No bedroom is complete without a night stand next to your bed. This functional piece of furniture adds much needed utility to the bedroom. The standard suggestion is to have a night stand for each person, so a couple would have one on each side of the bed and a single person would have one on the side of the bed closest to their bathroom. For visual effect and balancing, even if you are single, it is common to have a night stand on both sides of the bed.

The size of the stand is important, as space is needed for quite a variety of items. It is common, of course, to have a lamp on your night stand. Most people also use an alarm clock or radio alarm, so space will be needed for one of those as well. Other items you may place on the stand are your glasses, keys, and a small flashlight. Many people like to have a glass of water and tissue paper within reach as well.

The height of a night stand is very important. You should not shop for one until you know the height of your bed. Depending on mattress selection, foundation, and the type of bed frame you use, the height needed will change. You will find that a night stand higher than the top of the bed is more difficult to use from your bed, and has the potential to cause injury. The depth is also important, and recommendations are that the night stand should not extend next to the bed more than 18 inches from where the mattress starts. This means you can buy one with greater depth if you use a headboard. The reason for this recommendation is to allow ease in getting up from your bed. Most sets take these measurements into consideration.

Night stands come in a wide variety of styles. Of course there are the various furniture types, and this is purchased to match your other furniture. The primary style selection involves whether an open front design or a closed-front would better suit your needs. Some open front designs have shelves, so if you do a lot of reading in bed, this would be a useful selection. For storage a closed front would have either a door or drawers. For storage purposes, a drawer is very useful. The drawback is that a drawer is usually on the top of the night stand, so reaching a shelf for a book would not be as easy, and limits storage space if your night stand has a door on the front.

As a piece of furniture, your night stand will serve a completely different purpose than a dresser or chest of drawers. It is to be used as a utility piece, to provide access to items you will either need during the night while you are sleeping, or a storage site for items you will need immediate access to when first waking up. The convenience of a night stand make this furniture almost a necessity. Take care when selecting yours and you will enjoy the benefits available from this furniture for years to come.

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