Nightstands are often magnets for clutter and they take up a good deal of space in a small room. We recently removed the two nightstands that flanked our bed and donated them to charity because I didn’t like waking up and looking at clutter first thing each morning.
Since bedrooms are your sanctuary and retreat from the responsibilities of the world, clutter is a no-no in your bedroom. If your nightstand is also a home for forgotten things, consider getting rid of it or giving it a much-needed decluttering session.
If you don’t have space for a nightstand or are thinking about getting rid of yours like I did mine, consider these alternatives to give you the convenience of a nightstand without all the clutter:
- Lose the table and replace it with a small bedside caddy. These are great for dorm rooms, too.
- Install a wall-mounted light fixture if you like to read in bed.
- If you rent instead of own, a clip-on light might be a better alternative to a permanent fixture.
- A wall-mounted book and magazine rack can get reading materials off flat surfaces and free up floor space.
Good luck turning your clutterstand back into a nightstand!
I have to keep the nightstand clear because my cat is a jerk and likes to throw things off it to get my attention. So I have a nightstand, but almost everything it contains is in the drawers. The only thing that stays on top overnight is the iPad, which is in a rubberized case to create friction so the cat can’t fling it off. Which means most of the time the top of my nightstand is just a platform for the cat to sit on while he tries to get me to roll over and make room for him in the bed.
Great ideas! I was just looking at my nightstand this morning and wondering why I couldn’t find room for my coffee cup when it was all cleared off a few days ago. I’m in a transitional living situation right now, so I have a file cabinet and a printer stand on either side of my bed, and they are great at collecting random objects. I can’t wait until I move again and can arrange things the way I want. I’ve never seen the bedside caddy before; I’m so glad you pointed it out!
Tiffany, I laughed at your post. My last cat did the same thing. He forced us to keep the bathroom counters uncluttered and the toilet lid closed. Plastic cosmetics containers make a wonderful clatter when they skip across a tile floor, and even better when they splash!
great idea! I am all about decluttering.
Wish my nightstand was the size of a dinner table. Reading glasses, water, iPod, photo of my mom and my aunt sledding as children, lamp, a box marked “mine” with my watch inside, pink heart paperweight, post-its, colored pencils, hand cream and chapstick, tissues, tiny dvd player, and my phone.