How To Organize A Nightstand + What Should Go Inside It
Learn how to organize your nightstand so it’s functional, accessible, and easy to keep tidy with tips from a professional organizer, plus a list of the realistic items you should (and shouldn’t) store in your bedside table.
A nightstand is one piece of furniture that always seems to pile up and get messy in no time at all. We see all these cute videos on TikTok of bedside tables full of snacks, beauty items, office supplies, and random items we never use and wonder “do I need all that by my bed too?”
The short answer is no, and the long answer is more complicated. What you store in your nightstand is specific to you and your daily routines. And the containers, organizers, and even the type of bedside table you have will vary based on those routines as well.
So how do you organize your bedside essentials and keep them tidy? And what really should be stored in a nightstand anyway? Find out all the answers and tips below.
Organizing A Nightstand In 5 Simple Steps
- Empty all shelves and drawers of the bedside table and give them a good cleaning.
- Decide the main essentials you need to have near your bed.
- Choose organizers that accommodate those essentials.
- Add additional items you won’t use as frequently if space allows.
- Maintain the nightstand organization by tidying monthly.
Choosing Your Bedside Essentials
Before you can organize a functional nightstand, you have to decide what you really need to have within arm’s reach at night. It’s easy to get carried away with accessories, beauty items, and random gadgets because social media is full of nightstand organizing videos with drawers packed to the brim. But you have to remember that these videos are usually made to be inspirational and entertaining, and they aren’t really supposed to be copied to a T.
To decide your main bedside essentials, think about what you use every single night or multiple times per week. Also things that are annoying to have to get up for if you forget them or items that would make your bedtime routine more enjoyable.
Don’t worry about what you’d like your bedtime routine to be right now. This isn’t the time to make a whole lifestyle change or try to be someone you’re not. Just focus on what you need at this point in life and you can always add new things and make shifts later.
Common Nightstand Essentials
- Chapstick
- Phone/device charger
- Lotion
- Book light & current read
- Jewelry dish
- Eyeglass holder
- Earplugs
- CPAP supplies
- Journal & pens
- Alarm clock/sound machine
- Tissues
- Nighttime medicine/supplements
- Adult/romance items
- Flashlight
- Sleep mask
- Remotes
Things You Can Store Elsewhere
I’ve seen a lot of videos that have nail clippers and files, teeth whitening strips, makeup remover wipes, hairbrushes, snacks, and lint rollers. These really don’t need to be stored by the bed because they all make a bit of a mess, and most are typically used in the bathroom anyway. Unless you just really love snacks at bedtime, you don’t really need to keep those there either. The kitchen is just a walk away.
You aren’t really clipping your fingernails in bed (I hope), and you’ve still got to get up to throw away the makeup remover wipe or whitening strips, so you can store these items somewhere else. (Unless you have a lot of extra storage space in your nightstand and nowhere else to keep them.)
Try to keep your nightstand filled only halfway or three-fourths of the way full. When the items you keep on the surface, in drawers, and on the shelves of your nightstand have wiggle room, you’re much more likely to put things back where they go and keep the drawer tidy.
Choosing The Best Organizers For Your Nightstand
When organizing your nightstand, the containers you choose will make or break the functionality of the table. If the bins are too big, the items end up in a jumbled mess. Too small and things spill over and become messy very quickly. If the containers are too specific (lots of tiny slots), some items won’t fit, and if there’s no separate slots, they’ll all just get pushed around and hard to find in the dark.
The best organizers for nightstands with drawers
- Desk drawer organizers (good for smaller items and shallow drawers)
- Felt trays (great for glasses & devices so they don’t get scratched)
- Recycled jewelry boxes and cell phone boxes (free!)
- Bamboo stackable kitchen trays (great for deep drawers)
- Medication holder (but only if you prefer to keep them by the bed)
The best organizers for nightstands with shelves
- Refrigerator storage bins (for larger items)
- Handled caddy (for an all-in-one organizer)
- Sturdy trays with felt bottoms (to prevent scratches)
- Small baskets (great for books and magazines)
The Best organizers for the top of a nightstand
- Multi-use charger (instead of individual cords)
- Magnetic cord holder (keeps cord from falling in the floor)
- Lidded storage box (for easy access and safe jewelry storage)
- Small caddy (great for remotes, lotion, and chapstick)
- Eyeglass holder (felt or suede lined cups are the safest choice)
Measuring For Nightstand Organizers
Before you purchase organizers for your bedside tables (both online and in-store) it’s important to take really accurate measurements. Some drawers may be deeper than others, and sometimes there’s a bar under each drawer that decreases the height of trays you can put in the middle of the drawer below it.
First, measure the regular length, width, and height of each drawer or shelf inside the nightstand. Then, use a flashlight to look inside for any protrusions that may decrease those measurements, even if it’s just in one spot. Save those measurements in the notes app on your phone so you can reference when shopping.
Most containers have the dimensions listed on their tags in stores, and online you can find the dimensions in the description. Always opt for a tiny bit smaller than what your drawer measurements are because sometimes the manufacturer’s dimensions can be a little off. It’s better to be a tad too small than it not fit and you have to return them and find new ones.
Read More: How To Measure For Drawer Organizers
Maintaining Your Nightstand Organization
The key to keeping your nightstand tidy is regular maintenance. If you get in the habit of an end-of-the-week cleanup, you’ll never have to do a full reorganization session again. Set a reminder in your phone for one day every week (I usually do Sunday) and just give your bedside table a quick tidying.
Weekly 5 Minute Nightstand Refresh
- Remove any trash
- Put away things that shouldn’t be in there
- Put back items that didn’t end up in their correct organizer
- Dust open shelves
- Restock anything that is getting low
Keeping Drawer Trays From Sliding
My favorite hack for keeping drawer trays in place is museum gel. You can buy it in a small tub and tear off little pieces, or you can buy pre-measured dots in a few different sizes. This gel sticks on the bottom of the trays to keep them from sliding around, but it won’t damage the surface of the drawers or the trays.
You can use it on wood, plastic, felt, and pretty much any other material. It’s easy to remove and reusable, so you can take out the trays to wash them without having to replace the gel.
Making Adjustments To Your Nightstand Organization
Over time, your nighttime routine may change, and when it does, your nightstand organization will need to change with it. If you find yourself constantly needing something that isn’t there, find a spot to store it in the nightstand. If you notice that you never use something that is taking up valuable space in a small drawer, rehome it somewhere else in your house. You may also need to switch up the containers if the sizes of the things you store by the bed change.
If your nightstand just isn’t functioning the way you need it to, consider replacing it with a different style. Drawers work well for some people but are too hard to maintain for others. Open shelves can start to look cluttered, so maybe a bedside table with cabinet doors is a better option.
Don’t be afraid to replace the nightstand if it isn’t right for your routines, and you can usually sell it on Facebook Marketplace to earn back some money you spent on the new one. I’ve noticed that nightstands are very popular on Marketplace and usually get claimed within a day or two of posting.
Shop My Recommended Nightstand Organizers
I rounded up my favorite organizers and bedside essentials in this Amazon Storefront List so you can browse through and choose the things that will work for your nighttime routine. Also, let me know in the comments if there’s a certain organizer you love, nightstand style you prefer, or essential item I missed. I’d love to hear what works for you!
You can also follow me on Instagram @lelaburris for organizing Reels to see all these tips in video form. I can’t wait to meet you, so be sure to send me a DM and say hi!
