Organizing a bedroom doesn't just mean organizing a closet or a chest of drawers. It also refers to organizing your bedroom nightstand (affiliate). While nightstands (affiliate) take little time to organize, they can be an eyesore when going to bed at nighttime. And, during the night, in the dark, finding the one thing you are looking for can be challenging.
Jump to:
Stuff to store in the nightstand
Several items can be stored on the nightstand (affiliate). Below are just some I found over the years organizing my own, my family's, and clients' nightstands (affiliate).
lip balm (affiliate)
eyeglasses
alarm clock (affiliate)
table lamp
hand cream
charging station (affiliate)
glass of water
surge protector
facial tissues
jewelry (affiliate)
decorative items
hair accessories
sleeping mask
phone
earbuds (affiliate)
watch
books
And a lot more!
We will discuss ways to make this small but necessary area more organized with handy organizing tips and tools (affiliate).
Bedroom Nightstand Organization Essentials
How do I find the right nightstand for me?
First, let's start with getting the right nightstand (affiliate) to minimize clutter. Look for a table that has at least a few shelves (affiliate) or one or two drawers. If you wish to use something without drawers, have a closed, shallow bin to hold small items. This way, you don't need to worry about stuff tumbling over in the middle of the night.
Watch out for nightstands (affiliate) with open shelves (affiliate). They sound like a good idea, but they can get quite dusty, which will add to your cleaning routine (affiliate). And no one wants to add work to their chores.
I particularly like nightstands (affiliate) with legs so I can vacuum (affiliate) under them often to minimize the dust. I am not a fan of constantly moving furniture (affiliate), so making it easier for me to clean is always a plus. (Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.)
Nightstand 2 Drawer Elegant Bedroom Furniture Espresso
Buy Now →
Nightstand Set of 2, Wood Accent Table Natural
Buy Now →(affiliate)
How do I organize the inside of the nightstand drawer?
Now that you have decided on a nightstand (affiliate), you can start by organizing the little things on it. You don't want this area to be a junk drawer. My favorite way to manage a nightstand (affiliate) drawer is by using drawer organizers (affiliate). You can get these in different sizes; they fit nicely in the drawer. If you write in a journal (affiliate), getting a large enough bin to fit your journal (affiliate) is helpful so that nothing is lying on top of these divided bins. If you have deeper drawers, purchase some deep containers at your nearest dollar store. (Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate).)
Drawer Organizer Tray for Vanity Cabinet (Set of 10)
Buy Now →
Drawer Organizer 12 Pieces Plastic 3 sizes
Buy Now →(affiliate)
What should be in each drawer on the nightstand?
Nightstands (affiliate) usually have one, two, or three drawers. Each drawer should have its purpose with the items you use, from most to least used.
In the top drawer, there should be items that are used more frequently. These could be items you grab first thing in the morning or the last thing you grab at night.
The bottom drawer can hold less frequently used items that need to be near the bed.
If your nightstand lacks drawers, add a basket or small stackable bins (affiliate) to hold your items.
How do I store jewelry on top of the nightstand?
Have a place for your daily used pieces of jewelry (affiliate). Like me, you take off your watch, rings, and other things when you go to bed. These ring dish (affiliate) items should have a home when you aren't wearing them. Look for a bin large enough to take off everything at night. You can store these items in one container to minimize the number of things on your nightstand. It can also hold other things like cell phones and change. Here are some suggestions I found on Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate).
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → (affiliate)
How do I organize charging cables on the nightstand?
Get some cable clips (affiliate) to help you keep your charging cables in order. Hiding them in the back of the nightstand will make it look less disorganized. I have a large one that I adhered to the side of my nightstand, holding several cables. When nothing is plugged in, the cables can easily be tucked on the side where no one sees them. (Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate).)
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → (affiliate)
How do I store books on a nightstand?
Lastly, if you want to store a book or two you are currently reading on your nightstand, look for bookends (affiliate) that can easily hold the book upright. You can also use an empty drawer to store the books. Remember that if you have too many books on your nightstand, it can get messy and collect dust. Breathing in dust on a nightly basis isn't suitable for anyone, so improve your health by minimizing the dust in your bedroom. These bookends (affiliate) are from Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate) if you want to store books on top of the nightstand.
Buy Now → 
Bookends, Non-Skid Book Holder, Heavy Duty Metal Storage 2 pk
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Each person's nightstand is personal to them and should be organized to help them find things in the dark and during the day. While we store many things on and on our nightstand, make sure everything has its place to make the area appear less cluttered. These items above are just the main organizing essentials for any nightstand. Make sure you organize the other items that weren't mentioned to make it a well-organized nightstand. I hope this helps you get inspired to organize your nightstand today.
Below are posts from other experts that will help you organize your nightstand.
How to Organize A Nightstand
Tips for a Clutter-Free Bedroom Nightstand
The Ultimate Guide to an Organized Nightstand
Now it's your turn. How does the top of your nightstand look? What else do you store on your nightstand? Please comment below on how you organize it so others can get even more tips. Sweet dreams!
Visit our other bedroom to organize popular posts!
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to purchase at no additional cost.
Janet Scheisl says
Sabrina, I just did some reorganizing of my nightstand the other day. I thought it was looking a little cluttered so I happily put everything in the top drawer. I really don't need to look at it all day. I only need these items before I go to bed so it wasn't an issue to put everything neatly away.
Julie Bestry says
Your post prompted me to go look at my nightstand and see what's there and to make sure I wasn't misremembering. There's nothing there but books (lots and lots of books) and a corded, landline phone. On the other side, there's a small table that used to have a lamp and an alarm clock, but both have proven unnecessary due to modern tech. (I don't even keep a pen and paper; if I have to remember something, I shout it to Siri in the next room and have it text me so I'll see it on my Mac in the morning!)
So, unless I'm sick in bed, I don't store any of those typical things — they all have homes elsewhere. I guess I'm a statistical outlier!
That said, your advice is spot-on. For anyone who does keep actual stuff at the bedside, drawers with dividers, shelves, and cord holders are a must.
Linda Samuels says
My nightstand has one drawer and one large cabinet space. The top surface of the nightstand holds books (probably too many,) my journals, lamp, tissue box, eyeglasses, landline phone, pad of paper, and jar of pens. The drawer holds other essentials like emery boards, lotions, extra eyeglasses, and sleep masks. The cabinet holds old journals. Every so often, I go through the books and decide if it's time to move them to another bookcase or donate them. But mostly they are there because I'm either in the process of reading them or want to read them next.
Sarah Soboleski says
I'm all about using containers in nightstand drawers! My husband built our nightstands, which are narrow to fit in the space we have. I couldn't find any containers to use in such small drawers, but I made due with mint tins! Out of the box thinking for the win. 🙂
Hazel Thornton says
I like to keep a notepad and pen next to my bed in case I have any bright ideas or to-do's pop into my head. That way I can jot them down without getting out of bed, and without worrying about forgetting them by the next morning.
Janet Barclay says
My nightstand has two drawers and I don't know what I'd do with that stuff if it didn't! (Although to be honest, I could probably just pitch some of it.) All I keep on top is my purse, a lamp, and the book I'm currently reading.
Kim says
Hi Sabrina,
I have been working on this lately as I tend to gather up piles of books that I may have referred to or half read ugh!! So, I am trying to be more focused on what I want by my bedside. I have many journals in my bedside table and more in another area so am thinking of getting them all in one place. Like with like, you know. I think its an important area to pay attention to. Great post!
Seana Turner says
I have three drawers in my nightstand. The top one holds the "essentials," and then surprisingly, I found that the bottom two drawers are just the right size for bathing suits and cover ups. Love to make the most of out of that small storage space!