If the height of your nightstand is too low, it can be hard to access it and you might have to bend just to reach your items. It can also look uneven next to your bed.
What to do if Your Nightstand is Too Low?
There are several methods to fix this problem. You can raise the height of your nightstand by purchasing legs or add additional items to make the nightstand taller. You can also adjust the bed frames instead if you are unable to make changes to your nightstand.
Table of Contents
How to raise my nightstand?
You can add height to your nightstand in various ways. Hiring an expert to raise your nightstand can be expensive. But for most of these methods, all you need is some basic woodwork skills. Here are some examples to help you.
- Adjust the legs. Check if the legs of your nightstands are adjustable or not.
- Add new legs. If you already have bun feet then you can unscrew the old feet and screw in the new ones. They are sold online so all you have to do is find the correct size.
- Mount the nightstands to the wall. This creates a floating look. All you need is a cleat or z-bar system.
- Buy or build a podium. You can put the nightstand on top of it.
- Add some large books with spines. This will also make it look stylish.
- Add a large accessory to make it look tall. This can be anything starting from a vase, a buffet lamp to even artwork.
- Add furniture risers. They are widely available and probably the easiest way to make your nightstand taller.
- Remove the top and build a drawer unit. It will have to be constructed. If you don’t have basic carpentry skills, it’s better to hire a professional. (Caution: Don’t damage your nightstand)
- Add something on the top then paint it the color of your nightstand.
- Add a shelf to the top.
Often new legs look odd when attached to nightstands which is why you can paint them the color of the nightstand to make it look the same.
Also read this, How to Make a Nightstand Taller? (Step by Step Guide)
There is another thing you could do without making any changes to your nightstand. It’s understandable if you don’t want to make changes to your nightstand when it’s vintage or a family heirloom. You can just make your nightstand ‘look’ taller.
This can be done by lowering your bed frame. You can get a narrow box spring for your bed. Or you can put the mattress of your bed directly on the frame. (Make sure your bed is sufficient enough to support it).
You could also attach your footboard and headboard to the bed frame. Open the attached bedposts then reattach the bedposts to the shortened bedposts.
What is the average height of a nightstand?
The average height of a nightstand is 25 inches. Most commercial nightstands are between 24 inches to 28 inches tall. This is based on the average height of beds. They are usually 25 inches tall which is why nightstands are built according to that.
For king-sized beds, you can get nightstands that are taller to around 33 to 34 inches. But they are not as widely available as smaller nightstands. There are lower nightstands available too within 16 to 18 inches.
Why are nightstands so short?
You might be able to notice that most traditional nightstands are short in height. This is because beds were much shorter back in the days.
Nightstands have always been made according to the sizes of beds available. Not much has changed since the old days which is why most nightstands are short.
King-sized beds are more expensive which is why they are less in common. Hence, resulting in fewer tall nightstands.
Another reason is that nightstands are not only made to be placed beside beds. They can be used in other places around the house such as the living room. This is why shorter nightstands are more available these days.
Don’t worry! Because times are changing which means you can find tall nightstands even as tall as 40 inches. And if you still can’t find one you like, you can easily customize it online based on your preferable height.
How tall should nightstands be?
Choosing the correct nightstand height is very important. Because this will affect your accessibility to the nightstand from the bed.
If it’s too tall, it will be tough for you to reach your items. But if it’s too small, then you might have to bend. Instead of going through this hassle, just make sure the height is correct.
Keep three things in mind before deciding the height. Make sure you can reach it easily, looks good with the room, and does not look wrongly proportioned compared to the bed.
The average bed height is 25 inches and your nightstand should be level with that or a few inches less or more. 2 to 4 inches taller than your mattress should be the perfect height.
This chart might help you choose the right nightstand based on the type of bed and height.
| Type of Bed | Average Bed Height | Suggested Nightstand Height |
| Platform bed | 18 inches | 22 inches |
| Standard Bed(with Box Springs) | 25 inches | 28 inches |
| Futons | 20 to 21 inches | 25 inches |
| Antique Beds | 36 inches | 40 inches |
This is just an estimate. It can increase if your bed has additional height, box springs, mattress pads, and a tall base.
To get the proper measurement, measure the height of your mattress on its bed frame. If the mattress is on a platform base then your measurement will be lower than required but if you have an adjustable bed frame, your measurement will be greater than expected.
If you sleep on a twin mattress, it’s better to have a shorter nightstand but if you have a king mattress, a tall nightstand will definitely compliment the bed.
Make sure your nightstand doesn’t have a depth higher than 24 inches or else it will be hard for you to get in and out of your bed. (You might even get hurt!)
Can a nightstand be lower than the bed?
Yes! Many nightstands tend to be lower than the bed. Although, make sure it’s not too low, or else you won’t be able to reach it.
If it’s too low, you can easily adjust the height of your nightstand or adjust the height of your bed. It is up to you.
Do nightstands have to be the same height?
Not at all. This is totally up to you whether you want your nightstands to have the same height or not. But make sure it looks good! Having nightstands of different heights is very common. Just keep a common factor between them such as texture, color, or place similar items on them.
There are some advantages if your nightstands have the same height.
- Looks better to the human eye since it’s symmetric.
- Gives off a sophisticated and elegant vibe.
- The room looks balanced and proportionate.
- Suitable for any bedroom.
Read more in detail, Do Nightstands Have to Be The Same Height?
If you still want to make the heights the same, you can adjust the heights of your nightstands. Or put similar accessories on top of both nightstands to make the difference less noticeable. You can also put a large ornament or vase on the nightstand with a lower height to make them look balanced.
What can I use in place of a nightstand?
A lot of people use alternatives of a nightstand to avoid the cost of purchasing one. Here are some examples:
- An end table
- A side table
- Hanging shelves
- A desk
- Suitcases
- Plants
- Hanging a mirror with table
- Baskets
- Crates
- Reclaimed wood table.
- Box
- A trunk
- A bookcase
- A large lamp
- Log side table
- A stool
- Shelves attached to the wall
- A chair
- An accent table
- A small ottoman
Are end tables and nightstands the same height?
Yes, typically they are the same height. Both end tables and nightstands have a standard height of 25 inches. Nightstands have heights in the range of 20 inches to 40 inches. But end tables start as low as 11.9 inches. Yet, their widths differ.
End tables tend to be narrower. And nightstands have a wider range of heights available compared to end tables. Nightstands offer taller lengths.
They are different in many ways. End tables don’t have as much storage as Nightstands. End tables can be used in exchange for nightstands for smaller rooms or shorter bed frames.
How wide should a nightstand be for a king bed?
For King-sized beds, nightstands should be around 25 to 40 inches wide. But the ideal height of nightstands for a king bed is around 36 inches. They should be tall too, up to 40 inches.
Can your lamps be taller than your headboard?
Yes. Your lamps should be twice the height of your headboard. If your headboard is 12 inches tall then your lamp should be around 24 inches.
However, if your lamp is on a nightstand then your total height depends on the height of the nightstand. If the lamp is placed on a nightstand then the lamp should be shorter.
Your lamp should be 27 to 30 inches tall if your nightstand is 24 to 28 inches tall in order to match with the headboard. But if you have a short nightstand, it’s best to go for a taller lamp to make it look proportionate compared to the headboard.
If your room is spacious, you should get a larger and taller lamp.
Hope this solves your problems. Just measure the height of your mattress from the floor to get the correct nightstand hand before shopping for a nightstand.