While I am shopping for a new place to live right now, I still recognize that I can make changes here that will translate into my life now… and also move to my new place. Nightstands are top on my list of changes to make in my own home, along with incredible Himalayan salt lamps to sit atop them!
Why nightstands? In terms of bedroom feng shui, nightstands create balance in a room and security around a bed (which is why, first and foremost, you should have two!) symbolically and functionally. In feng shui, bedrooms are not designed to do work (so, a full library in a nightstand is not needed!), but they are designed to give you the maximum feeling of rejuvenation. Plus… there’s the feng shui notion of nightstands as making room for love… and supporting that love…
The nightstands you put beside you are a symbol of your romantic relationship or desired relationship. That said, you don’t want to keep nightstands that you despise beside your bed. That might not be a great way to reinforce your present love or welcome in a new one that is awesome!
And, of course, your bedroom is where you spend 1/3 of your day if you get enough sleep (!) so, you should love it!
I have outgrown my bedroom, so the nightstands are the first that are being flipped. I’m partial to mirrors for me, like the one above, because they are not too girly yet wildly energetic and really symbolic of all kinds of relationship ideals. (You know, like the Justin Timberlake song about Mirrors, we all want ourselves reflected back at us, and in the best ways possible!)
Brittany Makes featured some nightstands she re-did in a DIY that have sweet, intricate details but look polished and unique. I like the confident geometry a lot.
Now, these more organic nightstands are interesting. Lighter. More understated. Sweeter. These may not be 100% right for me, but the great shape and lack of pointed edges feels relaxing and that element is a good one to encorporate into the nightstand final selection!
This bar cart as a nightstand is totally charming, though it should be flipped so the handle is not facing your head! I need a bit more stillness in my own bedroom (as opposed to wheels) but if you like action, you’ll love a bar cart. And when you are tired of it, it can flip into a bar for your living room.
This lovely bedroom (yet: with the bed on the wrong wall ideally, as you should avoid sleeping on the wall that contains the entrance door for a feng shui bedroom that works, if at all possible!) is a great quirky, fun use of the nightstand space…. But.. is that a re-purposed garbage can?! Either way it works here… though for me, the idea in this image that I adore is tacking photos directly aganst the wall above the nightstand. Awesomely delicate and meaningful details beside a bed always steal the show.
What is your ideal nightstand? Does it mirror your ideal relationship? Your ideal image of a safe nest? Do the ones you have now make you feel amazing? xoxo Dana
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Hi Dana, I’ve been working on redoing my bedroom for the new year and I’m wondering: I have one salt lamp, but zero smaller nightstand lamps (I have a ceiling fixture). Should I pick up a second salt lamp – one for each night stand – or two, small lamps and put the salt lamp elsewhere? Thanks!!
you know, I am enamored by the look of glowing salt beside beds. But that’s me. I also love what it does for the air. So, this is a personal non feng shui answer: get another one & put it on the other nightstand 🙂 xxx
Thanks for the opinion – that’s the way I was leaning!!
Hi Dana,
The nightstands were something I’ve always paid attention to in a bedroom. I’ve always tried to make the stands match and make sure they’re sturdy. I was lucky enough to have my aunt’s 2 wooden stands that are a perfect balance. Do you think having matching lamps on top are important too?
not critical that they match… but they should match your vision & style 🙂
I am so glad you posted this! I have been scouring the Internet, blogs, boards and there is no attention to this very important feature! There is nothing about nightstand vignettes or how to crate them! My bedroom is almost complete. Yea 🙂 My bedroom (for whatever reason) has a very Parisian feel. However, I working on the finishing touches so it does not feel “themed” because I think that it is really tacky and too planned. I found the lamps I want to purchase at Pier1. They are uber glamorous and very old Hollywood meets romance (at least that is how I feel about them). My bedroom is an outward mirror of my views of love and romance and passion: romantic, exciting, intense, glamorous, a little hint of “happy ending in a movie” and comfy (never a night goes by when I don’t appreciate my comfy bed). It’s also a room for me to enjoy. Once it is if finished in the next few weeks, I will email pictures. I love the images you posted. great post!!!
I have been coveting one of those Himalayan salt lamps for a while now, love them!
Hi Dana!
I have 2 old school chairs as my bedsides! They are stable and in fair condition, they started as a ‘this will do for now’ kind of thing and that was many years ago!
Do you have any thoughts on these? I don’t have lamps on them at all..
Thanks for all of your sharing, Paula x
if they are working for you- ie: you sleep well, your love life is where you want it to be, you feel secure in life- then its no problem!
I may need to re-assess then.. lol 🙂
Hello Dana! I have been loving your website these past few days, I couldn’t stop clicking back until I reached your first post! You have another devoted reader 🙂
Quick question, I hope: I love the first picture you posted of the mirrored nightstands…but I am wondering, since you have spoken a lot to how mirrors drain energy when they face the bed, is this a problem? They are so beautiful and I’m wondering if it’s ok if they are small or maybe if they are below a person’s eye line?
Thank you!
welcome Lara! you know, I am only very concerned about bedroom mirrors facing beds when they are causing a problem. as for mirrored furniture- as long as its not everywhere- and in the case of nightstands small and separate from one another, I find they bring this splash of dynamism in a cool way…
great question! xoxo Dana
Thank you, Dana! So helpful!
Hi Dana!I find your website a week ago, and I love it!I’m a new reader too.
A quick question: one side of the bed there is a normal size nightstand, there sleeping my husband,and my side is a reachable dresser as nightstand, what was good help for me during the recovering. Helped me to get up from the bed.So my question is:the dresser can work as nightstand, which is fit wery well between the bed & wall,or better to put another nightstand? And I going to get the salt lamps:)Thank u the answer!
whatever works best. a dresser may be a bit big for beside you, so a simple nightstand could be best!
Thank you so much your answer!I’m learning a new things from feng shui.
Yay!!! Love it! xoxo
Hi Dana I dont have room to have 2 nightstands on both sides of my bed. Is tgere another option for the side that can not fit one?
I have a small round ( like plant size ) glass top stand there now.
Thank you for any advice.
A ligt pointing up… a small rounded shelf on the wall… there are all sorts of fun ways to create this “space”.
Hello Dana, I just came across your sight and found it very insightful. I recently got the pier one Hayworth mirrored 9 drawer dresser and I placed it directly across the bed sincat is the only place where it will fit. I know according to feng shui you should note mirror directly in front of your bed because it can invite a “third party” into the bedroom. Would that be the same for this dresser?
i think thats rediculous personally (third parties, the stuff people come up with astonishes me!) , of course you can, enjoy your dresser!!!
I have a small narrow bedroom with a full size bed, two night stands, full dresser, armoire and a desk. I would like to place my desk next to a nightstand. The desk is only used to make music, not work or to pay bills. Will that be ok? My bed placement is good for feng shui. The wall with the door will have the dresser and armoire, the opposite wall will have the bed, nightstands and desk.
that sounds lovely!!!
Hi Dana,
I apologize if any of my questions are redundant. By the way, I feel like I’ve won the jackpot at finding you! Just finding in finding your blog, I feel more light-hearted, more joyful, more peaceful. You’re radiating through the computer! lol (I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth!)
Ok, so for my two questions, regarding the nightstands, do they have to match or do you just need two to keep the balance?
Second question, I’m getting my bed custom made ( a dream I’ve always wanted to do!) and because of the position of my bed which faces two closet doors, do I have to make my footboard a little higher to block negative energy coming from the closets? What’s your recommendation.
I appreciate any and all advice.
Love and Light,
Tanya
Omg that makes me so so so happy to hear & I’m honored.
Nightstands don’t have to match. Balance is good 🙂
And yes you can make a footboard higher if it feels good, but if your closets are clear shouldn’t have negative energy 😉
xoxoxo !!!