Mid-Century Modern Bedside Tables & Nightstands

Why We Love Mid-Century Modern Nightstands

While the vintage look is usually a singular decor theme when it comes to bedroom furniture, mid-century modern design has an enviable habit of playing well with others. In particular, mid-century modern nightstands are noteworthy accents that elevate, rather than detract from, modern bedroom furniture. Their warm wood and veneer tones, tapered legs and sleek-yet-approachable hardware recall a simpler time at a glance. When paired with the right bedroom lighting, they welcome their owners to a night of rest and relaxation with a classic look. Properly accessorized, mid-century modern furniture showcases a refined 1950s bedroom aesthetic without stealing the proverbial spotlight.

Where Mid-Century Nightstands Work Best

While the role of bedroom furniture is an ideal fit for mid-century modern nightstands, clever decor setups have allowed them to flourish in other rooms of the home as well. In a living room, they make an excellent place to tuck spare back-of-couch blankets for cooler weather or a place to set reading lamps beside an accent chair. In an entryway, they make an unobtrusive pedestal for a mail basket, or an end table for keys and everyday necessities. In apartments without a formal dining room, modern nightstands can even stand in as mini-servers, holding a stack of plates, a bottle of wine on ice and more.

Mid-Century Nightstand Ideas for Every Style

When discussing mid-century modern nightstands and other 50s-inspired furniture, the names Eames and Herman Miller essentially define the look. Modern reproductions of retro nightstands almost always take important cues directly from this partnership; brands like Copeland Furniture, Blu Dot, Gus Modern and Ethnicraft carry the contemporary mid-modern furniture torch, making the overall impression an extremely recognizable one. Clean edges, straightforward styles and scaled-down door and drawer pulls are hallmarks of these pieces, trends that are still going very strong today. When accessorized with retro lighting and decor items, they can transform small spaces into noteworthy snapshots of vintage home design flair.

How to Choose the Best Mid-Century Modern Nightstand

Selecting mid-century modern nightstands for your home should begin with a firm measurement -- it's all too easy to under-or-overwhelm modern bedroom furniture by choosing the wrong size. Determine the ideal width and height for your current (or upgraded) bed frame and headboard, and start your selection process with these questions in mind:

• Will the height be convenient while you're laying in bed?
• Are your retro nightstands large enough to hold reading lamps without crowding?
• If a drawer is present, is it large enough for your bedside necessities?
• Will you need a USB or plug-enabled nightstand for charging digital devices?

Remember, your nightstand selection should be weighed with as much careful consideration as a mattress might -- you'll be using (and enjoying!) these nightstands every day, after all.

Other Considerations

Whenever possible, provided it fits your decor goals, look for a mid-century modern bedroom furniture set from a current manufacturer. This way, your retro-themed nightstands will match the rest of your bedroom perfectly, and you won't need to worry that, for example, one walnut brown veneer might clash with another. This will also ensure that any replacements you may need in the years to come -- handles, legs and so on -- will be more readily accessible over those used by older vintage designs.