How to Choose a Narrow Bedside Table for a Small Bedroom
A narrow bedside table can make a big difference in a small bedroom. It gives you somewhere for a lamp, phone, book or glass of water without crowding the space beside the bed.
The key is to start with the space available rather than the style you like. Once you know the maximum width and depth that will fit comfortably, it becomes much easier to choose the right design.
At Mallet & Plane, we focus on compact furniture for modern homes, including narrow bedside tables from around 20cm wide through to more generous 45cm options.
Explore our narrow bedside tables
How Narrow Should a Bedside Table Be?
There is no single ideal width. The right size depends on the gap beside your bed and how much storage you need.
20–30cm wide: for very tight spaces
If you have a narrow gap beside the bed, look for designs between 20cm and 30cm wide. These work particularly well in box rooms, guest bedrooms, flats and smaller bedrooms where every centimetre matters.
Examples include the MODAL Petite 20cm Natural Mango Bedside Table, the MODAL 30cm Natural Curved Bedside Table and the RONAN 30cm Solid Mango Wood Bedside Table.
30–35cm wide: compact but practical
This is often the sweet spot for a small bedroom. A table in this size range can still offer useful drawer or shelf storage without feeling bulky.
The ROCCA 35cm Mango Wood Bedside Table is a good example, combining compact proportions with a drawer and open shelf.
35–40cm wide: more surface area, still compact
If you have a little more room, 35–40cm gives you more usable surface space while still keeping the footprint relatively small.
Options such as the RONAN, TORSTEN 40cm and LARVIK 40cm suit customers who want a compact bedside table without going ultra-narrow.
40–45cm wide: compact furniture with more storage
If your room can accommodate it, a 40–45cm bedside table gives you more space for drawers, books and lighting without moving into oversized furniture.
The CHELMSFORD 43cm, HATFIELD 45cm, CENTURY 45cm and MODAL 45cm all offer more storage while remaining relatively compact.
Measure the Space Before You Choose
Before buying a bedside table, measure the actual gap beside the bed.
Check:
- the maximum width available;
- how far the table can project into the room;
- the height of the mattress;
- whether drawers can open fully;
- whether plugs, radiators or skirting boards reduce the usable space.
It is worth leaving a little clearance rather than buying something that only just fits. A few spare centimetres can make the room feel much easier to move around.
What Height Should a Bedside Table Be?
As a general rule, the top of the bedside table should sit close to the height of the top of your mattress.
If it is much lower, reaching for a drink, phone or lamp can feel awkward. If it is significantly higher, it may dominate the side of the bed.
The exact height is a matter of preference, but keeping the tabletop broadly level with the mattress usually creates the most comfortable arrangement.
Drawer, Shelf or Both?
Storage is often the deciding factor when choosing a narrow bedside table.
Drawer
A drawer is useful for keeping smaller items out of sight, such as glasses, medication, charging cables or a notebook.
Open shelf
An open shelf is useful for books and items you want to reach quickly. It can also make a narrow bedside table feel visually lighter.
Two or three drawers
If storage is more important than surface area, a taller narrow bedside table can be a better use of floor space than a wider one.
The CHELMSFORD, for example, uses a relatively shallow footprint but provides three drawers, making it particularly useful where space is limited.
Which Material Works Best?
The material affects both the look and the feel of a bedside table.
Solid mango wood
Solid mango wood works particularly well for compact furniture because it gives smaller pieces a substantial feel and natural character.
Our MODAL, RONAN, CENTURY and ROCCA ranges all use mango wood in different ways, from natural curved finishes to darker chestnut and fluted painted designs.
Read our guide to mango wood furniture
Oak and oak finishes
Oak works well in lighter, more traditional or Scandinavian interiors. Pieces such as HATFIELD offer a more familiar natural wood look.
Walnut finishes
Darker walnut tones create a stronger mid-century look. TORSTEN is a good example if you want something warmer and more architectural.
Think About Depth as Well as Width
Width gets most of the attention, but depth can matter just as much in a small bedroom.
A bedside table that is narrow but very deep can still project too far into the room, especially in a tight walkway.
For small bedrooms, check both measurements before ordering. A compact footprint means balancing width, depth and storage rather than focusing on one dimension alone.
Best Narrow Bedside Tables for Different Spaces
For the smallest gaps
MODAL Petite 20cm is designed for exceptionally tight spaces where a conventional bedside table simply will not fit.
For a compact solid wood option
RONAN 30cm gives you solid mango wood, one drawer and open storage in a very compact footprint.
For two drawers in 30cm
MODAL 30cm offers two drawers while remaining compact, making it useful where storage matters as much as width.
For a more decorative compact look
ROCCA 35cm combines fluted detailing with a compact footprint and works well in more contemporary bedrooms.
For more storage without a large footprint
CHELMSFORD 43cm uses height rather than width to provide three drawers.
Should Bedside Tables Match?
Not necessarily.
Matching bedside tables create a more symmetrical bedroom, but there is no rule that both sides of the bed need to use the same piece.
In smaller or awkward rooms, it can make more sense to use a narrower table on one side and a larger one on the other.
What matters more is that the proportions, materials and colours work together.
How to Choose the Right Narrow Bedside Table
Before you decide, ask yourself four simple questions:
- How much width do I actually have?
- How much storage do I need?
- What height works with my mattress?
- Do I want natural wood, a darker finish or something more contemporary?
Once those questions are answered, the choice becomes much easier.
Shop Narrow Bedside Tables
If space is tight, start with the dimensions rather than the style and work from there.
Our narrow bedside table collection includes compact designs from around 20cm wide, along with larger 30cm, 35cm, 40cm and 45cm options for rooms where a little more storage is needed.
