Bedside Chest of Drawers – A Tall Bedside Table for a Divan Bed

Tall bedside tables are the problem created by the divan bed with a spring mattress base. A divan bed with a topper reaches 65 to 75 cm above the floor, and almost all bedside tables, new and old, are built for mattresses of 50 to 60 cm. The result is a table that disappears beneath the edge of the bed, whose lamp shines into the mattress and whose glass stands out of reach. A bedside chest of drawers solves this: this article explains what height is needed, why ordinary bedside tables are not enough and why a small chest of drawers from the first half of the 20th century is the best solution we know. You will find everything about bedside tables in general in the bedside table guide.

How tall is a tall bedside table?

The rule: the top sits level with the top of the mattress or up to 10 cm above it. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress while someone is lying in the bed; it sinks 3 to 5 cm. For a divan bed that means:

• Mattress 60 to 65 cm: bedside table 62 to 72 cm. Tall bedside tables from the 1940s at 65 to 68 cm will do.
• Mattress 65 to 70 cm: bedside table 68 to 78 cm. Here you need a chest of drawers or a table at chest-of-drawers height.
• Mattress over 70 cm: bedside table 72 to 80 cm. Only chests of drawers and bureaux reach that.

A bedside table 70 cm high, the most common search, therefore suits a mattress of 62 to 70 cm, which covers most divan beds without an extra thick topper.

The chest of drawers as a bedside table: the solution that already exists

Swedish chests of drawers from the first half of the 20th century in the Gustavian style, the so-called Haupt version, are typically 72 to 76 cm high, 80 cm wide and 42 cm deep, with three deep drawers. Those are exactly the dimensions for a divan bed: the right height, room for a lamp, book, glass and phone, and storage that an ordinary bedside table never offers. We often sell them in pairs for precisely this purpose. From our current stock, for example, the black and white chest of drawers with gold in the Gustavian Haupt style (€980) fits. We will give you the exact dimensions of each piece on request via the contact page. What defines the style is covered in Gustavian chests of drawers, and you will find more on small models in small chest of drawers.

Other tall bedside tables that work

Rococo bedside tables with curved legs often reach 65 to 70 cm, while bedside tables in the Swedish Grace and Swedish Modern styles from the 1940s are 60 to 68 cm. Always check the dimensions before buying. Suitable pieces are, for example, the pair of black and white bedside tables, Gustavian in the Haupt style (€980 per pair) and the black and white bedside tables in the Louis XVI style (€890 per pair). Bureaux and small writing desks at 75 cm are a further option if the room has the width. Avoid putting a low bedside table on a plinth or taller legs: it always looks like a makeshift solution and becomes wobbly.

Width and depth beside a divan bed

A divan bed looks tall and heavy, and a small bedside table beside it looks lost. The table should be at least 50 cm wide, preferably 70 to 80, so that it balances the bed. The depth is set by the room, but 40 cm is comfortable. The height of the lamp is calculated from the top: a table lamp of 40 to 50 cm gives the right reading light from a bed of 70 cm.

Colour: the chest of drawers as a frame for the bed

Divan beds often have a fabric headboard rather than a wooden one. A black chest of drawers as a bedside table gives the bed a frame. Pearl grey or white lightens a dark upholstery. You will find the thinking on colour in black and white bedside tables and black chest of drawers.

Chest of drawers as a bedside table: practical tips

A chest of drawers as a bedside table has an advantage that no bedside table offers: storage for bed linen, nightwear or scarves right beside the bed. The top drawer is ideal for things you need every day; the lower one takes seasonal items. Before buying, check that the drawers run quietly, because you will open them late in the evening and early in the morning. Allow for the space needed for the open drawer too: 40 cm of depth means 40 cm of free space in front. As a pair, two chests of drawers look symmetrical; a single chest of drawers on one side and a small table on the other works if colour and height roughly match. A showpiece at the centre of a room is described in furnishing with statement pieces.

Frequently asked questions

What height does the bedside table need for a divan bed?

Top of the mattress plus 0 to 10 cm, in practice 68 to 78 cm. Measure with the mattress under load.

Are there new bedside tables 75 cm high?

Few, and most are chipboard chests of drawers. A restored Haupt chest of drawers in solid wood costs about the same and lasts considerably longer.

Can you make a bedside table taller?

By 3 to 5 cm with taller feet or a plinth, yes. More leads to wrong proportions. With a tall bed, it is better to choose a chest of drawers from the start.