Narrow Bedside Tables – Dimensions, Space Needed and Old Originals

A narrow bedside table is what fits when the bed stands 30 cm from the wall: in the guest room, in the student flat and in the old house whose bedroom was never meant for a double bed. The question is how narrow it can be and still hold a lamp, book and glass. In this article we go through the dimensions, show what fits at which width, which old bedside tables are narrow by design and how a small table can look like a decision rather than a compromise. You will find everything about bedside tables in general in the bedside table guide.

The dimensions: what fits on 35, 40 and 50 cm?

• 30 to 35 cm wide: lamp and phone, or book and glass. Not everything at once. Works if a wall light provides the lighting.
• 40 to 45 cm wide: small table lamp, book, glass. The minimum for a table that is meant to work every evening.
• 50 cm wide: everything above plus room for the cup of coffee in the morning. The classic Swedish bedside table width of the 1930s to 1950s.

In a tight room the depth is often more important than the width. A table 30 cm deep leaves room to walk past where one 45 cm deep blocks the way. Many old bedside tables are 30 to 35 cm deep, because bedrooms used to be smaller.

Small bedside tables: old originals that fit

Bedside tables from the 1920s to 1950s are generally 40 to 55 cm wide and 30 to 40 cm deep, which is narrow by today’s standards. The Swedish Grace bedside tables are the slimmest: tall, narrow, with a drawer and a shelf, often as a pair; read more about the period in What is Swedish Grace?. Bedside tables in the Louis XVI style are just as narrow, but with fluted legs; see the black and white bedside tables in the Louis XVI style (€890 per pair). The pair of black and white bedside tables, Gustavian in the Haupt style (€980 per pair) are also part of our range; we will give you the dimensions on request. Functionalist bedside tables of the 1940s measuring 50 by 30 cm and 57 cm high are the most common type at auction and a rewarding piece to redesign. You will find all current pieces in the category Chests of drawers and bedside tables.

How a small bedside table looks like a decision

A narrow table in the colour of the wall disappears, and that can be the point. A narrow table in black or deep green against a pale wall becomes an accent, and then the size does not matter. Keep the top free of everything except a lamp and a book. Choose a wall light instead of a table lamp if the width is under 40 cm. And let the bedside table stand alone: no basket beneath it, nothing on the floor beside it. More on choosing colour in black and white bedside tables; if no floor space is left at all, wall-mounted bedside tables may help.

Narrow, but the height still applies

A small table tempts you to take any table, but the height applies just as strictly as with large ones: the top sits level with the top of the mattress, at most 10 cm above it. Many narrow bedside tables of the 1940s are 55 to 60 cm high and suit low beds and bed frames. For a divan bed with a spring mattress base you need other solutions; see bedside chest of drawers. A small chest of drawers as an alternative is shown in small chest of drawers.

Lighting and order on a small surface

On a narrow bedside table, order decides everything. A small lamp with a slim base, a book, a glass: nothing more. Charging cables belong in the drawer, not on the top. If the table is small, a little tray can keep things in order and be lifted off for cleaning. An alarm clock or phone may go on the top if the lamp hangs on the wall. That way the table remains a calm, deliberately placed part of the bedroom.

A pair or a single table when space is tight

Even in a narrow bedroom a pair looks more harmonious. If there is no room on one side, a single table on the other is enough; the narrow side stays free, or a small shelf on the wall takes over. Then height and colour should match the other furniture in the room. We are happy to help you decide whether a pair or a single table is right; just enquire.

Colour and material on small tables

With small bedside tables every colour carries more weight, because the surface is limited. A solid wood table with a lacquered finish is less sensitive than bare wood, which gets marks with every glass of water. In tight rooms, dark tones that make the edges disappear work well, as do pale tones that open up the surface. More on choosing colour in black and white bedside tables, and on material in wooden bedside tables.

Frequently asked questions

How narrow can a bedside table be?

30 cm wide works with a wall light. Under 30 cm it is a shelf, not a table.

Does a small bedside table need a drawer?

No, but it helps. A drawer 8 cm deep takes glasses, charging cables and everything you do not want to see from the bed, and makes the table twice as useful.

Can a narrow bedside table stand on castors?

Yes, low furniture castors beneath an old bedside table make it mobile for cleaning without changing its appearance. Choose castors with a brake so that the table does not roll away when you steady yourself on it.