I have multiple jenga towers - jengii? if you wish...I am reading multiple books at a time, but I like having that satisfying heap of awesomeness to choose from to end off the day.

We have giant book cases in our living room but books always overflow into the bedroom. I found a shelf system that looks like a capital A. Narrow on top but gets wider as it goes down with about 4 shelves. Its full of the spill over and bigger coffee table type books that dont really fit on the bookshelves.

On my nightstand, I have a potted ivy, a lamp, a glass of water, and whatever book I'm reading at the moment.

We have a tiny bookshelf in our bedroom devoted specifically to the queue of books we want to read, which is great for keeping the nightstands clear! :)

I just pared down my night stand book tower. I'm starting to think I need to get rid of all but the one I'm going to read that night because it just causes a sense of panic and dread that I have been lazy and haven't read all these books yet, which is a horrible thing to think about as you try to fall asleep.

My nightstand has a kindle, lamp and phone. SO has kindle, lamp and clock/radio. We have ghostbuster nightstands, so you can't have too much on them without them looking cluttered.

Only the book I'm currently reading is allowed in the bedroom. I don't have a nightstand as such because right where one would be is the rooms radiator. Someday I'll install a small shelf over that or put on one of those wooden radiator cover box things, but for now, I definitely don't have space for stacks of books. When I have left books on the radiator before, it hasn't been very good for them.

I usually keep about 2 books, a couple magazines, and whatever project binders I'm reviewing this week at the nightstand. BUT, I had to install more book storage near the bed for this reason. My headboard is actually a front facing book shelf (w/ deep pockets so stuff doesn't fall on my while i sleep), I have magazine holders on my dresser, a shelf for books over the desk, and narrow vertical bookshelf beside the closet.

Without these, I would simply have to ditch the night stand and construct one out of all the accumulated books.

My nightstand is the dashboard of my room. It houses my alarm clock, glasses, small jewelry stand, & lamp. I would be lost without my bedside table.

One nightstand (furthest from the door) has my main bedroom light, air purifier, jewelry boxes, books that need to go back to the shelves, and ... um .... my unmentionables.*

The nightstand closest to the door has my stack of books. I have what I'm currently reading, but I also have a half dozen or so that have a permanent home there: a book of poetry, book on meditation, Jon Stewart's latest, etc, all within easy reach depending on my mood when I'm going to sleep.

*LOL this makes me think, has there been something on AT on "The Best Ways to Store the Pr0n and the Toys"?

My nightstand has completely undisciplined stacks of books, with a Kindle on top of the towers.

But looking at the picture above made me realize that my nightstand isn't really well suited to the way I use it. I should just admit that what I really need is a bookcase and do something else with the pretty antique cupboard I currently use.

The longer I live, the more I realize that clutter control is as much about having the right piece of furniture as about getting rid of stuff.

I have books everywhere, including in the sheets. Most of the storage is, weirdly enough, in the bathroom: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1l6RBbfNY3U/STQPwAbaeCI/AAAAAAAAAF8/U5ImlQfPFww/s1600-h/Bathroom+Library.jpg

I actually redid my bedside situation over the weekend. I had a low, 2-level table that was too low for my mid-century bed, and I couldn't take it any more. So I traded out the bedside table for a suitcase, and now only keep my phone, glasses, and water on it.
As for books, typically, they get stacked wherever I put them, either on the table or on my headboard - I have a bookcase headboard. I restacked them on Sunday night; moved the book stack to the middle part of my headboard, and put the book I'm reading next to my alarm clock and lamp. Works great!

Books accumulate during the week as I read them. I tend to leave books wherever I finish them. But I do a weekly tidy-up of the bedroom and part of that is putting all the books back where they belong, so the stack doesn't get too high.

I have a nightstand on one side of the bed that has a lamp, the phone and the alarm clock. On the other side, the stand has a lamp and hand cream, and a drawer for my glasses, so that the cat doesn't try to wake me up by swatting them to the floor. There's limited room for books and magazines, which also helps to keep the clutter down.

I do have a small bookcase in the bedroom for my absolute favorite books and the books I read when I can't sleep.

I scoured Craigslist for months to find a bookcase headboard. It helps keep those "what am I in the mood to read tonight" books close by. A small dresser next to my side of the bed keeps the current selection(s). I can't help it.

Can't leave the books on the bedside table, one of the cats will knock it off in the middle of the night and another will proceed to tear the cover off--and since they're library books that can get costly. My books spend the night tucked under the bed behind the bedskirt. For some reasons, the cats leave them alone there. Unfortunately it also means I'm often down on my hands and knees trying to find them too.

@cathy- you're not afraid the books will get ruined when the room gets all steamy?

I have the Malm bedside table that's attached to the bed, so it has the little nook for holding books. I have about 6 books on it, and probably 8 magazines. The magazines could probably go, but to be fair, I'm about halfway through all the books so I think it's okay that I keep them. I also have a few frames, a vase, and a bedside lamp on it. Now that I've actually put thought into it.. it might be a little cluttered.

Oh boy, I'm overrun by books...and magazines too. My nightstand currently houses: a lamp, my alarmclock/iphone dock, a glass of water, usually my night-time cup of tea, a dish of jewelry and a photo of my little ones. My and the SO's nightstands are actually mini 3-drawer dressers that house various clothes that won't fit into our shared dresser. Since the books and magazines have overflowed, they have taken up residence on a little stool next to the nightstand - which I also use to get into my closet occasionally. With spring cleaning around the corner, I think it's high time I consider a de-cluttering of the space!

Guilty of too many books on the nightstand. My hubby actually gets after me about it.

I know that first picture is supposed to be artistic and everything, but looking at it gives me headache!

We have a bookcase headboard for current reads, one clock radio alarm, tissue box, and a variable brightness light. My nightstand, with another clock, water glass, box of found treasures, small teddy bear, and books is actually a bookcase (!) that I found years ago and refinished. It previously belonged to a fire station.

I keep my Kindle on my nightstand and all my regular books in a basket by my bed.

Our nightstands have three shelves, which are great for keeping the books organized. We tend to clean them out every three months or so when we do a deep clean of the bedroom. Lamp, clock-radio, cough drops, and water go on the top. Works for us.

My bedside table IS a bookcase. My older son also has a bookcase as a bedside table and my younger son has a basket of books by his bed. That said, I rarely read in bed, but by the chair where I read, well, there are 5 books a magazine and a field guide, not to mention the kids' books.

I have books, magazines and newspapers scattered all over the floor next to my bed. My laptop is often by the bed, too. On my nightstand (a hide-covered low seat) is a paper lantern, favourite pieces of jewelry, a photo of each of my children, perfume, and an alarm clock.

I'm guilty of book jenga as well. I probably have 20-25 books stacked on my bedside table(a couple of stacked vintage suitcases) right now. There's just enough room left for my glasses, hair binders/sticks and my waterbottle.

@ hethyr - I have an old wooden treasure chest next to the bed for that purpose. Works wonderfully.

I think there's a bedside table under those books. Mind you, there's a rumour about some floor under the books next to Dr Heliotrope's side, the ones that dont fit on his table...
What problem?

my husband's nightstand has tons of cycling mags, comics, and conan the barbarian books. my night table is filled with novels, school books, and spiritual books. we each need huge bed stands.......