I currently have two rubbermaid bins as nightstands, but it's only supposed to be a temporary measure. I have to be careful, as I need a nightstand for my alarm clock, lamp, glasses, glass of water. It needs to be big enough to handle those things, but not so big I start stacking tons of stuff on it. It's a constant struggle.

I have an old wooden bookcase I've refurbished on one side (although the books I keep by my bed seem to cell-divide and multiply exponentially and end up spread around on the floor).

On the other side I have an old typing table with folding wooden leaves and metal legs and wheels. For the longest time, the top was that weathered gray that unprotected wood gets when it's neglected. After years, I finally sanded and stained it and it looks fantastic. I love it, because I can fold down one or both leaves to fit it into a small space or fold them up for added surface space.

I was looking to get rid of our mismatched nightstands so when I brought home and Asian-looking stool my husband got the bright idea to replace the nightstands with them and put a basket underneath for extra storage. We haven't brought this idea to fruition yet because we can't find lamps that work with the idea. But I'm all about it.

I currently use 2 old wooden tv stands (college furniture) that I painted & re-finished. Better yet though- I just bought 2 cute, functional, little night stands for $25 on craigslist! I'm using them as side tables (in 2 different rooms) at the moment, but eventually, they might end up as night stands :P

http://cozylittlecave.blogspot.com/2010/01/side-table-solutions.html

After months of searching, I bought a nightstand at a thrift store about two weeks ago. I haven't decided yet if I like it or not. It's got a "trendy" look: espresso finish with simple lines and brushed nickel knobs. Sometimes I feel like it's too generic, so I plan to switch out the knobs for pink ones from Anthropologie.

But I love nightstands! It's the only place where I don't feel tablescapes (?) look superfluous. By the way, your chests look great.

When we bought nightstands (we call them bedside tables) the only requirement was that they had drawers. We share a dressing table so that's only 3 drawers each so an extra 2-3 drawers of a nightstand gives much more room to store clothing. I keep my underwear in the top drawer and pj's in the bottom drawer. I can't stand nightstands that are just tables. What a waste of potential storage space!

We have two midcentury nightstands, similar in size but totally different shapes. I love them, although my current lamps are way too big for them/the space/life in general.

I sleep in the loft-type area over the cab of my motorhome, so I've had to say goodbye to nightstands... but I don't miss them.

I have a little clock that's taped to my ceiling (only about 12" from my face), and there's a light up there, too. I sleep on a full-size mattress set over the 'floor' of this queen-size area, so there is a large area above my head that is lower than the space where I sleep. I set up some cushions to lean against when I read and in the space that's left I have room to leave books, a shawl, tissues, and my glasses (in a case). I have two cats, so I have to be careful not to leave anything breakable or spillable up there. If for some reason I think I'll want water during the night, I'll put it in a bottle with a screw cap.

knittertara - I had a similar set up with two tubs stacked on one another and a left over piece of wood set on top as my bedside table. Initially it was supposed to be temporary but ended up being my bedside table for nearly 2 years.

Finally we bought a chest of drawers and I got a matching bedside table. My husband uses the edge of the chest of drawers for his bedside table because I am in charge of the alarm.

I love my nightstand because it has TWO drawers in it so I can keep all the crap I "need" right close but hidden away. This include numerous books that I am half way through, lotion, sleep masks, glasses, pens, game boy. You know the necessities.

I don't have a nightstand because it would serve no purpose for me. Alarm clock aka mobile phone goes under the pillow, books never make it into the bedroom because I'd rather read in the living room. Basically, I don't need anything right there by my bed and a nightstand would just be a clutter magnet.

Nice big nightstands with lots of drawers eliminate my need for a dresser, so I can rearrange the furniture more freely. And they hold up lamps for reading in bed!

My nightstand is an old spindly wine rack with a wood tray on top. The wine rack is see through so it breaks up the wall of furniture I have. But if I ever need more storage, it'll be there.

I like simple nightstands. I'm all about storage, but I really only need one drawer. Otherwise they transmutate into junk drawers for me filled with things I don't need/should go elsewhere. Although it received poor reviews, I love the look of this one: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=10&startValue=11&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=13175864&parentid=A_FURN_FURNITURE_TABLES&sortProperties= subCategoryPosition,&navCount=48&navAction=poppushpushpush&color=&pushId=A_FURN_FURNITURE_TABLES&popId=A_FURN_FURNITURE&prepushId=APARTMENT_FURNISH. It holds everything I need: alarm clock, lamp, some magazines/books, and a cup of coffee or glass of water.

Best nightstand I ever had was a chest of drawers. Lamp, book, water, alarm clock did not seem cluttered because they only took up a third of the surface. Plus it had drawers for my clothing in a room with one tiny closet.

By now I have the nightstand itself -- but these last seven months I haven't been able to figure out what kind of lamp I need. Do I want a little lamp on the stand by the bedside, or do I want a wall-mounted task lamp? And if yes to the latter, is there any way I can spend less than $300 on one?

I got two white Ikea Helmer office drawer units (http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/00107874) purely because they are so narrow (about 30cm or 12 inches) and I had a space issue. They are best thing ever - I have a drawer for my book, a drawer for my box of tissues, and in the morning I throw my (battery powered) alarm clock, aspirin, lip balm etc into the top drawer so during the day there's only lamp on top of it, and all the small stuff doesn't get knocked off when I make the bed.

In my current bedroom, a nightstand is pretty impossible. If I had one, it would block the giant steelpipe radiator (we need access to dry our clothes on that!). The radiator itself is too tall and hot to be covered and serve as a nightstand. I'd either need something very small/light/portable, or wheeled.

In a perfect world, I crave the Octave nightstand from Crate&Barrel; I'm completely obsessed with the drawer/shelving design composition: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1131&f=29798

However, I was recently inspired by a chevron-painted sidetable in Lonny Magazine (http://www.lonnymag.com/, p.85), and looking for something similar, just found this little folding tray table (with drawers!) that I think can serve my current space well: http://www.amazon.com/ELEGANT-SHABBY-WHITE-TELEVISION-BREAKFAST/dp/B000F3NFG8/ref=sr_1_49?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1264171197&sr=8-49

finding nightstands that have any kind of character is very difficult, unless you go mid-century. i am an interior designer, and have found that locating unique modern nightstands is the most challenging part of the job. it shouldn't be so hard, should it?

SWEET

I don't have room for a nightstand because of the way my bedroom is laid out. I recently bought a "bed caddy" from Bed, Bath & Beyond. While it doesn't hang like it's supposed to (it rests on the floor), it is perfect for holding a book, a bottle of water, and a box of Kleenex.

On one side of my bed I have a beautiful vintage mirrored nightstand with two small drawers that are perfect for holding bedside sundries (glasses, lip balm, kleenex, and so on).

On the other side of the bed--the side that had to be pushed against the wall in my former, tiny apartment--I have a stack of storage boxes with a mirror on top. :-(

I have an antique four poster that sits very high off the floor and even though my bedroom is rather small, I use a 40" round ball and claw foot table as a night stand. I keep my water pitcher, glass, two leather boxes (one for my glasses, one for my change, watch and wallet) my favorite family photos and a three foot tall bronze statue of Shiva, and I still have room for books and an alarm clock.

Currently my night stand is two boxes stacked on top of each other, the one on the bottom a little bigger. My bed is pretty high, and finding a nightstand that is tall enough and not top heavy is a challenge. Between my glasses free blindness and first thing in the morning brain deadness, I need something that can withstand my wild arm flailing.