I guess I'd be stuck trying to find a place to put my lamp, alarm clock, and the book I read before sleeping. I like being able to just glance over and see the clock, if I wake up in the middle of the night.

I guess the scenario in the second picture solves that sort of problem, though.

Don't get me wrong...I love the sparse clean feel of not having nightstands. I'll have to say, thought, I must be a little obsessive. I NEED to have access to lip balm, my nightly read, a glass of water, and tissue at bedside. Can you tell I am a serious sleeper? I love a good night's sleep!

I've always wanted to make some sort of unfolding table.
Be it slide out, or pull down from wherever. I just thought it was a fun idea, etc.

Yeah, my meds, water, chapstick, clock and lamp go there. I guess my nightstand is a little nonstandard- it's a cube from IKEA about 1ftx1ft that bolts right to the wall. It certainly takes up less visual space than a traditional nightstand.

Small bedside shelving could fix the problem, if it is a problem. It would be for me...I can't give up my bedside table. It never gets cluttered but is a useful tool for the stuff I need just before, and during, sleep. Sometimes I wake up and go for the lavender spray or the Rescue Remedy. On rare occasions when I need the alarm clock it's right there, along with the light, glasses and whatnot. A good night's sleep is one of my few indulgences.

I like this idea...in theory. We're about to purchase a small house, and it's something I've considered. My only issue is that like previous posters, I can't imagine how to live without my nightstand.

In theory & for some people... fine!!

Where do I put my eye glasses? I can't see 6" from my face & can't walk far without them, especially in the dark. They can't be far from the bed, 'cause I can't see them. I can't even see the alarm clock without them!

Great idea, but impractical for some....

I have to say, I'd need something (whether that be a chair or dresser or traditional table) since, as others have mentioned, my eyesight is terrible and I need a spot for my glasses, alarm clock, etc. But I do imagine it opens up the room.

With a little help from my beloved IKEA, you can have your cake and eat it too! My husband and I are going 'table-less' in our new home because we are upgrading to a king bed. The IKEA Malm bed has a headboard option that has nighttables that can be tucked into the frame so you can pull them out of the headboard to access your books, glasses, etc. There is also the option of small underbed storage for those who need to have more than the usual items beside the bed.

If you are someone who reads in bed or wears glasses, what would you do? My last apartment didn't have room for bedside tables and I missed it terribly. It was the first thing I purchased when I moved in to my place.

I also have to have a bedside table, one that is slightly lower than the top of the mattress. I used to have a small chest beside the bed that was slightly higher than the mattress and I often hit my arm on it when reaching for something on the chest. As my bed is 13 inches above the floor (28 inches from floor to top of mattress) my bedside table has two shelves that hold things like Kleenex, a book or two and is attractive as well.

Judging by the comments, it seems as if maybe the question should be about alternatives to bedside tables rather than nothing by the bed whatsoever. From a practical standpoint, I think something (like the dresser in the second picture) is necessary. Additionally, a bed on a wall by itself can look rather naked and unplanned. If it's the minimalist look you're going for, why not install short, matching Lack shelves on either side of the bed. Less possibility for clutter but still a resting place for that glass of water or alarm clock.

skittles_aptB, I was thinking the same thing. I could, in theory, keep my water glass, book, alarm clock, etc. away from the bed, but it makes me really nervous not having my glasses right next to me. If someone breaks in, I won't be able to see if they're carrying a gun or not.

I have a platform bed with a small ledge on either side - maybe 4 inches. Bed tables didn't fit when we moved into our new, oddly shaped bedroom so I put my glasses and book on that ledge when I go to sleep. It works well and the bedroom doesn't look cluttered.

I don't have room for a bedside table next to my side of the bed since it would block access to the Ikea wardrobe taking up that entire wall. My solution was to buy an inexpensive tray from Target and glue casters to the bottom of the tray. It keeps my book, glasses, lip balm and other assorted stuff close at hand without taking up floor space, and rolls neatly under the bed when I'm done.

I've gone without and hated it. Having one again makes me feel like I've got a properly decorated space rather than having to do without (ie: in nyc) to make space. And unless space is a HUGE issue, never again with a bed pushed up against a wall...

I toyed with the idea for the last 4 years but I have yet to add one or two to my bedroom. I'm a minamalist so my furnishings are sparse and if it has no use I get rid of it.

In my bedroom you will find a Malm bed, a Denon clock radio and an Eames LCW chair. The Radio is set under the chair so most people never notice it. I like a simple bedroom with no distrations, so I would never have a tv in there nor would I want to read in my bed.

Under my bed is a small box with terry towels, lube and condoms. I live simpley and I refuse to clutter my home with needless furnishings or objects.

I've never had the room for a bedside table but have also never had the need because my bed has always had built in shelving (one of those old school waterbeds with the shelves and mirror making up the backboard). It has the perfect amount of room for my alarm/radio, tissues, books, telephone, diary, some National Geographics, et cetera. The space it saves is a major plus, too.

I wish I could get rid of mine. It's not too obtrusive and goes with my bed; however, I like a minimal as possible bedroom and would love to have free space next to my bed. But, I need my clock-radio, vase of flowers—and let us not forget the storage.

I grew up without a bedside table(due to a small room), and every place I've lived in since was too small.

You can't miss what you never had.

My alarm clock and book sit just far enough away that when I hit my snooze, it actually wakes me up a little. That's a good thing in my books!

@Thornton - Sorry to hear that you're dealing w Cancer - I hope your treatment is working for you.

Nightstands: Can't do without them for all the reasons mentioned above. It's an essential part of having a comfortable, appropriate, mature space

(I also never had a phone, a job, a driver's license, a bank account, a credit card or a home of my own when I was growing up - I guess I should get rid of those too? It sure would make my life alot simpler...)

I went table-less because, like you, I don't have the space. I really thought I'd miss the tables. However, it's been three months and I'm fine using my dresser, which is positioned beside my bed. It'll be much more efficient and aesthetically pleasing once I've a boxspring, though -- my bed (a Malm from IKEA) is a little too low.

I've always had a love-hate relationship with bedside tables; at the moment I'm happily using an ottoman, and piling my bedside reading and water glass on a silver tray!

Even though it takes up some space, we have a bookcase headboard. We have room on the top for stuff and room inside for books or whatever else we want to stash there.

No point whatsoever....you can "change" whatever it is you use as a bedside table, but the concept is and will be the same.

How are you supposed to reach for whatever it is you need as basics in the middle of the night? Unless you're sleeping on the floor.

Next post will be "Saying adios to beds altogether"

I use a small 2-drawer dresser. It's perfect for storage and I need a flat space for my lamp, my books, my lotion, my glass of water, my chapstick...etc etc.

I don't think a bedside table for a space to be decorated but I think bedside tables are necessary for me to be neater. Without one as Lisa Hunter mentioned I tend to end up with stuff on the floor. I do know people who do quite fine without one, but I am not one of them.

I have a weird nook in the wall above where my head is when I'm in bed so I got shelves cut to fit in the nook and that's where my stuff goes. My room is only about 3 feet wider than a queen size bed so I don't even have room for a dresser in there, my bed is a raised platform with storage underneath. I'm glad I have the nook otherwise there'd be no place at all for my stuff.

We didn't know how much we needed bedside tables until, in an otherwise very nice vacation home, there were none. We took two bar stools instead.

It seems that if you have enough space to navigate around the bed to get in and out, you should have enough space for some sort of bedside table. Not having a space for a book, a glass of water, a phone and/or clock really detracts from the experience of bed as a haven, and much more than just a place to sleep.

My bf and I installed a shelf above the bed and attached a light to the bottom of it. It sucks! We end up keeping our cell phones/alarms on the floor because it's so hard to find when it's above your head. Also if you are drinking coffee in bed you have to reach far up and place the hot coffee above your head.

Plus we live in California so in the event of an earthquake the heavy shelf is going to fall on us and kill us. I don't know what we were thinking.

we don't have an option. on the right side, there is a radiator that butts up against our bed at the headboard...on the other, there is a very low window frame that makes it impossible to sit something underneath.

we just get a water bottle and place it on the floor nex to the bed. (so the kitties don't knock it over at 3am) and plug the phone into the nearest outlet and we're good.

no need for tons of things cluttering up our 10x14 bedroom.

i actually just bought bedside tables after living without them for years and i cant believe i ever did without them!

For those saying no room is too small... try a 7.5' x 9.5' room with a queen size bed. You could learn to live without a bedside table.

I have no bedside tables, but I do have a basket of books beside my bed and a "library" headboard.

I have a wide window ledge next to my bed, and I use that instead of a table.

Goody Drawer?

Before I got married, I used a floor lamp with shelves built into it. It had my alarm clock, space for a book, and a few candles.

But with getting married, I changed to 2 bedside tables, I love the symmetry, the soft glow my new little lamps give, and the greater amount of storage in our tiny bedroom.

I couldn't go without a bedside table. I'm with those above who have terrible eyesight (and the fiance is the same - blind as a bat). The few times I've stayed over in place without a nightstand, I've literally cursed having to walk to find my glasses across the room since I'll run into a wall because I won't see it until it's too late.

That being said, our night stands aren't actually nightstands. One side is the mini-fridge (holds bottle water for night time drinking and I'm in the have to take meds at odd hours category) and the other is a small 12" by 15" end table my mother was going to trash. Each holds a small lamp, eyeglasses, nighttime read, and our cell phones (the alarm clock).

A must have for lip balm, foot balm, water or tea, cell phone, flowers, lamp, mini jewelry box, magazines, case for contact lenses, candle. Oh gosh I would be traumatized without my night stand.

We didn't have them in our last place due to a lack of space and I just had a huge pile of books spread over the floor on my side. Now we have cheap ones since we're planning renovations and they are good but create and collect a lot of clutter and dust. My SO has piles and piles of magazines and newspapers on her side, as well as three or four water glasses at a time! Not having tables meant we had to be more regular about moving the clutter. Maybe we'll go back to not having any when we do up the house.

Like many other commenters, I don't need a dedicated bedside table per se -- in one apartment, I had a small dresser next to the bed, in another I had my desk, in another I had a weird nook behind the bed where I put shelves in.

But I definitely need SOMETHING there. I just moved a week ago and one of the first things I did was take an empty box, turn it sideways, and cover it with a scarf to serve as a temporary nightstand next to the bed. For me, it's an question where function tops form every time.

yeah, I can't consider not having something. Actually our current bedside "tables" are small two-drawer dressers that we simply couldn't do without. Not to mention that I always need that glass of water and a stack of books for bedtime!

My new bedroom has no room for a bedside table next to my bed - the door is there! I decided to put a shelf above my head in lieu, then realized I would hit my head on it so I thought I should put a sort of spacer between the bed and wall at mattress height, and then - genius inspiration struck. At least, it felt that way! I put up one shelf level with my mattress at the head of the bed, the same width as my mattress. Now I have a simple and serene feel to my room AND I have a place to put everything, like a book, iPhone (which functions as Kindle and alarm clock both), lamp, asthma puffer, water bottle, etc. It has been over a month now and I am still happy every time I see my sleek shelf.

I went without a nightstand for about 6 months in our last apartment. I also didn't have any desk drawers, so I ended up with a milk crate full of letters, books, magazines, stationery, tissues, chapsticks, pens, glasses cases, etc. A small two drawer night stand from IKEA fixed all of that.