A Designer Says This Bedroom Faux Pas Is Surprisingly Common: “This Is Your Nemesis”

Don’t you love a simple fix that can make a huge difference in your space? If your bedroom isn’t looking as sleek as you’d hope, it might be less about aesthetics — and more about the details you’re overlooking. According to one interior designer, oftentimes your nightstand is the culprit. Why? 

A particular style may look beautiful in theory, but practice shows it often creates an eyesore you may be blissfully ignorant of. But this simple switch could make your space look that much more curated and thoughtfully designed — all in a snap.

“I’ve designed a lot of bedrooms recently, and I’m going to share my top tips,” shares Carina Harford, a London-based interior designer behind @harford_house on Instagram, in a recent video. “Always go for a vintage bedside table. You will be so much happier and you want one with storage and you want it to come solidly down to the ground.”

Carina describes nightstands with legs as “your nemesis” because all your unsightly lamp cords and charger cables are on full display between the rear of the tabletop and the wall. “I’m not going to enjoy it, you’re not going to enjoy it,” she said. “Don’t do it.”

Instead, Carina suggests finding a nightstand that has storage from top to bottom, with no open spaces against your bedroom’s wall. She notes that shopping for antique finds and secondhand models is a great place to start, but you can also find new pieces on sites like Wayfair that fit the bill.

This nightstand from Latitude Run is super solid and is built oversized, so it can be used for extra clothing storage in smaller bedrooms. And you won’t see any electronics or cords, which will make the entire bedroom look and feel a lot less chaotic.

“Ooooh great tips! The bedside table one is so truuueee,” one Instagram user commented on Carina’s confessional. Another person added: “YES to the tip about bedside tables. Aside from visible cords, the legs are simply dust collectors.”

And someone else quipped: “I always go for the widest possible bedside tables and functional drawers. The surface can then hold a big lamp plus everything that ends up there (eyeglasses, phone, water, watch, etc.) and all that stuff you need when sick. The drawers are a great place to keep pajamas and out of season clothing.”

Ditch pesky nightstands and you might find that your bedroom feels so much less chaotic. Having those cords out of sight and out of mind makes all the difference!