I Put a Nightstand in My Bathroom, and It Was the Perfect Small-Space Storage Hack

My old house has a lot of charm — and a lot of quirks. In the downstairs bathroom (a full bath off the living room, because, again, quirky), there’s a light over the shower, but nothing over the sink. And, thanks to the wall that surrounds the shower, that light doesn’t reach the rest of the bathroom.

At some point, I’d love to get a light installed above the sink. But that requires running electricity, and that goes far beyond my DIY skills or current renovation budget. So, much like the kitchen lamp that made a comeback a few years ago (it has such ’90s nostalgia!), I’ve officially decided to make bathroom lamps a thing. The only issue is, where do you put one? That’s where this small bathroom storage hack comes into play — and it’s a total game-changer: Put a nightstand in your bathroom. 

With a nightstand in the bathroom, you’ll gain both storage space and somewhere to set a bathroom lamp. And as long as you have a few inches to spare, I guarantee you can find a nightstand small enough to fit. A long rectangle nightstand is your best bet, since a narrow shape will fit more easily into the small nooks available in a bathroom. 

I found a nightstand that is just 7.8 inches wide, which is narrow enough that it could actually slip between the toilet and the sink in some bathrooms. In my bathroom, I had enough room to set it against the wall across from the toilet and the sink. Depending on how you’re using it, you want the nightstand to be within arm’s reach, and any drawers or shelves should also be easily accessible (in a small space, you’re going to use that extra storage!). 

This is where the lamp comes back into play. With the nightstand across from the toilet, I put a small lamp on top. There’s no outlet here, but I found a rechargeable light bulb with a remote, which can also sit on the table. It’s so darling, and, even if I didn’t actually need it for functional light, it adds the cutest touch to this corner. Plus, it gives me an excuse to use one of the many vintage lamps I’ve collected over the years (I snagged this tole lamp from my great aunt’s house!).  

I then added a candle because, if you ask me, a candle in the bathroom always adds an instantly elevated styling moment. On the next shelf, I added a few toilet paper rolls. If I was feeling ambitious, I might wrap them each in a bandanna to give them a more designed look but, sometimes, practicality wins out. 

Now I’m searching for a basket that will fit on the bottom shelf. It’s a tall order to find a basket that’s approximately 6 inches deep and 10 inches wide, but I’m imagining it will be the perfect place to toss extra travel-size toiletries. You know, just in case someone decides they do want to take a shower while hanging out in the living room.