Nightstand vs. Chest of Drawers: Differences, Sizes and Placement
A nightstand goes by the bed; a chest of drawers goes against a wall. We compare the two by height, depth and drawer layout, using the actual dimensions of 7 nightstands and 4 chests of drawers.
The difference between a nightstand and a chest of drawers starts with location and size: a nightstand is a small, low cabinet by the head of the bed; a chest of drawers is a wider, taller cabinet set against a wall, with stacked drawers for folded clothes. On İmhotep’s product pages, nightstands are 55–63 cm wide and 60–78 cm tall; chests of drawers, 72–115 cm wide and 84–126 cm tall.
Nightstand vs. chest of drawers: comparison table
What sets a nightstand apart from a chest of drawers is width, height and drawer layout; their depths are close. The width, depth and height ranges in the table were compiled from the product pages of İmhotep’s 7 nightstands and 4 chests of drawers; the other rows describe how the two pieces are generally used. All dimensions in this article are given in centimeters, as width × depth × height.
| Feature | Nightstand | Chest of drawers |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | On either side of the bed, at the head | Against a wall: next to the wardrobe or facing the bed |
| Width | 55–63 cm | 72–115 cm |
| Depth | 42–46 cm | 45–50 cm |
| Height | 60–78 cm | 84–126 cm |
| Drawer layout | One or a few drawers; a shelf on some models | Many drawers stacked one above another |
| What it holds | Glasses, books, medicine, phone charger | Underwear, T-shirts, sweaters, bed linens |
| Number in a set | Usually two | Usually one, if the set includes it |
To put the difference between a chest of drawers and a nightstand in one sentence: a nightstand is a surface you reach for while lying down; a chest of drawers is storage you put clothes away in while standing. Across İmhotep’s models, the difference in depth is 8 cm at most; the real difference is the drawer capacity that the chest’s wide, tall body provides.
What is a nightstand, and what is it for? Nightstand dimensions
A nightstand, also called a bedside table, is a low cabinet placed next to the bed that keeps the small things you need at night within reach. Its top serves as a surface for a lamp, a book and a glass of water; its drawer gathers the things that would otherwise lie around, such as glasses, medicine and a phone charger. With a double bed, there’s usually one nightstand on each side.
The dimensions of İmhotep’s 7 nightstands, from lowest to tallest:
| Model | Width | Depth | Height | From the product description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis Bedside Table | 55 cm | 45 cm | 60 cm | Solid wood veneer surface |
| Versa Bedside Table | 58 cm | 43 cm | 61 cm | Solid spruce, turned legs |
| Venedik Bedside Table | 62 cm | 42 cm | 68 cm | Spruce body, hand-carved apron |
| Arizona Bedside Table | 63 cm | 42 cm | 69 cm | Soft-close slides, antique pulls |
| Prada Bedside Table | 60 cm | 46 cm | 70 cm | All spruce, turned legs |
| Elvin Bedside Table | 60 cm | 43 cm | 74 cm | Spruce, cabriole legs, drawer and shelf |
| Lükens Bedside Table | 63 cm | 42 cm | 78 cm | Spruce, cabriole legs, hand-carved apron ends |
At most manufacturers, nightstands stay within 40–65 cm in width and 55–70 cm in height. İmhotep’s models sit in the upper half of that width range; in height, Elvin (74 cm) and Lükens (78 cm) go above it. The tallest model, the Lükens Bedside Table, suits high beds, while the Louis and the Versa Bedside Table, at 60–61 cm, suit lower beds. You can see all of İmhotep’s nightstand models side by side on one page.
How do you choose nightstand height to match your bed?
The ideal nightstand size starts with your bed. The common advice is for the top of the nightstand to sit level with the top of the mattress, or a few centimeters below or above it. That way, lying in bed, you can get to the lamp, your phone or a glass without reaching up or leaning over.
Take this measurement from your own bed, not from a catalog. The distance from the floor to the top of the mattress varies with how the bed frame is built, whether there’s a base under the mattress and how thick the mattress is. For width and depth, there are two short rules as well:
- Width: Choose it based on the wall space left beside the bed; there should still be enough room next to the nightstand to walk past comfortably.
- Depth: This sets how far the nightstand sticks out past the headboard; on most models, it’s between 35 and 50 cm.
What is a chest of drawers, and what is it for? Standard chest of drawers sizes
A chest of drawers is a cabinet with drawers stacked one above another, made for storing folded clothes and linens. It works as a second storage space for everything the wardrobe doesn’t keep on hangers: underwear, socks, T-shirts, sweaters and bed linens. There’s no single standard size for a chest of drawers; with most manufacturers, width runs around 70–150 cm, depth 40–55 cm and height 80–130 cm, and narrow, tall models can fall outside that range.
The dimensions of İmhotep’s 4 chests of drawers:
| Model | Width | Depth | Height | From the product description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis Chest of Drawers | 115 cm | 50 cm | 84 cm | Solid wood veneer surface, generous storage |
| Versa Chest of Drawers | 92 cm | 45 cm | 100 cm | Many drawers, all solid spruce |
| Elvin Chest of Drawers | 90 cm | 46 cm | 111 cm | Spruce, cabriole legs, multi-drawer layout |
| Lükens Chest of Drawers | 72 cm | 45 cm | 126 cm | Solid spruce, cabriole legs, hand-carved apron |
The two ends of the table show two different types of chest: the tall, narrow Lükens and the low, wide Louis. Which one to choose depends on how much wall space you have in the room and what you plan to use the top of the chest for.
Tall, narrow chest of drawers
A tall, narrow chest of drawers stacks its drawers one above another on a short stretch of wall. At 72 cm wide, the Lükens Chest of Drawers rises to 126 cm; this type fits narrow walls next to a wardrobe or between a door and a window. Because its top comes close to chest height, it suits a lamp or a small object better than a mirror.
Low, wide chest of drawers
A low, wide chest of drawers gives you a large top surface that’s easy to reach. The Louis Chest of Drawers, at 115 × 50 × 84 cm, is an example of this type; its product description notes that it can be adapted to the space with different size and veneer options. This type sits well on the long wall facing the bed and pairs nicely with a wall mirror above it or a frame or lamp on top. The Versa and Elvin chests, at 90–92 cm wide and 100–111 cm tall, fall between the two types.
Chest of drawers with a mirror
A chest of drawers with a mirror is a low, wide chest that has a mirror mounted on top or was designed together with its mirror. İmhotep’s chest of drawers category doesn’t include a model with a mirror; if you’re looking for a mirror and drawers in one, the vanity tables in the sets do that job. All six of İmhotep’s vanity tables combine a mirror and drawers; according to their descriptions, the Elvin, Versa and Lükens models come in two pieces.
How a chest of drawers differs from a console and a vanity table
A chest of drawers, a vanity table and many consoles all have drawers; what separates them is which room they’re used in and how.
- Console: The long dining room cabinet with doors and, on many models, drawers; it stores plates, glassware and tablecloths. İmhotep’s consoles are 195–255 cm wide, which is at least 80 cm wider than the widest chest of drawers. You’ll find the details in our article on what a console is used for.
- Vanity table: A table with a mirror that you use sitting down; on most models, you pull a pouf or a chair up to it. A chest of drawers, on the other hand, is used standing up and is focused on storing clothes.
Nightstands and chests of drawers in a bedroom set
All of İmhotep’s bedroom sets include nightstands, while only some include a chest of drawers. The Lükens, Elvin, Versa and Louis sets have one; in the Venedik, Prada and Arizona sets, storage is left to the wardrobe, the nightstands and the vanity table.
The descriptions of the Lükens and Elvin sets list the contents one by one: a four-door wardrobe, a bed, a vanity table, one chest of drawers, two nightstands, a bench and a pouf. This layout is a common pattern: two nightstands at the head of the bed and a single chest of drawers against a wall. You can see how the nightstands and the chest of drawers look together in a set on the Lükens Bedroom page.
When placing a chest of drawers, consider the clear space in front of it as well as its width. Most room plans call for about 80–90 cm of open floor so you can pull a drawer all the way out and stand comfortably in front of it.
Nightstand or chest of drawers: which do you need?
The difference between a nightstand and a chest of drawers also tells you which one you need: a nightstand is useful in every bedroom, while a chest of drawers is worth adding when your wardrobe runs short of space for folded clothes. To decide, you can go through these steps in order:
- First, measure the height to the top of your mattress and choose the nightstand closest to it.
- If your wardrobe has enough drawer and shelf space, a chest of drawers isn’t essential.
- If you have a narrow wall, look at a tall, narrow chest; if you have a long wall, look at a low, wide one.
- If you also want a mirror, there are two ways to go: hang a wall mirror above a low chest of drawers, or choose a vanity table made up of a mirror and a drawer module.
You can browse all four of İmhotep’s chest of drawers models in one place. According to the product descriptions, the nightstands and chests of drawers other than Louis can also be made in different colors, while the Louis Bedside Table and Louis Chest of Drawers can be adapted to the space with different size and veneer options. If you have questions about sizes or colors, you’re welcome to ask at our showroom in Siteler, Ankara (Karacakaya Cad. No:141/A), open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or call us at +90 312 351 03 32.
Frequently asked questions
How tall should a nightstand be?
With most manufacturers, nightstands are 55–70 cm tall; the right height, though, is set by your bed. The top of the nightstand should be level with the top surface of the mattress or a few centimeters below or above it. İmhotep’s 7 nightstands range from 60 cm (Louis) to 78 cm (Lükens). Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the mattress on your own bed and choose the model closest to that figure.
How deep is a chest of drawers?
Most chests of drawers are 40–55 cm deep. Among İmhotep’s 4 chests of drawers, the depth is listed as 45 cm (Versa and Lükens), 46 cm (Elvin) and 50 cm (Louis). The deeper the chest, the more its drawers hold; but you also need to leave enough space in front of it to open a drawer and stand comfortably. In most plans, that space is kept at around 80–90 cm.
What is a chest of drawers with a mirror?
It’s a chest of drawers with a mirror fixed above its drawer body or designed together with it, combining clothes storage and getting ready at the mirror in one piece. It’s used standing up, whereas a vanity table is used sitting down. İmhotep’s chests of drawers don’t have mirrors; for a similar setup, hang a wall mirror above a low chest of drawers or look at the vanity tables with a mirror and drawers in the sets.
How many drawers does a chest of drawers have?
There’s no fixed number; chests with a single column of drawers usually have three to six, and wide models with two columns have more. On tall, narrow models, the drawers are stacked in a single column. Some designs put small drawers for jewelry and socks at the top and large ones for sweaters and bed linens at the bottom. İmhotep’s chest of drawers descriptions don’t give a drawer count; the images on the product pages show the drawer layout.
Can you use a chest of drawers in the kitchen?
You can, but a chest of drawers is a bedroom piece designed for clothes. In a kitchen, steam and heat around the cooktop, oven and sink can damage the wood surface and the drawer slides, so place it on a wall away from the wet zone. If you’re looking for larger storage for tablecloths, napkins and serving pieces, a console designed for the dining room is often the better choice.
