“WHY ARE NIGHTSTANDS SO EXPENSIVE?!?!” I yell into the void. I am, nor will I ever be, a person who will pay $800 for one nightstand. And if you are with me, this is your post, friend. Today I’m sharing 20 beautiful affordable nightstands that look high end but are actually budget friendly. Sneaky sneaky.

I am currently apartment hunting–yes, we are seriously thinking of moving out of Manhattan (!!!!!!!) and it is super scary, but what lessens the blow is the opportunity to have more space and DESIGN IT. Let’s start with the bedroom–we haven’t had nightstands in 12 years because our bedroom is so small, so one of the perks of leaving the city is having a bedroom that is actually large enough for normal things…like nightstands.

So this post is actually inspired by my own nightstand hunt and frustration when I couldn’t find something that meets my design standards at an affordable cost. So I searched and searched and found some gems. Let me show you!

Pro tip: one thing you’ll notice is I will rarely choose a painted white nightstand. I think the easiest way to add more texture and interest to your bedroom is through your nightstand. Adding a color or a wood tone brings depth and interest while anchoring and grounding the bed. A painted white nightstand is often too white, like blinding white, and in the bedroom, we aim for softness. Plus, I love white bedding, so a nightstand in a different color is an easy choice. I am not opposed to a white washed look though because you still have some woodgrain coming through.