12 Nightstand Items to Help You Sleep Better

A restful night's sleep is essential for health and wellbeing. However, many factors from noise to room temperature can disrupt sleep. Fortunately, optimizing your nightstand with intentional items can transform your bedside into a sanctuary for deep, peaceful sleep.

From essentials that meet practical needs to decorative touches that create ambiance, here are 12 nightstand additions to help you sleep better.

Essential Nightstand Items

Equipping your nightstand with useful essentials ensures you can meet needs that may arise overnight or first thing in the morning without fuss.

Alarm Clock

An alarm clock allows you to wake up on time every morning, which is key for quality sleep. There are analog clocks with traditional numbered faces or digital clocks with illuminated screens. Choose one with sleep sounds if you find gentle nature backgrounds like ocean waves help lull you to sleep.

Lamp

A soft lamp enables you to turn down bright overhead lights for a soothing glow before bed. Consider a compact table lamp, free-standing floor lamp, or sconce mounted bedside. Many feature dimmer switches to adjust brightness. Warm amber or salt lamp lighting can be especially relaxing.

Water Bottle

Having water at your bedside quenches thirst if you wake up parched in the night. Look for insulated bottles that will keep water cool overnight. Infusing fruit for lightly flavored hydration can also entice you to drink more.

Tissues

Seasonal allergies or colds can cause nighttime congestion. Keeping tissues hand saves fumbling around in the dark if your nose is stuffy. Place them near lamps or reading materials you may use before sleeping.

Phone Charger

Plug in devices like your phone, e-reader, or smartwatch to charge overnight. For reduced EMFs, avoid placing chargers immediately next to your head and flip devices face down. This allows you to start your morning with fully powered gadgets.

Notebook and Pen

Keep paper nearby to jot down middle-of-the-night thoughts or ideas you want to remember in the morning. You can also create a handwritten to-do list so you're ready to start the day productive. Place them next to any books you're currently reading.

Decorative Nightstand Items

Complement essentials with decorative touches that contribute to a restful ambiance surrounding your bed.

Photos

Personalize your space with cherished photos in frames featuring loved ones or favorite places. Images of serene nature settings can have a particularly calming influence as you gaze at them before drifting off.

Books

Reading a paper book before bed signals your brain that it's time to unwind. Curate a collection to suit varying moods, like novels for entertainment or spiritual titles for perspective. Having a variety on hand caters to how you feel each evening.

Flowers and Plants

A vase of fresh flowers or potted plant introduces life and greenery into the bedroom. In addition to natural beauty, studies show spending time around plants and nature can lower stress. Opt for species known to clean indoor air for bonus wellness benefits.

Diffuser

Fill a room with aromatherapy benefits by placing an essential oil diffuser on your nightstand. Add calming scents like lavender before bed to promote deep relaxation. Diffusing nearby as you fall asleep allows you to fully inhale the aroma all night long.

Himalayan Salt Lamp

Himalayan salt lamps cast a warm amber glow perfect for bedtime ambiance. Unlike bright white light, the hue is easy on eyes. Salt crystals also work to naturally purify indoor air. Using one adds soothing lighting to your space as you unwind and fall asleep.

White Noise Machine

Background noise like traffic, neighbors, or a partner's snoring can disrupt quality rest. A white noise machine masks these sounds with soothing, consistent shushing. Many models allow you to choose between echoing nature soundscapes like ocean waves, rainfall, or crickets.

Now that you've filled your nightstand with sleep-promoting items, organize them for efficiency. Group products of similar use together - reading materials on one level, hydrating accessories on another. Keep things you use most frequently, like your alarm, closest at hand. Neatly wind and secure any charging cables. Regularly clearing clutter prevents your space from feeling chaotic and stressful.

Prioritizing your nightstand makes it a personal haven that meets your unique needs for restful sleep. Experiment with different soothing lighting, sounds, scents, sips of water, and reading materials to identify a combination that optimizes your overnight relaxation and rejuvenation.