Everything You Need To Know About Bedside Lockers Before You Buy

Unfortunately, we often don’t put enough thought into what nightstand ends up in our bedroom. Frequently we’re content with blocky, drab pieces that clash with the rest of our furniture. We’d argue that a bedside locker is more important than most people think. After all, the bedside locker is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night. Therefore this piece should be beautiful, functional and, above all, a representation of your interior design aesthetic. 

However, getting the right bedside locker isn’t as easy as it might appear. Suppose you’re decorating your home or in the process of renovating a few rooms. The sheer wealth of nightstand styles, shapes and materials available can seem daunting. Fear not; we are at GetLocal, have done the research, so you don’t have to. In this article, we’re going to share some tips and recommendations to make selecting the right bedside locker a cinch.

Flat Pack Bedside Lockers

Like it not, we’re living in the world that Ikea created. Since 1943, when the first Ikea opened in Sweden, flat pack furniture has become ubiquitous. Even the most ardent supporter of bespoke pieces and solid furniture probably has a flat pack bookshelf or dresser hidden away in a storage room. On its face, the popularity of flat-pack furniture is hardly surprising. Flat-pack furniture is cheap, easy to transport and easy to disassemble. What’s more, in recent years, some of the major flat-back retailers have switched to sustainable building materials. Meaning flat-pack furniture is frequently the environmentally responsible choice. You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to flat-pack bedside lockers. The relatively small size of a bedside locker means assembly should be straightforward, and crucially delivery costs should be manageable. What’s more, the variety of options available means you should find a piece that complements your pre-existing bedroom design. However, due to the building material used in flat-pack furniture, these bedside lockers are typically more suited to modern interiors. Suppose your home is decorated in the traditional style, i.e. heavily influenced by 18th and 19th European home design. In that case, a flat-pack bedside locker will likely clash with the rest of your home. Also, flat-pack furniture will never be as sturdy or solid as pre-built furniture.

Flat Pack Bedside Locker Pros

–       Flat Pack bedside lockers are typically cheaper than their solid furniture equivalents

–       Their relatively small size makes them easy to build

–       The size means delivery or transportation costs should be low

–       Often made from recycled materials

–       Available in a variety of styles, colours and shapes

Flat Pack Bedside Locker Cons

–       Not as sturdy as solid furniture 

–       Modern aesthetic often makes these lockers unsuitable in traditionally decorated homes

–       Tend to be more prone to damage than solid furniture

We Recommend Flat Pack Bedside Lockers To

Flat pack furniture should be considered when you don’t want to invest too much in your bedroom furniture. It’s also more suited to homes with a modern, clean interior aesthetic.

Solid Bedside Lockers

Solid bedside lockers are crafted by experts and are often built from natural materials like oak or mahogany. Compared to their flat-pack alternatives, solid beside lockers feel sturdy, stronger, and, as the name eloquently suggests, are much more solid.

What’s more, solid bedside lockers boast a beauty and elegance of design. Crafted by carpenters, solid bedside lockers are bespoke and can even be commissioned to create one-of-a-kind pieces. This care and attention can be felt in the heft of the piece. A solid beside locker will be more durable and require much less maintenance.

Solid bedside lockers made from natural materials like oak and walnut are particularly suited to homes with a traditional design. The timeless aesthetics of wood grain make them perfect for homes with a boho or even a classic interior design style.

However, the compromise here is price. Solid bedside lockers will almost always be more expensive than a flat-pack piece. The weight and relative bulk of the build will also likely push up transport and delivery costs.

Solid Bedside Locker Pros

–       Built by expert carpenters

–       Often made from solid wood, giving each piece a timeless aesthetic

–       Perfect for homes with a traditional interior design with an emphasis on natural aesthetics

Solid Bedside Locker Cons

–       Can be expensive to transport

–       Heavy and difficult to move

We Recommend Solid Bedside Lockers To

Traditionally designed homes that use a lot of natural materials and earthy colours.

Floating Bedside Lockers

Floating bedside lockers have become increasingly popular. And it’s little wonder why. These space-saving and elegant locker solutions mean your lamp and books have a tidy and clean stand that saves on floor space. The obvious space-saving advantages make these bedside lockers popular in smaller bedrooms and within apartments. With no floor space covered, floating bedside lockers eliminate the issue of dust build-up. They, therefore, are an obvious choice for asthmatics or individuals with respiratory issues.

When discussing aesthetics alone, few bedside locker choices create the sleek, minimalism that floating lockers so effortlessly produce within a bedroom. Individuals with pull-out drawers at the base of their bed find that a floating bedside locker is a natural choice as they won’t impend access to these storage drawers. Also, their small design means floating bedside lockers are incredibly cost-effective.

Unfortunately, while saving on floor space, you do have to compromise on the strength of the bedside locker. A floating shelf will only be able to hold a light lamp and a book. Even then, sagging may very well become a problem. Sag is a particular issue when the floating bedside locker is attached to a stud wall. The holes in the wooden studs will become looser over time, leading to the need to refit the shelf. Also, one sure-fire way to lose a rental deposit is to drill holes in the wall. So you should only consider a floating beside locker if you own the property.

Floating Bedside Lockers Pros

–       Elegant, modern aesthetic

–       Saves a significant amount of floor space

–       Eliminates issues with dust build-up

Floating Bedside Lockers Cons

–       Not as strong as traditional bedside lockers

–       Issues like sagging can occur 

We recommend Floating Bedside Lockers To

Bedrooms with limited floor space. Also, these bedside lockers should only be installed if you own the property or have express permission from the landlord.

Final Tips Before Purchasing a Bedside Locker

Along with the style and build of your bedside locker, there are a few final things we highly recommend considering before making a purchase.

–       Height

A hugely important factor when considering a nightstand is the actual height of the piece in relation to your bed frame and mattress. As a rule, you want the height of the bedside locker to be in line with the bed. By matching heights, you’ll ensure that anything on top of the nightstand will be within arm’s reach. We highly recommend measuring your bed from the floor to the mattress and selecting a nightstand that’s roughly the same height.

–       Width

After we discuss height, we need to talk about width. Generally, a bedside locker should only be as wide as it needs to be. In smaller rooms, a large locker can make the space feel cluttered; therefore, always go for the smallest width possible when space is at a premium. We recommend measuring from the end of your bed to the wall and using this length to guide you when considering different nightstand widths.

–       Function

When considering a bedside locker, it’s best to know what you’ll use the nightstand for. Is the bedside locker going to hold a lamp? Is it going to be a dock for phone charging or a place to put your book or some combination of all three? Perhaps you’re hoping to use the cabinet for additional storage. Once you’re clear on the requirements, you can select a locker that fits these particular needs.

–       Spacing

The spacing between furniture is vital to the aesthetics of your bedroom’s interior design. Therefore it’s essential to understand how your locker will interact and look in the available space. If your bedside locker holds items like a book or your phone, you’ll want it placed at about 1 – 2 inches from your bed. If the locker holds a lamp or an ornament, it may look better placed away from the bed.

–       Quantity

The last thing to consider is the number of bedside lockers you will need. Do you want each room in a property to follow a similar aesthetic? Or is each space going to have its own sense of character? When discovering quantity, you need to consider your available budget. The number of lockers you need will frequently determine how much you have to spend on individual pieces. Remember, a room with a double bed and adequate spacing will always require two bedside lockers. At the same time, smaller spaces will likely only need one nightstand.

There you have it, advice to make selecting a bedside locker as straightforward as possible. GetLocal is the best destination to compare local furniture store products in one place. Whether you’re looking for a flat-pack bedside locker or a solid nightstand, you’ll find just the right product for your discerning tastes on GetLocal.ie.