We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
– Prospero, The Tempest
Sleep is sacred, and the bedroom, the domain of dreams. While the bed is a playground of desire and respite, it is the bed’s companion piece, the nightstand — that low-slung sentinel set squat next to the frame, quiet, unobtrusive, infinitely handy — that holds our most sacred items. It keeps the life of repose within an arm’s reach: literature, technology, hydration. And, it remains a gallery of the sacred heirlooms: the nautical compass from Nantucket, the Brahma statuette from Cambodia. The nightstand has room for all, and with proper curation, it keeps on balance the utilitarian, the lofty, the memorable.
For our ultimate example, we picked a Mid-Century Modern-inspired, handcrafted, one-drawer walnut version. The matte finish brings out the grain of the wood, and the smaller size — 18 x 18 x 24 inches — allows it to pair with a low bed and a New York-sized apartment. It’s also small enough to limit a stockpiling of goods; above all, the nightstand isn’t a catchall — it’s a curated place. Equip it properly, and the sacred items of the bedroom will be respected, preserved, and when the time comes, at your service.
On Top
And tucked in the nook.
