Your bedroom may be your sleep sanctuary, but you’ll also want a place to store essentials easily within reach should you need them when you wake up. A key component to your setup, nightstands help keep items—like lamps, books, glasses, or alarm clocks—efficiently organized. There are a few factors you’ll want to consider in order to maximize the utility of your nightstand. After all, if it’s the wrong height or distance from your bed, it won’t be very useful. Here’s what you should know.

Before You Start Your Search

Ask yourself the following questions to be as prepared as possible when you start shopping:

• What is the total height of the mattress you’ll need to reach it from? (This should include the bed frame, box spring, mattress pad, etc.)
• How much space do you have available to each side of the bed?
• How long are your arms?
• Will you be using the nightstand to hold a table lamp, or will you be placing a floor lamp next to it (if any lamp at all)?