Any ideas about bedside table alternatives for when there's no space for an actual table?

[UbercornsGoggles]

Just as the title says really. After our renovation we will have very little space (20cm maybe) for a bedside table, so nowhere to put lamps, clock etc. We will have double sockets with USB connectors though. Anyone got some good ideas for how we get around not actually having bedside tables? I've thought about a shelf above the headboard but I like to sit up in bed and read and don't fancy having something above my head.

Wall mounted or ceiling hung lights? A 20cm shelf next to the bed would work for anything else? I’d be surprised if you can’t find a slimline unit that would fit anyway

Shelf behind the headboard itself.

Ikea do a bed Malm I think where the shelves are built into the head board and accessed from the side. You could do something similar. If you can shifty the bed forwards into the room a little.

Unfortunately we can't move the bed further into the room so anything behind the headboard is out.

We do have more than 20cm space down the side of the bed, but need to keep it free to open wardrobe and bedroom doors.

Floating shelves on the walls?

We used a CD stand when we only had a tiny space, and used a couple of empty CD cases on it as ‘shelves’. Not much space, but enough for a phone, a book and a flat surface on top for a glass of water :).

This?

My husband has a really small in width side to charge his phone. We cut a nice piece of wood to size then got some braces and attached it to the wardrobe that cut his space. So it's more like a shelf. Have you also looked at the bed pockets?

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/childrens-ikea-products/children-3-7/small-storage/stickat-bed-pocket-green-art-40296293/?cid=gb%7Cps%7Cpla%7C%7C%7C%7C&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzP20gJ2d3wIVE-R3Ch2Reg65EAQYBiABEgKUNfD_BwE

SOMETHING LIKE THIS

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wall-Metal-Hanging-Decorative-Floating-Shelf-Home-Office-Storage-Display-Rack-UK/233043319751?epid=23026723315&hash=item364276dbc7:g:y0sAAOSwiJZcELyv

or even this though not cheap
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wooden-Floating-Shelf-Concealed-Storage-Drawer-Bookshelf-Designer-Modern-Wall/283084917050?hash=item41e92d093a:g:SnUAAOSwJ8pbZIhu

or perhaps get a carpenter in to make you something

We are in a similar position although it will be 30cm hopefully.

We will have wall lamps built in which have both a soft light and a reading light.

We will then have small floating shelves built into the space each side of the bed to act as tiny bedside tables - just big enough for phone, specs, glass of water. Maybe two levels of shelving so we also have somewhere for a book.

I’d suggest the same - you could even have three layers of shelves since they can only be 20cm square.

Wall mounted lamps.

If you can stretch to 23cm, couple of options here.

This is out of stock but I'm sure someone could make one for you. There are several narrow side tables on that site - but lots require side access, and I'm assuming you will have walls? Might be worth a browse.

www.wayfair.co.uk/furniture/pdp/wayfair-basics-multimedia-wall-mounted-storage-rack-qyp1068.html

What about this, on its side like in the 2nd picture? There won't be much room, but enough for a tiny lamp, maybe one on a clip intead of free standing?

These ones are nice:

direct.asda.com/george/home-garden/table-floor-lamps/geometric-shaped-table-lamp/050431874,default,pd.html?cmpid=ppc--george--ggle-pla--OD16HOME_GARDEN---_-dskwid-s92700035559092314_dm&ds_rl=1238816&ds_rl=1254577&gclid=CjwKCAiAo8jgBRAVEiwAJUXKqBNhjSPXiGvhCKyVDjP0SoMpYr52V-9THyAxeJNPwXbjpjsgSK5PGxoCY6YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/617209127/wall-wooden-lamp-bedside-rustic?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_new_years-home_and_living&utm_custom1=375eac5e-3538-4412-bdaa-6a34922a0f89&utm_content=go_1469261740_58093097678_283030017021_aud-537409439212:pla-303628061699_m__617209127engb&gclid=CjwKCAiAo8jgBRAVEiwAJUXKqOjjzt8rQdjZLOY-q2EYQWPdDEl2WNoLoejSbNBVknC-VJY5ZI3jUhoCRpAQAvD_BwE

Do you have a divan or a bedstead. If a bedstead, you could have a sturdy, flat topped trunk under the bed that could be slid out, overnight.

Try searching bedside shelf on amazon - here's an example
www.amazon.co.uk/BedShelfie-Original-Bedside-Shelf-Business/dp/B01N9RPZZY/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=bedside+shelf&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1544723979&sr=8-13

A plant stand night work.

Had exactly the same issue, we used stools from Ikea, as some tend to be far smaller than bedside tables.

You can get 19cm wide tall DVD racks. If it was 20cm between bed and the wall I'd suggest a bookcase facing towards the bed - loads of space then!

We also had IKEA stools, as PP suggested.

Alternatively, what about something like this?

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FZ62PNP/ref=asc_df_B07FZ62PNP57454214/?hvlocphy=9046493&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=288264578875&creative=22122&hvpone&hvlocint&creativeASIN=B07FZ62PNP&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-503543757498&hvrand=6229273094330502812

I've seen much more fancily displayed ones that look good.

Wow, so many suggestions, thanks all. Plenty there for us to think about. Hmm, wonder what our builder's reaction would be if I told him I want to install wall lights 2 days after the wall's been plastered...

What about changing the wardrobe doors (and if necessary the bedroom door) for sliding ones. It would probably make your whole space work more efficiently.

one of those bedside shelves used for bunk beds?

We have these clipped to the bedhead. We now have bedside tables but prefer to keep these as they take up no room and are great reading lights.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/lighting/work-lamps/jansjö-led-wall-clamp-spotlight-white-art-90386333/

We have lamps that clamp onto the headboard of the bed, and have these kind of bed pockets down the side of the mattress that fits a phone, book and tissues. DH has a sports bottle of water he just leaves on the floor on his side of the beds It's great because it can't build up any clutter!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FZ62PNP/ref=ascdff_B07FZ62PNP57454214/?tag=googshopuk-21&creative=22122&creativeASIN=B07FZ62PNP&linkCode=df0&hvadid=288264578875&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=46032368960825301&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007239&hvtargid=pla-503543757498

I have a similar issue, and use a slimline mini chest of drawers a bit like this www.argos.co.uk/product/7248535

Lamp and book on top, medication, handcream, hankies etc in the drawers