Decorative accents will contribute to the overall design of the room, but overloading the space with specific items can detract from a good night's sleep.
We consulted home specialists to identify the most common items that should never be placed on your nightstand. Read on to discover what items you should steer clear of.
Meet the Experts
- He is an expert on sleep from Oura Ring and a sleep scientist, who also holds the position of assistant professor at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
- A professional organizer is also the owner of Neat by Meg.
Bright Alarm Clock
.
"Rather, choose an alarm clock with a non-backlit face so you won't be stressed about the time in case you wake up at night", she says.
Having an alarm clock right next to you and its light shining bright can disrupt your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
For the most up-to-date hacks, expert tips, and much more!
Medicine
"I see many clients storing their medication on top of their nightstand, which makes the bedroom look messy", states Meg Markland, a professional organizer and owner of Neat by Meg.
If you don't have enough space in your bathroom to store medicine, she suggests exploring creative storage solutions that keep medication hidden from view so your nightstand stays clutter-free. Markland advises using drawer organizers within your nightstand drawer or placing a basket on your nightstand to handle storing them.
Too Many Electronics
"Try to keep your nightstand clear of too many electronics, such as your phone or laptop, which may remind you of work and make it hard for you to fall asleep again if you wake up during the night," Dr. Robbins advises.
Besides emitting blue light that can disrupt your sleep, having electronic devices like a phone, tablet, or laptop on your nightstand can make it difficult to fully disconnect from the day and get a good rest. Markland agrees and suggests charging your phone elsewhere instead.
"I began a few years ago leaving my phone on the charger in the kitchen and stopped charging it on the nightstand table", she says.
If you need to keep your phone on your nightstand because it's where you set your alarm, set it face down to prevent distractions caused by light during the night.
Work-Related Items
When it comes to electronics like your phone or laptop, research has found that multitasking negatively affects productivity, accuracy, and job performance.
"Daytime is all about productivity and achieving, doing," Dr. Robbins explains. He suggests that nighttime is a completely different mental state. Dr. Robbins notes that items related to work can keep us in a work mindset, and recommends keeping these items separate from the rest of your home.
"It helps you shift into a completely different mindset at night and sets you up for a successful night's sleep," she says.
Clutter
Keep your nightstand clutter-free, as not only does it detract from the appearance of your bedroom, but it can also affect the quality of your sleep.
"It's best for our sleep space to be tidy and without stress", Dr. Robbins says. "Having a messy or cluttered sleep space can be stressful for some, which may make it harder to relax and unwind", she adds.
Having a cluttered living or work space filled with too many things, such as books, jewelry boxes, or skincare products, contributes to a chaotic atmosphere that makes it difficult to feel relaxed, peaceful, and rested.
Having a cluttered nightstand can lead to knocking something over in the dark, resulting in embarrassing noises that can destroy a good night's sleep.
Food
Any crumbs that don't get sucked up by the vacuum cleaner can make your bed unsanitary and less comfortable, especially at night when you're trying to sleep.
The Spruce