Tag Archives: bedside pocket storage

Master Bedroom Makeover Part 4: Bedside Built-ins

Bedside Pocket
Bedside Pockets

If you’ve been following my blog and specifically the series on our master bedroom makeover, you already know that the layout of our master bedroom does not allow for any sort of bedside table or night stand. To compensate for this, we previously used little pockets on the sides of the bed for storage of glasses, lip balm, books, etc. I made the pockets several years ago and although they served the purpose for the most part, what I always desired was built-in cubbies on either side of the bed. I was so excited when my husband agreed to build them! It seemed like the perfect timing because he had already committed to installing sconces that required wiring and a light switch.

Basically, he built boxes that would be installed between the studs of the closets that bank both sides of the bed. The boxes were custom designed from scrap wood according to our individual needs. Mine was built a bit deeper than Tim’s to accommodate my alarm clock and my books. Although this meant that it impinged a bit further into my closet, I was totally okay with that because I only use this space for dresses. We painted the boxes and then added a frame around the edge after installation.

BEFORE:

You can see the wall banking the closet to the left of the bed. This is where the bedside built-in was installed. (You can also get a glimpse of my old ceiling fan before it was upcycled to more of a vintage farmhouse style.)

AFTER:

I love how Tim also incorporated outlets & a charging station into the design. I really didn’t want cords dangling all over the place and this completely solved the problem. I always charge my phone in the kitchen, but my husband keeps his beside the bed, so a USB port was needed. Tim doesn’t tend to use the full height of his cubby, but I like to put my water bottle in mine at night, so needed the extra space. We might install an additional shelf in his at some point. You can see the dimmer switch for the sconces on my side of the bed below my cubby. (We thought of putting one on each side of the bed, but decided that in our house I am almost always the first one to bed and am the only one that reads in bed, so it just made sense for me to have the switch on my side. )

I am so happy with how the bedside built-ins turned out!

Stay tuned for upcoming Master Bedroom Makeover posts on DIY throw cushions, DIY curtains and room reveals.

If you enjoy my blog….others might too! LIKE and SHARE the posts you enjoy. SUBSCRIBE to my blog and receive notifications when I create a new post!

The Nightstand Solution: Bedside Pocket Storage

Master Bedroom

You can see from the photo that there is no space beside our bed for night stands.

Our bed is set into a small alcove in our room. Although I love the look of this, the trade-off is that there is absolutely zero room for a bedside table. This posed a huge problem for me for several reasons:

  • I often read before bed.
  • I wear glasses and am virtually blind without them.
  • I have a chronic runny nose and never go anywhere without a tissue and that includes bed.
  • I use lip balm and hand lotion right before going to sleep.

I am a creature of habit and when we moved into our house, I knew that I would have to figure something out to make this set-up work.

The Solution:

I bought a piece of fabric that coordinated with our bedding and bedroom colours and made a very simple pocket system that stretches across the bed between the box spring and the top mattress. The width was approximately 16″ (before finishing the edges) and the length depends on the size of the bed you are making it for. We have a queen, so the finished length included the width of the bed plus the fabric needed to build the pockets. To save money, I made joins that were hidden under the mattress. (You could even use old sheets or fabric scraps for the hidden part as it will never be seen.) I finished the edges of the entire piece and then created the pockets by folding the ends up to the desired pocket depth. I then simply stitched the sides to the base and made two additional vertical stitching lines to create three pockets of varying size. This gave both Tim and I our own personal little pocket for our bedtime essentials without having access to a nightstand.

I love that the pockets are almost completely hidden when the bed is made! This is a perfect solution, and is in fact a much “cleaner look” than a cluttered night stand!

Have you ever considered working from home? A revolutionary new training system has hit the market.  If you are interested in learning how to earn money from home, you need to click this link.