How To Make A Nightstand Taller: 10 Best Solutions

The average height of a nightstand is between 24 - 30 inches (about 2 - 2.5 feet high). As a rule of thumb, they should be about 5 - 7 inches above or below your bed's top edge. If your current nightstand feels too low and you wonder how to make a nightstand taller, this post will show you 10 practical, step-by-step solutions.

1. Add Leg Extenders

Furniture risers, commonly referred to as leg elevators, can be installed beneath furniture feet to elevate their position. These tools to raise furniture help you adjust the height just right so your furniture stays level even on bumpy floors.

Materials needed:

• Leg extenders: Choose leg extenders that match your furniture style and desired height
• Measuring tape: To put the risers in the right spot
• Protective pads or felt feet: To keep your floor safe and stop your nightstand from sliding around

Steps for using leg extenders for furniture: 

• Step 1: Measure the height of your nightstand: Use your measuring tape to see how wide the feet of your nightstand are. Choose risers that are bigger around than your furniture legs. This keeps your furniture steady and stops it from wobbling.

• Step 2: Attach the leg extenders: Put one extender under each leg to spread the weight. Test how steady it is by moving the nightstand around. Make any tweaks you need to.
• Step 3: Add protective pads or felt feet: Attach protective pads or felt feet to the bottom of the leg extenders. This helps to keep your floor safe and stops the nightstand from sliding around.

2. Create a Base Platform

Rather than changing the legs, you can try making a base platform for your nightstand as an easy fix.

Materials needed:

• Wood: To build the base platform
• Saw: To shape the wood as needed
• Wood glue/fasteners: To join wood layers and make the platform stronger
• Sandpaper: To smooth out the wood surface
• Felt pads: To shield the floor from scratches

Steps for creating a base platform: 

• Step 1: Measure and cut the wood: Measure your nightstand and cut a piece of wood a bit bigger than its bottom. Pick wood that's thick enough to make your nightstand as tall as you want. 
• Step 2: Assemble the platform (if necessary): For thicker platforms, stick layers together with wood glue and nails or screws. To make it super sturdy, add some cross-braces or corner braces.
• Step 3: Finish the platform: Sand the base until it's smooth, plug any holes, and paint or stain it to look like your nightstand. Stick felt pads on the bottom of your nightstand's legs then set it on top of the base. Make sure it's in the middle and sits flat.

3. Add an Extra Shelf

Make your nightstand more useful by putting in another shelf. This gives you extra space to store and show things making your nightstand work better for you. 

Materials needed:

• Wood: To make the shelf
• Saw: To cut the wood to the size and shape you want
• Drill: To make holes for the screws
• Screws: To fix the shelf on top of the nightstand
• Sandpaper: To fix the shelf on top of the nightstand

Steps for adding an extra shelf above your nightstand:

• Step 1: Measure and cut the wood: Measure the width and depth of your nightstand and cut a piece of wood to match. Choose how high you want the shelf and cut the wood to that size.
• Step 2: Attach the shelf: Drill holes in the nightstand and the shelf then use screws to fasten the shelf to the nightstand.
• Step 3: Prepare the shelf: Smooth out the shelf edges and cover any flaws with wood filler.
• Step 4: Finish the shelf: Apply paint or stain to make the shelf look like your nightstand color. Don't forget to check if it's strong enough before you start using it.

Note: Before installing an extra shelf, pay attention to what size lamp for a nightstand to determine its base diameter and height. This will help you choose a shelf that accommodates your existing nightstand setup and doesn't mess with your drawers or anything else you've got there.

4. Mount a Nightstand to the Wall

Mounting your nightstand to the wall offers a modern look with flexible height adjustment, allowing you to position it at your preferred height, thus maximizing space and creating a unique aesthetic.

Materials needed:

• Measuring tape: To figure out where to put your nightstand

• Drill: To create holes in the wall for your wall fixings and screws
• Screwdriver: To remove and reattach screws during the disassembly and reassembly of the nightstand
• Pencil: To mark where you want the screws to go on your wall

• Wall anchors: To be inserted into the holes drilled into the wall and give screws something solid to grip onto
• Screws: To fasten the nightstand to those wall anchors

Steps to mount a nightstand to the wall:

• Step 1: Measuring: Measure the height of your bed, and make a spot on the wall for where you'll want that nightstand to hang. You should have it set like 5 - 7 inches up or down from the bed for it to be just right.
• Step 2: Determine the marking point on the wall: figure out the middle height of your nightstand. Say it's 16 inches high, you should shift your original spot down 8 inches to make space for the nightstand's height.
• Step 3: Drilling holes: Make a starter hole where you put your mark for the wall anchor to fit into.
• Step 4: Attaching mounting cleat:  Secure the wooden cleat to the wall with a drill and screws ensuring the screw holes match up with the anchors you already put in place.
• Step 5: Finish: Set the nightstand onto the cleat.

5. Decorate with Items

If you wonder how to make your nightstand taller without changes to the physical height, just incorporate tall, slender objects to create the illusion of height. Items like potted plants, vases, lamps, or book stacks,... can be useful in this case.

Materials needed:

• A tape measure: To figure out how tall your nightstand is and the kind of lamp that would fit best

• A lamp: To lifts up how tall your nightstand appears

Steps for making your nightstand look taller with a lamp:

• Step 1: Measure: Use a tape measure to determine the height of your bed and nightstand, then calculate the perfect table lamp size that fit your bed room’s design.
• Step 2: Choose the right lamp style: Opt for a tall, slender lamp with a narrow base. For its style, modern bedrooms suit sleek lamps, traditional ones favor elegance, rustic styles use natural materials, industrial leans towards exposed bulbs, and mid-century modern opts for tapered designs.
• Step 3: Position the lamp strategically: Consider the overall balance of your nightstand when placing the lamp. If there's a clock or a book, make them all look nice together by considering the lamp's height.

Besides, you can elevate your bedroom's aesthetic with a unique epoxy lamp. These pieces offer a wide range of designs, from anime characters to stunning floral arrangements. With various sizes available, you can find the perfect fit for your nightstand.

Recommended products:

• Diver in Coral Reef Table Lamp
• Real Eustoma Flower LED Table Lamp
• Automata Headphone Stand and Night Lamp
• GODZILLA Monster Unique Table Lamp

6. Install a Furniture Riser to the Bottom

When looking to elevate your nightstand, you have a few options: risers, casters, bun feet, or taller legs. The installation process is generally similar. Here we’ll take casters as an example.

Material needed

• Casters (4): To stick on the nightstand's bottom, so it's easier to move and taller.
• Screwdriver: To drive the screws into the nightstand for the casters.
• Drill (optional): To make holes in the nightstand.
• Pencil/pen: To mark where you're putting the casters.
• Measuring tape: To get the caster placement just right.

Steps for installing a furniture riser to the bottom:

• Step 1: Mark caster positions: Use a tape measure to figure out where they should go. Corners are the go-to spots, but you might wanna put some in the middle for more support. Just make a mark with your pencil where you want them making sure the weight will be even.
• Step 2: Drill pilot holes: To put on screw-on casters, make tiny holes to keep the wood from splitting. And if you've got post casters, you need to drill deeper holes that match up with the post size.
• Step 3: Attach the casters: Get the caster plates screwed in by lining them up with the holes you drilled before.
• Step 4: Test stability:  Flip your furniture back up the right way and give it a go. See how it moves and make any tweaks or slip in some shims if it's not quite right.

7. Install the Adjustable Table Leg

Raising your nightstand with adjustable legs is a quick and easy solution. You'll not only make it more functional but also improve the look of your bedroom, and gain valuable storage space underneath.

Materials needed:

• Adjustable table legs: To install to the bottom of the nightstand
• Screwdrivers: To tighten the screws
• Screws: To keep the legs attached to the nightstand
• Measuring tape: To figure out how tall you want it
• Pencil: To mark where your screws will go (optional)

Steps to install the adjustable table legs:

Step 1: Measure and mark: Determine the desired height for your nightstand. Grab your tape measure and pencil and mark where you're gonna put the screws under the nightstand.

Step 2: Attach new legs: Align the new adjustable legs with the marked screw locations. Twist those suckers into the underside of the nightstand.

Step 3: Test the adjustable table leg: Place your nightstand in the location. Gently rock the nightstand back and forth.  It should stand solid, no shaking or anything.

8. Add a Tall Back Panel

To truly add some height to your nightstand in an easy but effective manner, you're going to add a large back panel to the stand itself. This can be done in a few different ways, depending on your skills and the materials you have available.

Materials needed: 

• Plywood/other materials: To craft the back piece
• Screws, nails, or wood glue: To build the frame and stick the back piece on
• Saw: To cut the wood
• Drill: To create pilot holes
• Screwdriver: To drive screws
• Sandpaper: To smooth out the wood's sharp sides

Steps to add a tall back panel:

• Step 1: Cut the wood: Cut the wood pieces for the frame and back panel according to your measurements. Make sure you figure out how tall you want the back panel first.
• Step 2: Assemble the frame: Use screws, nails, or wood glue to put your frame together. Fix the back panel onto the frame or attach it straight to the nightstand.
• Step 3: Finish the back panel: Smooth the edges of the back panel with some sanding then grab some paint or stain to get it looking just right with your nightstand's style.

9. Add a Layered Top

For a more permanent solution with added functionality, consider building a layered top for your nightstand. This boosts the top space and adds a cool design twist.

Materials needed:

• A piece of wood/glass: To make the shelf
• Saw: To shape the wood how you want
• Drill: To create holes for screws
• Screws and screwdrivers: To fix the shelf to the nightstand
• Sandpaper: To make the wood smooth

Steps to add a new layer on top of the nightstand: 

• Step 1: Remove the existing top from the nightstand: Remove four screws to separate the existing nightstand top.
• Step 2: Measure the top of the frame: Measure where the top of the frame was and got wood cut the same size
• Step 3: Construct the new shelf: Construct a "U" shape by the two shorter segments to the aligning sides of the shelf. Subsequently, measure and cut a piece of wood to fit the gap between the boards. Secure this piece with glue and screws, creating a three-sided box structure.
• Step 4: Attach the shelf: Get the shelf up there first. Before you screw it in, drill some starter holes to make sure it'll be sturdy.
• Step 5: Paint with primer to seal the wood: Prime the nightstand to seal the raw wood, ensuring proper adhesion for subsequent finishes like paint or contact paper. Apply the contact paper to the primed surface. To prevent lifting, secure the edges with a thin bead of E6000 glue.
• Step 6: Attach the original top: Spread adhesive on the box frame's upper edge then align the original top before giving it time to set. You need to bore holes straight down and drive screws into the frame; this keeps it tight. Secure each side with three screws to lock that top down.
• Step 7: Final paint: Repaint the nightstand in your favorite colour, which fits your room’s design.

10. Lower the Bed Stand

If you find the previous method impractical, consider lowering your bed frame. Many modern bed frames, especially those with metal frames, have adjustable legs. By shortening these legs, you can bring the bed closer to your nightstand's height. If your bed frame has wooden legs, you can cut them to the appropriate length.

Materials needed: 

• Saw: To cut the bed legs, pick a handsaw or a power saw based on how thick the bed legs are
• Pencil: To draw where you're gonna cut
• Measuring tape: To figure out how tall you want the bed
• Sandpaper: To  make the sawed-off parts of the legs all smooth

Steps for lowering the wooden bed stand: 

• Step 1: Measure the desired height: figure out how much shorter you need to make the legs for the bed and nightstand to be the right height. Use a tape measure to do this.
• Step 2: Mark the cutting line: Take a pencil and sketch where you gotta cut on each leg.
• Step 3: Cut the legs: Carefully saw through the legs at the marked lines.
• Step 4: Smooth the edges: Grab some sandpaper to get rid of any rough spots the saw left behind.
• Step 5: Finish: Paint or stain those legs so they look like they were always part of the bed frame. Once you put the legs back, check if the bed's not wobbly.

Tips for Success

Here are some key strategies to ensure your nightstand reaches the perfect height with suitable solutions: 

• Choose a solution: Check out what you need and grab the best fix for your space. You can temporarily elevate your nightstand by adding blocks or books underneath it or using a riser or platform. For a more permanent solution, consider replacing your nightstand with a taller one, or customizing your existing nightstand by adding legs or a panel.
• Measure first: Use a tape measure to determine your mattress. Ideally, your nightstand should be about 5 - 7 inches above or below your bed. To avoid a problem that your lamp can not fit comfortably and obstruct other items when being put on your nightstand, learn how to measure a lamp size properly.
• Secure the setup: Make sure your raised nightstand stands firm. Use a level tool to see if it's even. Load it up like you would and give it a nudge to check if everything stays put.
• Match the style: Pick stuff for your nightstand that looks right with the rest of your bedroom pieces. Go for straight lines and simple colors like gray or beige for a fresh now vibe. For old-school charm, warm wood and fancy touches are the way to go.
• Style the nightstand:  Pick decorations that match the new height and your room's vibe. Say your space rocks a minimalist look; go for some cool, clean-lined doodads. If you're all about that classic life, grab timeless knick-knacks like old-school picture frames or retro light fixtures.

FAQ

How High Should a Nightstand Be?

Nightstands are usually 24 - 30 inches tall. For the best fit, they should be about 5 - 7 inches above or below your bed's top edge.

Can I DIY a Taller Nightstand?

Yes, you can definitely DIY a taller nightstand. Try some quick and simple ways like adding leg extenders, placing a tall-shaped lamp on or creating a base platform for it.

What is the difference between furniture risers or leg extenders?

Furniture risers are blocks placed under furniture legs for a quick height boost. Leg extenders are attachments that add height to the legs themselves, offering more customization and a sleeker look. Risers are easier to install but less versatile, while extenders are more durable and allow for precise height adjustments.

What If I Need a Temporary Solution?

Try stacking books, using wooden blocks, or placing thick cardboard under the nightstand legs. These temporary solutions can be used to quickly and easily raise the height of a nightstand without needing to make complicated modifications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are numerous creative and practical tall night stand ideas to address the challenge of how to make a nightstand taller. From simple solutions like using furniture risers to more involved methods like building a custom base or modifying the legs, you can effectively adjust the height of your nightstand to suit your needs and preferences.