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It might be little more than a vessel for my 36 spare notebooks, miscellaneous wires, a lamp, and a book, but my bedside table—a simple, white, single-drawer situation—was bumming me out. Initially, I wanted it to simply blend in with the rest of my room, but now, three years later, its stained table top was hardly the worst thing about it—I just found it boring.
And I struggled to find the right replacement for it: something affordable, compact enough for the small space I had, and unique. Until I decided to look at IKEA.
Lo and behold, upon a quick search for “nightstand,” I discovered the gray-green Nikkeby two-drawer chest, a perforated, powder-coated metal structure with rounded legs—something that looked like it could either be a really cool vintage find from the ’80s or a high-end purchase from a Scandinavian atelier—and it cost just $69.
The gray-green color is almost neutral, but it lends a bit more zest than a true gray would. Its narrow width is perfect for the small space between my bed and stacks of books, and its considerable height (a bit over two feet) makes it easier to grab a glass of water from its surface while still lying comfortably in bed. That’s not to mention its storage capacity: According to IKEA, each drawer can hold about five pairs of folded pants or 10 T-shirts.
Now my nightstand is a point of pride—not just some sad cubic structure that I use as a bedside catchall. I might not realistically maintain my current level of drawer organization, but at least, from the outside, everything looks pretty cool.
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