6 Nightstand Essentials Every Student Needs

Every student will benefit from creating a calm, comfortable space where they can relax at home – your bedroom is the best place for this.

When you consider how important sleep is, creating an environment where you have everything you need to relax, to recharge, and to sleep well, could be crucial in helping you find the right balance in your life that stands you in good stead.

There are a range of nightstand essentials that every student should consider, although you’ll find that every person wants something a little difference.

Let’s take a look at a few nightstand essentials that you could have next to your bed in your student apartment and that will help you to get your life in order!

1. A Good Lamp

You might just think that every person has a lamp on their bedside table, but you would be surprised.

Even if you do have a lamp there, it might not be the right type of light for what you actually need it for.

You should think about getting a lamp that has a bright enough light that allows you to read in bed at night, but one that is soft enough so that it doesn’t blind you with its bright light!

The best lamps are those that help you to create a cosy and comfortable atmosphere, with the right lighting for your bedroom.

If you can, pick a style and colour that matches the aesthetic of your room and your own personal style.

This can make all the difference to how functional and nice to spend time in your bedroom actually is.

2. A Place For Water

One of the worst feelings is when you wake up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth, parched, and you reach for a glass or a bottle of water and there is nothing there – right?!

Needing to actually get up out of bed, put some leisurewear on and head to the kitchen to get a drink of water is just terrible at 4am when you’ve got to be up for university in a few hours’ time.

As nightstand essentials go, creating a space that always allows for a bottle or glass of water overnight is very important.

It can be as simple as a coaster to mark out the territory and stop the dirty rings from marking the table itself, but it will help you get into the habit of always getting a drink for overnight, keeping you hydrated when you need it most.

If you fancied it, you could even grab a mini water dispenser for your nightstand, we’re sure all your pals will be jealous…

3. Reading Material

Reading is proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and if you decide to switch your mind off from your phone and laptop and instead read before sleep, it has also been proven to help with sleeping patterns.

It is a great way to wind down, whether you are currently reading a physical book or you have an e-reader.

A small pile of books will remind you to put the phone down and to pick up a book, but it can also double up as part of your bedroom décor.

Just be careful and choose reading material that is light, fun, and completely different to the type of thing you read at university.

4. Journal & A Pen Or Pencil

Journaling is another way to declutter your mind, to keep focused, and to continue to grow.

Writing down some small reflections on your day, writing down thoughts and feelings, or even ticking off to-do-lists, or writing a traditional diary, brings many positives.

You have complete freedom as it is your own personal journal that you are writing in, and this helps to minimise stress and help you express yourself and develop key thoughts.

Building in a place on your nightstand for your journal and a pen helps you to create a positive habit where you journal every night or morning in bed.

5. Alarm Clock

Most people these days just set an alarm on their phone, but it can make a big difference to your mental health if you buy a traditional alarm clock and use that to wake you up in the morning.

You can choose from a wide range of styles that suit your own personal style and room décor (just like with your choice of lamp).

However, you’ll also have the added bonus that you are not immediately reaching for the social media scroll that we all get trapped in from time to time.

Scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter (maybe Threads now instead), is not the best way to set your mind up for the day ahead.

Instead, wake up from your alarm clock and get the day started before having that social media fix!

6. An Essential Oil Diffuser

A candle or an oil diffuser can really help to set the mood before bedtime and help you to sink into bed and to fully relax.

There are many different types of candles and oil diffusers that you can choose from, but if you are going for something relaxing, try out a scene like lavender or chamomile, and these will certainly provide you with a better chance of drifting off to sleep naturally and having a good, deep rest for the night.

We would always suggest an oil diffuser over a candle, purely for the safety of falling asleep with a candle still alight, but also consider that a stylish essential oil diffuser looks great on your nightstand!

Managing your university workload is an important part of student life, and one of the best ways to keep a clear mind and to stay organised is to have a clean and comfortable student home.

A big part of that aspect of your life is to have all of your nightstand essentials ready for you to use. This helps to bring a sense of calm and order to your bedroom, the place where you are meant to recharge and relax.

If you have this oasis within an often-stressful university life, it can help you to be successful with everything that you do. It’s all about finding the right balance to your life.