Items on your bedside table?

@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
February 12, 2008 3:35pm CST
It is very hard for me to de-clutter my bedside table. It holds a variety of things that I feel I have to have within reaching distance(because I spend a lot of time in or on my bed). While I've noticed that many people use their bedside table for the bare minimum of items, I have never been successful at paring down my items. Mine contains an AM-FM radio/CD player, globe touch lamp, small speakers, TV remote control, ashtray, pen, change, bottle of water, and coffee cup. I really need to have these things near me. How do you keep your bedside table? Do you have lots of things on it, or just a lamp and alarm clock?
13 people like this
46 responses
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
12 Feb 08
We have two bedside tables in our room. On my side of the bed there is a water bottle,a box of kleenex,two stuffed wolvesand a jewlery box. On my husbands side there is the alarm clock/radio,finger nail clippers,a 20 inch leather flogger,two leather slapper paddles one black with holes and one brown no holes, a leather english tawes and a wooden paddle.
2 people like this
@michelyn (717)
• United States
12 Feb 08
I must say that the two of you sound like polar opposites. Your side seems so innocent and then his, well... let's just say it doesn't whisper innocence :)
• United States
12 Feb 08
lol but remember we meet in the middle of that bed every night.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
12 Feb 08
LOL! Very interesting, lightningMD. The items on hubby's side of the bed conjure up racy images. Sounds like you two have a lot of fun!
@cblackink (969)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I'm very minimalist and really into Feng Shui. I have a clock, my daily journal and a Bible on the table. Sometimes an ashtray, but not regularly
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
Sounds OK to me, cblackink. That reminds me I must get back to my daily journal, lol.
• India
13 Feb 08
hey i agree with you
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Ashtray, did I hear ashtray? No wonder we are friends..lol I have a small lamp, alarm clock and a holder I made for my glasses on the table beside my bed. I keep it clutter free on purpose because it gets so dusty in this room that it makes my job easier when I dust constantly not to have to remove a ton of things. Once in awhile I will place a craft item I am working on beside me but not very often.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
Yes, carolbee, I have to have my trusty ashtray close by, lol. I am working toward re-doing my table as we speak.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Feb 08
On my nightstand I have a small alarm clock, a small touch lamp, our telephone and our answering machine. My nightstand also has two drawers on it so I have a few books and my bible in the top drawer but nothing in the bottom one.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
That sounds nice and neat, sweetgirl. You are not at all cluttered.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Feb 08
I dont have a bedside table but I did I would probably have a lamp and a clock on it. Maybe some books as I read usually before I go to sleep. But with this house that i live in now i dont think that would be possible.. The outlets in this house is so screwed up. They need more. I have an older house the is rented to us. We have at least 3 extension cords in our bedroom and 1 in my daughters room and they are being use so i dont think our house could take any more. lol I CANT WAIT TO MOVE! lol
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I hope you will be able to move in the near future, myworkid, and, please be careful with all those extension cords!
1 person likes this
• Ireland
13 Feb 08
I am in bed right now and the items on my locker in this moment in time are 2 cups=empty 1 toilet roll=all gone 3 stanisklavsty books 1 stephen poliakof book 1 bottle of sparkling water 2 folders full of documents set of keys inhaler phone boxers jumper film book and thats it!!this will go down in history for the millions that search the web when i'm gone
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
That's quite a list of items, master! Yes, you might just go down in history, lol.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
13 Feb 08
I have the books and a room to keep my reading glasses.I never keep anything more than that.I don't need an alarm clock for me.I get yp at 6.30pm sharp.It is a clock work.lol
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
15 Feb 08
Like me.I have to go to bed with my books.Wife is always the second option.She is not nearby.lol
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I don't use an alarm clock either, bala. I do, however need to resolve my problem with keeping my books on my bed all the time.
@patgalca (18174)
• Orangeville, Ontario
13 Feb 08
Our bed is set up differently in that the bed is connected to a huge headboard which includes cupboards on either side of the bed with a huge mirror over the headboard between the cupboards. Each cupboard has a fold open cubby hole. My husband leaves his closed but I leave mine open and cluttered (the door serves as a side table). But the headboard is also cluttered with the clock radio, a couple of angels, and pictures of our kids. On my side table I have a face cloth which I use as a coaster for a water bottle which I bring to bed every night. I also have pens and a notebook. But like I said, this is a cubby hole so inside there is a stash of to-be-read paperbacks. AND THEN, to the side of my bed along the wall is an old headboard which I use for a bookshelf. The two shelves are filled with more to-be-read books and the top shelf has more photographs, angels and other ornaments. We don't have lamps as the headboard has pot lights over top of the mirror and cupboards, as well as small lights under the cupboards, above the cubby hole. The very top of my headboard is one long shelf filled with stuffed animals my husband and kids have given me. Some of these touch the ceiling. I really should take a photo and post it here. I've talked about it so much and I don't know whether people get a clear understanding of this huge bedroom unit. But, I must stress, everything is neat and orderly. This is the neatest room in the house.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
You have made me envious, patgalca, and you should post a picture of your bed, by all means. I know the type of bed you are speaking of because my sister has the same type in her bedroom. I would love to have all that storage space.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
12 Feb 08
My dresser or my is like my bedside table. I have my cd player alarm clock, My contact case with my glasses, the book i am reading right new Dean Koontx "The Darkest Evening of the Year" . My jewerly case and some of my medicacines. So mine is more cluttered then it needs to me also.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
13 Feb 08
Yeah we do. So far I am really enjoying it. Of course I like anything Dean Koontz writes.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
12 Feb 08
We all seem to have so many "needful things," Shaun. BTW, how are you enjoying the book?
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 Feb 08
I had started a similar discussion few months ago..LOL! I am also like you, I wish that everything should be within my reach, when I am on my bed. I need to have my FM radio, a magnine or a newspaper, my mobile phone, TV remote control and most importantly a bottle of water. I feel at ease if these things are at my bedside table, specially at night time.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 Feb 08
I agree with you...that less important things can be left out. :):)
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I suppose we need to select the things we absolutely must have, dpk, from the ones that are of less importance.
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I don't really have a bedside table, I am making do with a bookshelf I bought at the dollar store until we can afford the bedroom furniture we want. But it's a mess! I have a lamp, a cd/alarm clock, pens and pencils, books, my bible, notebooks (I write alot), drawing pads, crossword puzzle books, the remote for the tv, the remote for the ceiling fan, emery boards, and a bunch of other stuff. Hubby keeps fussin at me to clean it off, maybe I should do that today?
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Oh, and I forgot I also have stuffed animals and beanie babies crammed in there!
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I'm sure, dlkuku, that these are all things you couldn't live without, lol.
@lynnchua (3412)
• Singapore
14 Feb 08
I don't used a bedside table. Used to have a messy one and tends to hit the things off the table so I decided not to have one.
2 people like this
@mlhuff12 (797)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I don't have a bedside table. In it's place I have a laundry basket that I don't use with a lid on top. On the lid I have my alarm clock and a few pieces of mail. And at night I put my glasses there too. Hopefully soon I will be able to get a bedside table.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
That's very inventive, mlhuff. It reminds me of a time when I even used a milk crate as a bedside table, lol.
@chris1314 (784)
13 Feb 08
I normally have my ipod, mobile, house phone, pens, papers, cups and keys etc. I think that people who have spotless desks are sad! lol You need a bit of crap on there to make it homely :) lol
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I must agree with you, chris, lol. I am not one who uses my bedroom just for sleeping.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Hi worldwise1 on my side of the bed I only have a light and a candle. On my hubbys side he has the alarm clock and also a light. I dont like clutter.hahahahah
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I think I am the queen of clutter, TerryZ, lol. I have lots of interests and keep many items around me that reflect my interests.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
We do not have a bedroom table. Everything gets piled on the dresser that is a mess if we cannot put it in the dresser drawers. We have a small masterbedroom, barely enough room for the bed and at the end near the window is the treadmill. (should be downstairs, but then we have to get rid of the pool table.) I put my clothes on my chair for the next day. We also have a phone on a stool next to the treadmill, but that does not work as we have other phones all over the house. The alarm clock/radio/cd player is on the dresser.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I find it amazing, suspenseful, how inventive we can be when forced to reside in cramped quarters.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I just have a lamp and a whatever book I am reading. Sometimes a pen and pad and a bottle of water. At night it also has a cup of coffee on there too.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Another minimalist, I see, maddysmommy, lol.
@mummymo (23706)
13 Feb 08
As I sleep downstairs at the moment I don't have the usual bedside table but instead a tv table and luckily I have a wall lamp so I don;t need a bedside lamp taking up too much room but like you I have many other things! First and foremost is my laptop - I have to have it near me at all times or I start to panic! I also have a telpehone, cnabge , pen , book tablets and a drink. There are also hair clasps a bracelet and a necklace and I have no idea how I fit it all on and why nothing falls off! In fact you have inspired me and I am going to tidy it again now! xxx
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Sometimes, mummymo, we only need to look around us and see all the clutter that we accumulate to spur us into action, lol.
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
13 Feb 08
My bedside table is very simple.No lamp coz I put my mobile phone on the table,if I need light,I can turn on my mobile phone.Beside the mobile phone,there is a small size notebook with a pen,I can take down notes when I'm calling on the bed.And the last item,my glasses.I do take off my glasses on the table before I go to bed.These three items are enough for my little bedside table.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
That all sounds very efficient, shinjiao. I have never been able to manage that level of order.
@mishastar (734)
• United States
13 Feb 08
My bedside table is my desk. And it is the most clutteriest (is that a word?) thing in my room. I have everything on it, from my cellphone, desk lamp, alarm clock, laptop, little desk toys (tiny dolls and figures) and a container to keep all my pens, letters and such.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Feb 08
Don't you just love it when you can use something as a multi-purpose item, mishastar?