Nightstand Essentials
With a newborn I have been spending plenty of time in our bedroom, mostly trodding a well-worn path between the bassinet and rocking chair and not as much time actually in bed and sleeping as I’d like, but in any event, having a well-stocked and dare-I-say-it, aesthetically pleasing nightstand set up goes a long way both in the newborn phase and every day. Here are a few of the things that are staples on my nightstand.
My nightstand itself is a DIY project from a few years back. I did two matching ones for our bedroom, staining these unfinished chests in a light grey (using a stain similar to this) and adding upgraded drawer pulls (similar).
The bedside lamps are newer additions, replacing the old mismatched ones we previously had. My only gripe is that the bulbs that came with are VERY strong and I keep forgetting to switch them out. I also prefer a dimmer or three way bulb in the bedroom and these aren't compatible.
I have several of these metallic lacquer trays around the apartment and the square one fits perfectly on the nightstand to corral smaller items. I also use a couple of small ceramic dishes that I’ve picked up on our travels (the ones I am currently using are from Mexico and Japan) to store everyday jewelry, hair ties and other little odds and ends.
Indie Lee cooling lotion was a lifesaver during the last weeks of my pregnancy when my ankles had definitely seen better days. Now I love it for those aches and pains that inevitably pop up.
Vitruvi essential oils and diffuser are a relatively new addition to my nightstand set up and I haven't been running it as much as I’d like given how close my set up is to the bassinet but as soon as the little one is out of our room I can't wait to go back to using this more.
Extra long chargers make it dangerously easy to hide under the covers and indulge in some phone shopping while keeping one eye on the baby monitor and waiting for the little one to settle to sleep.
I am on my 7th or maybe even 8th Kindle which doesn’t exactly speak to their longevity but I seriously could not imagine the past decade plus of my life without this little device.
I’ve rotated between a big cup with a straw and a much more adult feeling water carafe and I have to say I much prefer the latter after jabbing myself in the face with a straw while fumbling for a drink in the dark one too many times!
Aesop or Necessaire lotions to make that final swipe of moisturizer for the day just a bit more luxe.
Lanolips is a prettier alternative to my beloved Aquaphor, which I buy in bulk and have stashed in every purse, fanny pack, side table and drawer around our apartment (dry lips drive me nuts!).
