Inexpensive Nightstand Ideas

Decorating a bedroom does not have to pinch your pockets. In fact, with the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement in full swing, giving a piece of furniture new life has become fashionable. You can repurpose pieces that were once castoffs in a sort of furniture reincarnation. Here are some inexpensive, creative ways to rejuvenate the nightstands in your bedroom without breaking the bank. Does this Spark an idea?

Rummage Around Your House

There are nightstands lurking in every corner of your house if you look hard enough. That basket in the hall closet can be a nightstand if you turn it over and place a couple books and a lamp on it. What about that old coffee table in the garage that you haven't sold? Grab a can of paint and some sandpaper, and give it a rustic, antique finish in an hour. The same goes for that rusty trashcan that has been in your shed for years or that chair with the broken arm that would be the perfect height to be a nightstand. In short, the more obscure the object, the more interesting the nightstand could be.

Rummage Around Your Neighborhood

Check your city's website for the days that garbage collectors pick up large trash items, and grab the items before they can. The old "one man's trash is another man's treasure" adage has been around for a long time for a reason. You would not believe the furniture that people kick to the curb. So, rummage the streets, scan the classifieds, stalk local garage sales, scour Craigslist, where an estimated 50 million items are posted each month, according to the site's fact sheet. People want to give you stuff, if you'll let them.

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are perfect places to find cheap nightstands for several reasons. One, they are called "thrift" stores for an obvious reason. Often, a nightstand that you saw at a local department store a year ago will be available at the thrift store (sometimes still even in the box), ready for you to take home. There are also a plethora of items at thrift stores that you never dreamed existed and that would make interesting, elegant nightstands with a simple paint job to match your room's decor. Goodwill alone lists 2,300 stores nationwide, as of 2010, with more than 64 million people donating their castoffs yearly. Chances are good that you will find something, even if it is not what you expected.