Scandinavian Bedroom Furniture: Beds, Storage & Nightstands

When picking out Scandinavian bedroom furniture, focus on three things: a bed that fits your space, storage you’ll actually use, and a bedside surface you can reach easily. Simple shapes and visible wood can tie the look together, but pay close attention to the size and construction of each piece, not just the finish.

Think about where things get crowded in the morning. If opening a drawer blocks your path to the wardrobe, it might be better to choose a smaller bed frame or move your storage, instead of just buying a matching bedroom set.

Choose the bed before the bedside furniture

Measure the entire bed frame, including any corners or the headboard. The mattress label shows the mattress size, but use the manufacturer’s full dimensions when marking out the bed on your floor. Also, make sure you can get the bed through your stairs and doorways.

The Queen BJÖRKSNÄS frame listed below measures about 173 x 215cm. In a 320cm wide room, if you center the bed, you’ll have about 73.5cm on each side before adding other furniture. This is just an example—be sure to check your own space and doorways.

For a full room plan, see our Scandinavian bedroom guide, which covers bed placement, textiles, and lighting. After you decide where the bed goes, measure the remaining space for nightstands and clothing storage.

Think about how each bed frame works day to day. A frame with legs leaves space underneath, while a box frame needs room to slide out drawers. Storage beds are good for spare linens, but their drawers need space on the sides, and lift-up bases need room to open. For low platforms, try sitting and standing with your chosen mattress to make sure it’s comfortable.

Five furniture options to compare

These examples use the materials and sizes given by the manufacturers. US prices were checked on 9 November 2026, before tax, delivery, and assembly. Always double-check the size, included parts, and local availability before you order. The table just compares specs and intended uses—it’s not based on hands-on testing.

Piece	Brand and product	Main material	Listed US price	What to check
Queen bed frame	IKEA BJÖRKSNÄS, birch/birch veneer	Birch-veneered particleboard sections; solid-birch legs, rails and spindles	$434	Slatted base and mattress sold separately
Bedside drawer	IKEA TONSTAD, oak veneer	Oak veneer over mixed construction, including particleboard	$149.99	Approximately 40 × 40 × 59 cm; compare height with your mattress
Low bedside platform	Ferm Living Kona Side Table, natural oak veneer	Oak veneer over an engineered core, with steel components	$195	Approximately 49 × 33.5 × 10 cm; suited to a very low arrangement
Open wardrobe	IKEA NORDKISA, tall bamboo version	Bamboo with clear acrylic lacquer	$399.99	Partly open storage with a sliding door
Chest of drawers	IKEA TONSTAD, six drawers, oak veneer	Oak-veneered particleboard with other board components	$499.99	Approximately 120 × 47 × 90 cm; allow drawer-opening space

The BJÖRKSNÄS listing shows why it’s important to check bundle details. A bed package with a similar name might include different parts. Always compare the exact bundle specs, and remember to add the support system and mattress to your budget.

Which nightstand height works with your bed?

Measure from the floor to the top of your finished mattress. Check if the bedside surface matches that height, and try it out from your usual resting spot. Make sure there’s space for a lamp, your glasses, and anything else you need at night, without having to reach too far.

TONSTAD is 59cm high and Kona is just 10cm, so they work differently. Kona is made for low beds—if you use it with a high mattress, you’ll have to reach down a lot. Figure out how the bed and nightstand fit together before worrying about matching colors.

A drawer is handy for storing chargers and small items. An open shelf keeps your books in sight. If a freestanding table blocks your walkway, a wall shelf of the right size and shape might work better. Always check the wall support, look out for cables, and make sure you have space to change the sheets.

Should you choose a wardrobe or drawers?

Begin by looking at your clothes. Measure your longest hanging item. See how much storage you really use for folded clothes. Keep the things you wear most often where you can reach them easily, without moving other items.

NORDKISA’s partly open design is good if you don’t mind your clothes being visible. The sliding panel changes how you get to your things, but it doesn’t hide the whole wardrobe at once. Compare the inside layout to your own mix of hanging and folded clothes.

A chest works well for knitwear, underwear, and spare linens. Check the size of the drawers and make sure there’s enough space when they’re fully open. Always read the assembly instructions before buying and follow the anchoring requirements. The TONSTAD dresser linked here needs to be anchored securely with the right wall fixings.

Try not to let the top become a permanent spot for extra clothes. If you often find clothes piling up there, think about changing your storage setup before adding another decorative tray.

Solid wood, veneer or a painted finish?

Check the material description for each part. Birch veneer means real wood over a core, not that the whole bed is solid birch. The same goes for a veneered nightstand—it might have different materials in the top, drawer, and legs.

Find out how to clean the finish and what repairs are possible if an edge gets damaged. Don’t assume you can sand a veneer like you would solid wood. Keep the care instructions with your product details.

Pick one main timber tone, then compare other pieces to your floor. Our Scandinavian interiors guide covers how to mix practical furniture with familiar items. A painted chest you already own can work well with a new timber bed.

Finish the room without crowding it

Set up your reading lights and make sure you can reach the switches from your pillow before filling up your bedside table. Place a rug where your feet will land, making sure doors and drawers can still open. Our Scandinavian rug guide compares sizes, materials, and care tips.

Buy what your room needs in order: start with the bed, then essential clothing storage, and finally the bedside pieces. Leave one corner empty for a week—you might find that easy access to the wardrobe is more useful than the extra chair you first planned.

Sources

• IKEA US: the four product pages linked in the comparison table, covering listed prices, dimensions, materials, included components and installation requirements.
• Ferm Living US: Kona Side Table, natural oak veneer — listed price, construction and dimensions. Availability text varies on the page; confirm stock with the supplier.