1. IKEA HEMNES Bedside Table (best overall)

Material: Solid pine
Drawers: 2
Width: Around 46 cm
Price: Check current price
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The HEMNES is the bedside table most people should buy. Where nearly everything else near this price is coated particle board, the HEMNES is made from solid pine, so it feels substantial, takes the odd knock without chipping and can be sanded or repainted years down the track. That alone sets it apart from the flat-pack crowd.

It gives you two roomy drawers that glide on smooth runners, plus enough top space for a lamp, a book and a glass of water without feeling cramped. The straight lines and simple handles sit comfortably in a traditional room or a modern one, which is a big part of why it has been a bestseller for so long and pairs neatly with the wider HEMNES bedroom range.

It is flat-pack, so you will spend half an hour building it, and the pine shows minor dents more than a laminate would. Neither takes much away from what is the most reliable all-rounder here.

Pick if...

You want one table that does everything well, in a solid-timber build that outlasts the particle-board competition.

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Pros

  • Solid pine, not particle board: feels sturdier and can be sanded or repainted later
  • Two smooth drawers: hides clutter and gives generous everyday storage
  • Timeless, flexible look: suits traditional and modern bedrooms alike

Cons

  • Flat-pack assembly: expect around half an hour to build it yourself
  • Soft timber marks: pine dents more easily than a hard laminate
Key specDetail
MaterialSolid pine
Drawers2, smooth runners
WidthAround 46 cm
Best forA do-everything bedside table

2. Fantastic Furniture Hilda 3 Drawer (best for storage)

Material: Particle board, metal runners
Drawers: 3
Size: 40 W x 34 D x 56 cm H
Price: Around A$89
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If your bedside chaos needs corralling, the Hilda is the answer. It stacks three full-width drawers into a slim 40cm-wide frame, so you get far more hidden storage than a typical one or two-drawer table without eating into floor space. Medication, chargers, notebooks and the usual bedside overflow all get a home.

The drawers run on metal runners with tidy aluminium-alloy handles, and at 56cm tall it sits at a comfortable height beside most beds. The clean white finish is easy to wipe down and works in a kid's room, a guest room or a main bedroom equally well, and at well under $100 you can buy a matching pair without much thought.

It is particle board rather than timber, so treat it gently and do not overload the top, and white shows scuffs over time. For the storage-to-price ratio, those are fair trade-offs.

Pick if...

You have a lot to stash beside the bed and want maximum drawer space in a narrow, affordable frame.

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Pros

  • Three drawers in a slim frame: far more hidden storage than a standard bedside table
  • Comfortable height: 56cm sits level with most mattresses for easy reach
  • Cheap enough to buy in pairs: well under $100 each for a matching set

Cons

  • Particle board build: less hard-wearing than solid timber, so avoid overloading
  • White shows marks: the pale finish scuffs and needs the odd wipe-down
Key specDetail
Drawers3, metal runners
Size40 W x 34 D x 56 cm H
FinishWipe-clean white
Best forMaximum storage per dollar

3. Fantastic Furniture Yarra Oak with USB (best for small spaces)

Material: Oak-look finish
Storage: 1 drawer plus open shelf
Size: 48 W x 40 D x 50 cm H
Price: Around A$99
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In a small bedroom every centimetre counts, and the Yarra is built for exactly that. Its compact 48 by 40cm footprint tucks into tight spots beside a bed, while a single drawer plus an open lower shelf give you both a hidden spot and a display or grab-and-go layer without the bulk of a full chest.

The standout feature is the built-in USB port, so you can charge a phone, tablet or e-reader overnight straight from the table with no wall adapter cluttering the powerpoint. The warm oak-look finish and cutaway handles keep it looking sleek rather than utilitarian, which matters when the table is a bigger visual presence in a small room.

Storage is naturally limited to that one drawer, so heavy hoarders should look at the Hilda instead, and the finish is a laminate rather than real timber. For a compact, tech-friendly bedside, it is hard to beat at the price.

Pick if...

Your bedroom is tight on space and you want a small table that still charges your phone overnight.

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Pros

  • Compact footprint: 48 by 40cm slots into tight bedside gaps
  • Built-in USB charging: top up a phone or e-reader with no wall adapter
  • Drawer plus open shelf: a hidden layer and a grab-and-go layer in one

Cons

  • Limited storage: a single drawer will not suit heavy hoarders
  • Laminate, not timber: an oak-look finish rather than real wood
Key specDetail
Footprint48 W x 40 D cm, compact
Storage1 drawer plus open shelf
ChargingBuilt-in USB port
Best forSmall or shared bedrooms

4. Fantastic Furniture Amelius (best budget)

Material: Woodgrain-look board
Storage: 1 drawer plus open shelf
Colour: Black
Price: Around A$55
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You do not need to spend big to get a bedside table that works, and the Amelius proves it. For around $55 you get a single drawer for the things you want out of sight and an open shelf below for books or a box, which covers what most people actually need beside a bed.

The dark finish hides marks better than white, so it wears well in a busy household, spare room or a first apartment, and it is light and simple enough to move and assemble without fuss. As a low-risk way to furnish a guest room or kit out a share house, it is the sensible starting point.

It is basic by design, with a board construction and no soft-close or extra frills, and the single drawer is on the shallow side. At this price, though, it does the core job without complaint.

Pick if...

You want a functional bedside table for as little as possible, or you are furnishing a guest room or rental.

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Pros

  • Very affordable: a real drawer and a shelf for around A$55
  • Dark finish hides wear: black shows marks far less than white
  • Easy to move and build: light, simple flat-pack for rentals and spare rooms

Cons

  • Basic build: board construction with no soft-close or extras
  • Shallow drawer: storage is limited to the essentials
Key specDetail
Storage1 drawer plus open shelf
ColourBlack, wear-friendly
PriceAround A$55
Best forBudgets, rentals and guest rooms

5. Freedom Arlo (best premium timber)

Material: Solid oak and oak veneer
Drawers: 2
Size: 65 W x 45.5 D x 51 cm H
Price: Check current price
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When you want a bedside table to last decades and feel like a proper piece of furniture, the Arlo steps up. It is built from solid oak and oak veneer in a warm natural tone, so it has real timber weight and grain rather than a printed finish, and it ages gracefully in a way laminate never does.

Two deep drawers on a generous 65cm-wide top give you plenty of storage and room for a lamp, books and the usual bedside things without crowding. The clean, slightly mid-century lines suit a considered bedroom, and because it is part of Freedom's wider range you can match it to dressers and beds for a coordinated look.

It is the most expensive option here and the wider footprint needs a bit more space beside the bed, so measure first. If you want a timber piece you will keep for years rather than replace, it earns the premium.

Pick if...

You want a genuine solid-timber bedside table that looks and feels like real furniture and will last for years.

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Pros

  • Real solid oak: timber weight and grain that ages far better than laminate
  • Generous storage: two deep drawers and a wide 65cm top
  • Coordinated range: matches Freedom dressers and beds for a full set

Cons

  • Premium price: the most expensive table on this list
  • Wider footprint: the 65cm top needs more bedside space, so measure first
Key specDetail
MaterialSolid oak and oak veneer
Drawers2, deep
Size65 W x 45.5 D x 51 cm H
Best forA long-lasting timber piece

How we choose bedside tables

There is no lab-coat theatre here, just the same process applied to every product. For bedside tables specifically we:

  • Confirmed real Australian availability — every pick is currently sold in Australia with a working product listing, and we dropped anything we could not confirm was in stock here.
  • Weighed storage against footprint — drawer count and usable top space versus how much floor the table actually takes up beside a bed.
  • Judged material and build — solid timber versus veneer versus particle board, drawer runners, and how well each holds up to daily use.
  • Matched picks to real needs — one standout each for overall value, storage, small spaces, budget and premium timber, rather than five near-identical boxes.
  • Flagged the fine print — flat-pack assembly, finishes that mark, and prices that move, so you are not caught out.

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