IKEA's New Spacious Storage Find That Can Replace Your Boring Nightstand

A good nightstand is highly useful for keeping your bedroom organized and efficient. Some models, however, are a little too small for your needs and perhaps unimpressive in their design; if you would like more room for your bedside items, there's a spacious and trendy alternative to traditional bedside tables at IKEA: the KRONÖREN two-drawer chest.

Retailing for $49.99, the KRONÖREN is crafted from untreated pine, giving it a minimal and natural design that is easy to incorporate into a variety of home decor schemes. It features two pull-out drawers in a simple frame, similar to a dresser but smaller. Measuring 18 ⅞ inches deep, 21 ⅝ inches high, and 29 ⅞ inches wide, the piece is compact enough to fit next to a bed but also provides two large drawers that are easy to fill with your daily and nightly essentials. A spacious top also provides the room required to pair it with a lamp, a drink coaster, and a catch-all tray. Should you want to make the most efficient use of the KRONÖREN, consider getting your hands on some organizers from IKEA to place inside its drawers. The VISSLAÅN Box with lid ($12.99 for a set of five) is a convenient choice for corralling small items like hair ties, charging cables, lip balms, and creams that you want to keep accessible.

Customers have given the piece a 4.8-star average across nearly 20 reviews. It receives high marks for its appearance, quality, value, and performance. One five-star review on IKEA's website states, "Good quality, solid wood, straightforward to assemble, extremely good value!"

While some individuals will find the simplicity of the KRONÖREN to be refreshing, others may consider it to be overly basic. If you're not someone who is drawn to natural, untreated wood, there are a variety of ways to quickly and affordably personalize your basic IKEA furniture.

Firstly, since the KRONÖREN is made from pine, it can be stained without too much trouble. Using a wood conditioner in advance of staining the pine will help you achieve an even result. Since pine readily absorbs stain, you'll also want to wipe it off quickly, wrapping things up with some coats of polyurethane finish to lock in the look. A set of metal handles — like IKEA's BAGGANÄS Handle ($9.99 for a set of two) — paired with the stained pine aesthetic can be a beautiful and classy way to elevate what would otherwise be a fairly basic piece of furniture. 

Individuals who like a little more pop in their space can also try their hand at painting the KRONÖREN. Using your favorite hue for the entire piece can add a pop of color to your room, but you could also get more experimental by painting the drawers in one color and the frame in another. When painting pine, you might need to use multiple coats for an even end product — let each coat dry fully before going in with another.