What to use to create a "nightstand" ledge next to bed?

[janegowest]

What are you folks using to create a ledge or shelf? I have to have water by my bed as well as eye drops, sleep-aids, etc., but the unit that we are considering has no ledges.

Would love to see some of your mods for this type of situation!

Thanks for your help in advance!

[alliemac9]

I have a rear corner bed, so no room for nightstands. I ended up buying one of those silver metal mesh magazine files (here's an example from Container Store) and mounted it to the overhead cabinets laying flat on its side in the corner above the bed. So, it creates a ~3 inch slot for my kindle, etc.

Would have to be a smaller (and water tight) water bottle to fit in there, I suppose. But I like that it is up and out of the way, since the rear corner bed doesn't really leave space for a traditional shelf (at least, I'd be worried about bumping into it).

[Coach-man]

W4MBG wrote:
I cut up the kitchen sink cover (Formica-covered pressed wood) and made it into a small shelf. At least it matches the other counter tops!

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

X2, we converted from queen size mattress to a king, that meant removing the side "tables" to fit the king. Purchased two shelves from Lowes, and attached using glue! Worked great, I can sit in bed and have a place to rest my coffee cup!

[mdprowash]

I just made some new shelves yesterday.. still need to caulk and paint. The old shelves were small and dilapidated. I just used some pine boards.. one 48"x6" and 4" strips underneath.

[TyroneandGladys]

Just a thought

[gaymeadowsman]

We had just an open space on each side of the bed in our new trailer.
I took the 2-piece "over the sink" shelf from our old camper and separated it into the two halves, and put L brackets on the underside of each one and screwed them into the walls with 1/4 inch screws. They work great. I also have a couple of decorative cigar boxes that I keep under each one to just keep the clutter down.

[W4MBG]

I cut up the kitchen sink cover (Formica-covered pressed wood) and made it into a small shelf. At least it matches the other counter tops!

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[janegowest]

Yes, I have seen that. The one that I had looked at had a very tight space with a queen squeezed in. I wondered how I could make the bed without pulling the mattress out of the "hole."

[Traveler_II]

Standard on our rig was a king size bed, when we ordered it we had them put in a queen and added shelves by our headboard. It also gave us more room to get around the bed. We use a queen at home so having it in our RV was not a problem, but I know many like their kings. I have friends who have cut down the bed platform to go from a king to a queen, so it can be done for added space.

[janegowest]

Thanks, everyone! A lot of great ideas!!

There was only about 11" between the bare mattress and the wall next to it, which led to the bath. We don't own this unit. It was a prospect, about which I wondered if there was a way to create some nightstand space for it.

I suppose that the other easier way to take care of this is to sleep with the head at the foot of the bed. The dresser would be over the head...one could close in the slide a bit to decrease the distance between the bed and the dresser. That would give a LOT of nightstand space! Has anyone ever done that?

[lasparrot]

I stained a wooden tissue box holder and attached it on its side to the wall beside my bed in our first camper. It worked well and looked nice.

[Irelands_child]

I used pieces of this 'stuff' for several spots in our 5er cut to proper length and made removable. I screwed on some 1/2" oak plywood. The shelves were stained to (kinda) match the interior.



Unfortunately, no photos yet and I don't recall where it came from, but this is a source: http://www.factoryrvsurplus.com/products.php?product_id=1966

[Dutch_12078]

It would help to know what is next to the bed now. If it's an outside wall, that limits your options, but a closet wall for instance, opens up the possibilities for an enclosure of some sort. I don't have any photos of it, but on a previous RV with no nightstand on my side of the bed, I cut an opening and inserted a square sided plastic storage bin I found at a dollar store. The rim was perfect for attaching it with several small wood screws, and some wood trim finished it off nicely and added a small lip at the front. A piece of shelf liner kept my "stuff" from sliding around.

[opnspaces]

Do you have space for a small table from somewhere like Ikea?

Otherwise maybe one of these next to the bed without the wheels. You get additional storage space and a place to set your water. Link

[profdant139]

Our trailer is so small that there is no room for a nightstand -- but there was some hidden space available on top of the fridge, next to the bed. So I punched through the panel next to the fridge,, built an enclosure, and insulated it:

Cubbyhole nightstand

Not a solution that will work for everyone, but it might be useful to a few people.