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Since this article was published in February 2025, the price of the Youdenova Bedside Organizer has increased from $16 to about $26, and shipping times have also increased. Wait for the price to drop before buying.
I read a bunch of novels. A few bottles of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Reading glasses. A sleep mask. Pens and pencils. A crossword puzzle book. Hair clips and headbands. Hand cream and lip balm. A notebook where I keep all my to-do lists, packing lists, and shopping lists. A charger and cable. My phone, my work laptop, my personal laptop.
For years, I’ve been trying in vain to organize (or at least declutter) all of these nightstands. I bought a large nightstand on Facebook Marketplace. I bought trays to put on the nightstand, and drawer organizers to put them in.
Clutter remains a problem, however. Every night and every morning I fall asleep and wake up to find myself surrounded by a pile of stuff that not only takes up the top of my nightstand, but also most of the floor.
Since there is little storage space next to the bed, this seems like a difficult problem to solve. Then a few years ago at Christmas, I had an idea.
I told my husband I needed an organizer that I could hang next to my bed and organize everything. I didn’t even know such a thing existed, but it did—he helped me find the Youdenova Bedside Organizer, which keeps many of my most essential items out of sight but within easy reach. Plus, it’s an affordable, stylish storage solution.
This felt organizer neatly stores laptops, notebooks, phones, books, and more while maintaining a slim, compact profile. It requires virtually no assembly, but may slip from time to time depending on how it’s installed.
My nightstand still needs a little tidying up every now and then, but since I’ve moved enough essentials into organizers, nothing falls off of it and ends up on the floor. Now, instead of having to deal with a huge pile of stuff, I have enough space to organize different items in different places so I can always find what I need without having to get up and search everywhere for it. And best of all, my side of the bed now looks neat and quiet, like any sleeping area should.
The Youdenova Bed Organizer is a rectangular felt bag with several small pockets built in (two on the outside and two on the inside) and a velcro strap on the back. Its design is thoughtfully simple — that’s why I find it convenient and easy to use.
The bed frame is made of an extra piece of felt that can be inserted between the mattress and the bed frame to hold it in place. If your bed frame has narrow enough side rails, you can wrap the felt cover around them and secure it with Velcro straps. (The latter option can make the Youdenova bed frame an especially good replacement for a loft bed or bunk bed nightstand.) Either way, it only takes about 10 seconds to set up.
I have seen other nightstands online that use metal hooks to attach to the bed frame instead of fabric stops. Since these hooks are rigid, they may not fit all types of bed frames, and over time they may scratch, mar, or damage the bed frame.
This caddy’s main pocket is approximately 13.5 inches wide, 9.5 inches high, and 2.5 inches deep. That’s enough to hold two of my laptops and a 592-page New York Times Sunday Crossword at once, all while weighing less than 8.5 pounds. (According to the Amazon description, the container can hold up to 20 pounds.)
Even with all of these items packed in, the Youdenova organizer still has enough room to fit a few more items in the main compartment, like a tube of hand cream, some pens, a sleep mask, and a pair of glasses. If you have an outlet nearby, there’s a small hole in each of the bottom two corners of the box that you can thread a cord through to charge your device while it’s in storage.
One downside to this organizer is that its pockets (each about 5.5 inches square) aren’t as practical as I’d like. For one, the pockets aren’t deep, and they feel cramped when you stick your hand in them. On the other hand, they seem like they were literally made for smartphones—I can easily take my phone out and put it in any of the outer pockets without moving it or losing it. I also have a small ceiling fan remote that fits comfortably in the front pocket. But if I had a brick-sized TV remote, I don’t think I’d be so lucky. (As for the interior pockets, they’re hard to access when your stuff is tucked away in the main compartment of the organizer. I never use them.)
With the Youdenova storage unit installed, I found it very easy to reach over the edge of my bed and grab devices, books, pens, etc. without even looking at them or lifting my head off the pillow. It’s like having a personal valet, much better than rummaging through the junk that used to be on your nightstand.
I have found that depending on how often you use the organizer and the weight of the items in it, the organizer can sometimes shift or sag. I fix this by repositioning or inserting the organizer lid each morning when I make my bed. I admit, lifting even the smallest part of the mattress is never fun, no matter how quickly it happens, but the two seconds I spend on this task each day is worth it to save myself all the bedside clutter I once had to deal with.
The Youdenova organizer is available in only three colors (gray, light gray, and suede-like brown), so it may not fit into your interior. If you want to hide it, you can place it behind a nightstand or at least partially hide it. Or you can cover it with one side of a blanket or throw to better hide it.
However, even though my bed is covered in pink velvet, I found the grey bed frame to be very understated and visually unobtrusive due to its thin profile and muted hue. I also like that it is made of thick wool felt, which gives it an expensive look.
But honestly, since my caddy is only 3 inches off the ground, I never see it. I barely notice it until I’m in bed, relaxing, and enjoying the comforts I have at my fingertips.
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Rose Maura Lorre is a senior writer. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Salon, Business Insider, HGTV Magazine, and more. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, dog, two cats, and lots of houseplants.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service of The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (sometimes) additional testing so you can make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or helpful advice, we’re here to help you make the right choice (the first time).