Bedrails Could Allow For “Floating” Bedside Tables In Tight Spaces
, , , April 5th, 2008Some living spaces are so tight they require sparse accommodations. But you wouldn’t have to live in a studio apartment to appreciate having a little place to set aside your glasses and book before dozing off that didn’t take away from usable floor space.
The Problem
Some bedrooms simply don’t have the space for a bedside table, especially if there are two people. If a bed is pushed against a wall there is currently no practical way to have a table on that side.
The Opportunity
Create an aftermarket tabletop that doesn’t take up much space but still allows folks to have a few choice items close at hand.
The Insight
A bed frame is a secure, generic and convenient base for just such a device.
The Execution
Simply attach an articulated arm of some sort (a la an architect/gooseneck desk lamp) to a mounting bracket and attach a flat surface with various features. For example, an alarm clock’s power cord could be routed down the neck, a reading light could be incorporated, and there could be spots for writing implements and television remotes.
The Selling Point
From dorm rooms, to tiny apartments, to cramped guest rooms this approach allows for functionality and a “cool” factor that addresses an actual need that is easy to recognize and is not currently being addressed.
The Incidental Benefits
If a market developed for this approach, there could be a whole line of products designed for students and urbanites such as ironing boards, folding tables (beds are already a common staging ground for laundry), or even additional temporary desk space in a pinch. Conceivably a fully functional workspace could fold up and drop behind the headboard in similar fashion to certain airplane tray tables.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Thats exactly what i’ve been looking for (only screwed into the wall, not attached to the bedstead). I can’t have been the only person thinking of building their own.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Hello, Stuart. Thank you for commenting. I could see your technique working well if you can go directly into a stud, but if that isn’t possible I’d worry about stability and damaging the wall. I once had a heck of a clean-up for that very reason when a bookshelf I hung with hollow wall anchors came crashing down under the extra weight of a curious cat. Good luck with your rig should you build it, and let me know how it turns out. If you think this idea is viable, maybe you could forward the post to any companies you think capable of producing such a thing. I had Ikea in mind, of course….