1930s Bedside Drawers
These 1930s bedside drawers offer compact storage and period character, bringing practical surface space and distinct styling to the bedroom.
1930s Bedside Drawers
When you search for 1930s bedside drawers, you are looking at small tables, cabinets, and chests designed to sit beside a bed. The selection includes single pieces and matched pairs spanning the 1920s through to the 1940s.
The dominant style on this page is Art Deco, often expressed through clean architectural lines or curved serpentine fronts. Alongside these modernist examples, you will find occasional revival pieces drawing on Georgian and Louis XV influences.
Most items incorporate one or two drawers, sometimes paired with a small cupboard section below. They function equally well as lamp tables or small side tables in tighter spaces around the home.
How they were made
Cabinet makers of this era relied heavily on walnut and burr walnut, frequently chosen for striking natural grain patterns. Oak, mahogany, satinwood, and kingwood also appear across English and French workshops.
Surfaces are often finished with brass handles and occasional marble tops. Wood veneers are expertly laid to create symmetrical patterns across drawer fronts and cabinet doors.
1930s Bedside Drawers Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for 1930s bedside drawers among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several cabinets feature serpentine fronts that curve gracefully to greet your midnight glass of water.
What varies in quality
Quality in these pieces rests largely on the choice of timber and the precision of the cabinetwork. Figured veneers and matched pairs demand greater skill in execution than standard plain timbers.
Hardware choices and structural joinery differentiate standard production items from finer workshop pieces. The handling of curves, particularly on serpentine and Art Deco forms, reveals the maker's proficiency.
Gomme
The 1930s Bedside Drawers Glossary
- Art Deco
- A design style characterised by sleek lines, geometric shapes, and streamlined forms popular during the interwar period. It dominates the aesthetic of these bedside cabinets.
- Burr Walnut
- A specialised wood grain obtained from the warted growths on walnut trees, prized for its swirling patterns. It is frequently used for decorative veneer on drawer fronts.
- Serpentine
- A furniture shape featuring a curved front that bends convexly in the centre and concavely at the sides. This contour requires skilled carpentry to execute cleanly.
- Nightstand
- An American term often used interchangeably with bedside table or cabinet. It describes a low piece designed to hold a bedside lamp and small personal items.
- Kingwood
- A dense, richly coloured exotic timber with dark veining used in fine cabinet making. French examples on this page frequently utilise this material.
1930s Bedside Drawers: Frequently Asked Questions
Are pairs difficult to find?
Many examples on this page are offered as matched pairs, which were originally produced for twin beds. Finding matching sets from this period requires looking closely at grain patterns and dimensions.
Single pieces also appear frequently for those seeking a solitary lamp table or contrasting bedside storage.
How do I spot Art Deco style?
Art Deco pieces display geometric symmetry, stepped forms, and an emphasis on clean horizontal or vertical lines. The use of figured walnut veneer further enhances this distinctive modernist look.
Contrasting revival styles from the same decades draw instead on traditional French and English furniture motifs.
What woods were commonly used?
Walnut is the primary timber seen across these listings, often highlighted by figured or burr grain patterns. Oak, mahogany, and kingwood also feature prominently in both English and continental pieces.
Details in brass and occasional marble inserts complete the material palette of the era.
Can these be used as side tables?
Their compact dimensions make these cabinets well-suited for use as lamp tables or small side tables in living rooms and hallways. The built-in drawers provide practical concealed storage for small household items.
Their finished backs and sides allow them to sit comfortably away from the bedroom wall.