I like them a few inches above the height of the mattress so I'm not as liable to knock things off, but not so high that I can't comfortably set down a glass of water while reclining. My current bedroom isn't fit to be photographed (it's currently decorated in Early Rummage Sale due to moving and the house needing LOTS of work) but here's my previous house's setup, and we're recycling all the same furniture etc.

{{!gwi}}

As for nightstand replacements, there are many choices. There's the plain or fancy table (with or without tablecloth), small dresser (especially a style called a "bachelor's chest"), antique sewing machine table, shelf mounted on the wall, small desk, stack of vintage suitcases, heavy planter with a top added... pretty much anything you'd use like an end table you can use as a nightstand, although I prefer to have more storage rather than less.

Mine are at about the same height as Mari's. I bought the tables first and had to put the bed on risers.

Another thing to consider is your reading lamps, if you do read in bed. They should be shaded such that the light does not shine in your eyes while you're lounging with a book. And even more importantly, the controls should be within easy reach so you don't have to be a contortionist (or heaven forbid, get out of bed) to turn the light off. My lamps have pull chains and that has worked beautifully for me...5'1" with a fairly short wing span.

Mine are about even height which is good for turning off the alarm without too much reaching. Also easy to grab things when needed or put things down. I do have fairly tall lamps to allow good light when reading.

Dh's is about level with the top of the mattress; mine is about 4" below.

Since I am petite with short arms, I like my nightstand that I use to put my bottle of water on, my reading eyeglasses on (amazing only need them in bed if reading small print but do not yet need them anywhere else), my alarm clock on and my reading lamp on. If my nightstand was much higher, I would not be able to turn off the three way light stitch or click the snooze button. My other size of my bed has the Junior Chest and it is to tall for me to use as a nightstand so I sleep on the side of the bed with the lower table.

I love this thread since it shows me their is no correct height really for anything as I keep thinking. The height of furniture should be based on who is using the furniture and what their needs are as long as long as the look is still presentable. I feel both pics shown the heights look nice because of the balance and symmetry.

Ours, apparently, are several inches higher than our bed: I never noticed until just now!

this pic shows a guideline for optimal reading comfort.

Thank you. I read in bed every evening, so I appreciate the information on lighting as well. I knew my old tables were too low. I love the pictures.

No picture as there is too much packed in my bedroom right now to get a long-shot of bed and nightstands but for one side I covered an old metal 2-drawer file cabinet w/fabric skirt (tailored, not ruffle) and velcro.

For the other side I went to Ebay, did a search for just my area and found the perfect antique sewing machine cabinet (without the sewing machine).
Picked it up myself and didn't have to pay shipping fee.

My bed mattress top is 30" off the floor so I needed something really tall and with a big top for my water, phone/charger, magazines, book I'm reading, pump bottle of lotion.

The sewing machine cabinet works perfectly as it's 31" tall and is open at the bottom....only the long 4 legs.
Which means I can slide a large, tall basket under the cabinet for more magazines. LOL

And as was said in earlier post -- tall enough to set things down comfortably when sitting up or reclining but not too short as to knock things off when my covers flap around in the middle of the night.

Mine are a couple inches below, and work just fine for us, they are on an angle due to tuck-out wall and windows on angle, night standsa fit perfect there.

Here is a link that might be useful: