I prefer drawers. We have nightstands with cabinet doors instead of drawers and that is almost as bad as open space when you want organization.

I just use tables, no drawers. I don't keep much there. Lamp, phone (for alarm), my glasses unless I took them off in another room. I love drawers but I know myself and bedside ones would end up with a bunch of nonsense in them! "What to do with this? I'll just put it in my bedside drawer for now." Five years later, it would still be there.

Drawers and all I see with the second one is dust collecting on the bottom shelf. IMo matching sets are always my last choice. But honestly I would need to see the beds to make that choice.

I have something sorta like the bottom one, one drawer.

Bottom shelf, me being a bibliophile... books... (grin).

Love the one drawer nightstand. As you mentioned, less clutter and unnecessary items being stored next to the bed. Less is more in this case and it keeps the energy in the bathroom clean and refreshed. Happy designing!

I prefer the two-drawer option, especially if you're going to have lamps on the nightstands. I wouldn't want to see the cord trailing down behind the open table.

You can always add a basket or decorative chest to hold treasures on the lower shelf.

I'm a drawer girl. Drawers hold bedside necessities and my CPAP machine. It only gets cluttered if you let it.

Drawers - my nightstands have 4 drawers each - helps control & organize everything especially since I live in a small space - also don't want to see the lamp / charging cords hanging down the back - also find it easier to find things in drawers than searching through lidded containers!