One of my recurring New Year’s resolutions — and, yes, I know it’s already March — is to drink more water. And while there are plenty of high-tech water bottles out there that will clean themselves, remind you when it’s hydration o’clock, or even… whatever this does (put more hydrogen in your water?), I have found a lot more success in the use of a classic, everyday beside water carafe. It looks like TikTok agrees with me, because there’s an impressive collection of pro-bedside-carafe videos on the platform:

For the uninitiated, a bedside water carafe is a vessel (usually, glass) that typically lives on your nightstand and provides a few glasses’ worth of water at arm’s reach. It typically includes a single water cup that doubles as a lid for the carafe, and while it’s not limited to use on your nightstand (there are plenty of multi-glass carafe sets), the ritual of using a bedside carafe can feel nonchalantly luxurious and intimate, like staying at a high-end hotel (even if you’re just in a Bushwick railroad apartment). I appreciate the presence of a bedside carafe the same way I appreciate my key holder or coat rack: as a small, but consistent convenience that makes the everyday motions of life run just a little bit smoother.

As a design nerd and enthusiastic hydrator, here’s what I look for in a great bedside carafe: size (around 28 ounces is my personal sweet spot), aesthetic, and how easy it will be able to fumble around for in the middle of the night. I appreciate delicate glassware, but for something that I’m using all day as a WFH writer, I need glassware that’s straightforward to pick up, difficult to knock over, and easy to pour. Functionality, however, doesn’t have to be a substitute for sleek design, and I often find myself looking for midcentury-modern-inspired carafes or jugs with color-blocking combinations.

Below, I have rounded up a handful of my favorite bedside carafes for every aesthetic and budget. Whether you’re shopping in the $20 or $100 range, and each one combines form and function for a practical purchase that will delight you for years to come. Plus, a bedside carafe also makes an excellent housewarming gift.

Ready, set, sip.

The Best Bedside Carafes Under $25

A touch of spring

Sizikato Bedside Carafe (24 ounces)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

If I ever want to feel like a fawn drinking water from a clear Irish spring, I’ll just bring home this verdant, green glass carafe — it sure beats the look of that airport Dasani water bottle I keep forgetting to recycle. 

You went to MoMA’s Spring Design Showcase

American Atelier Vintage Style Bedside Carafe Set (37 ounces)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

There’s something so aesthetically pleasing about a streamlined water carafe set. This 37-ounce jug and glass duo also comes in light pink and ash, but the retro gold colorway is a bright way to start your day.

Your comfort film is Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette

Elle Décor Vintage Style Bedside Carafe (33 ounces)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Again, a great bedside carafe should be able to deliver on a little whimsy, and this vintage-inspired set from Elle Décor does just that with its etched glass motifs.  

The Best Bedside Carafes Under $50

You’re a minimalist

This carafe set shaped like a giant cherry

Band.do Cherry Carafe Set (9.9 ounces)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

At just under 10 ounces, this might not be the biggest carafe on our wishlist, but it’s certainly the most charming; the glass’s handle is a set of cherry leaves that becomes the carafe’s stem when not in use. 

Blue velvet…

A carafe that doubles as a sculpture

Simply Greenwood Vintage Amber Ribbed Glass Carafe Set

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Don’t forget to scope out vintage and secondhand sites such as Ebay, 1stDibs, and Etsy for some one-of-a-kind picks. This ribbed carafe and tumbler set has a unique silhouette and sure will catch the morning light in your room like a champ. 

The Best Bedside Carafes Under $100

Amber is the color of your energy

A recycled glass set from Bogotá

You’re here for the classics

Kosta Boda Viva Carafe Set (30 ounces)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

… Nothing wrong with that. This chic Kosta Boda carafe set is inspired by vintage Swedish glassware, and is totally dishwasher-safe.

Cheers to more hydration.