How to build a DIY Modern Nightstand

Learn how to build a DIY modern nightstand with our free easy to follow plans. This is a great project for both beginner woodworkers and seasoned pros!

Build your own nightstand

My oldest daughter asked me to build her a new nightstand for her room. I have built many DIY nightstands, but this one is probably my favorite so far! She gave me basic dimensions and a basic idea of what she wanted. I love the way it turned out! This nightstand is wide and has a drawer to provide plenty of storage as well as a bottom shelf. You can check out the short video I made on this build HERE!

Materials

To save money on this build, I chose to use edge-glued panels for the majority of the table. I also used 2×6 boards. The top, sides and shelf of the table are created with laminated pine project panels. These pine boards are typically found on the same aisle as dimensional lumber and are often placed with other table tops and wrapped in plastic. I typically purchase mine from Lowe’s. You can see them HERE. They come in a variety of sizes which is great so you don’t have too much scrap. We also love the way they stain. I kept the width of my panels the same (16″) but you can adjust to fit your space by ripping them down with a table saw or circular saw. I made my cross cuts using my miter saw. The total cost to build this nightstand was under $80 in wood and materials. I also purchased a set of 16″ drawer slides you can find HERE.

Tools

This desk uses a few different tools. This is a great beginner woodworking project.

drill
Kreg Jig
Miter saw
Table saw
Stapler
sander

Kreg Jig

One question we get asked consistently is… “What is a Kreg Jig?” A Kreg Jig is a pocket hole jig that helps create pocket holes, allowing you to build with super strong joints. It makes joining two boards faster and gives you stronger and cleaner joints. We discovered them shortly after we started building furniture years ago, and it was a HUGE game changer for our furniture building! We were so impressed with how user-friendly they are and the strong joints it gave our builds! For this nightstand, I used my Kreg Jig 720 PRO and I LOVE IT! You guys will love it too… definitely worth the upgrade for those of you that already own a different model. You can see it HERE on Amazon! You can also check out our video on how to use it HERE!

Ripping

Before adding any pocket holes, I ripped my 2×6 boards down to 2.25″ wide each. I like to make my cross cuts first with my miter saw, and then rip those smaller cuts with the table saw. You can get 2 passes in with the 2×6 wood. You can see how we rip our boards HERE!

Step 1

The first step is creating your sides. These are built from laminated pine boards. They are 16” wide each. Cut the top of each side at a 45º angle using a table saw or miter saw. Add pocket holes on each side as shown. These are 3/4” pocket holes. Notice the placement of the pocket holes. This will keep them hidden once the table is complete. The drawer slide supports are built from 2×6 board that has been ripped to 2.25” wide. Attach each board to each side using wood glue and 2” pocket hole screws or wood screws.

Step 2

Next, create your face frame. This is constructed with 2×6 board that has been ripped to 2.25” wide. The two side boards are cut at a 45º angle at the top and the top board is cut at a 45º angle on both ends, Add 1.5” pocket holes as shown. Be careful on the placement of the pocket holes on the side boards. I put these at a different angle to avoid the screw showing. Attach all joints using wood glue and 2.5” pocket hole screws. I used 2” pocket hole screws to attach the side boards to the top. The bottom board sits 1” from the base of the side boards.

Step 3

Now attach the sides to the front frame using wood glue and 1.25” pocket hole screws. The sides will be flush with the outside of the face frame. Attach the top of the table using wood glue and 1.25” pocket hole screws into the top board of the face frame. The top will line up flush with the top of the face frame.

Step 4

Add the two support boards at the top and bottom of the back of the table. Add 1.5” pocket holes to the ends of each board and attach as shown using wood glue and 1.25” pocket hole screws into the insides of the table sides.

Step 5

Add 3/4” pocket holes around the sides and front of the bottom shelf board. Insert and attach the board using wood glue and 1.25” pocket hole screws and wood glue. The top of the bottom shelf will line up flush with the top of the bottom face frame board.

Step 6

Now it’s time to build the drawers. I used 1×4 pine board to create the drawer sides. Cut them to size and attach the joints using wood glue and 1.25” brad nails or wood screws. You can also use pocket holes to create the drawer.

Step 7

The base of the drawer is constructed with 1/4” plywood or MDF. Cut to size and attach it to the bottom of the drawer sides using wood glue and 3/4” staples through the base and into the pine boards.

Step 8

Attach your drawer slides here. I actually added mine to the support boards in step 1 which is also an option. These are 16” drawer slides and I have linked them in the post. Once the slides are attached to the support boards, you can pull them out and attach them to the drawer.

Step 9

The final step is attaching the drawer front. This is cut from a 1×6 pine board. Cut to size and attach to the front of the drawer using wood glue and 1.25” screws from inside the drawer into the drawer face. Be sure
to leave 1/8” clearance around all sides. For my daughter’s table, the drawer face has about a 1/2” overhang at the bottom and that is what she uses to open it. You can also use a drawer pull, but she preferred the look of no drawer pulls on this one. I used a Kreg Versagrip clamp on this to help hold the drawer face in place.

Staining the Table

I decided to create my own stain color by mixing three different stains. This is a really fun way to give you an even more custom look and it’s super simple! You can check out my reel on how I created this color here!

I used three different Varathane stain colors to create this. I started with an empty tub from the hardware store. These are super inexpensive. You can also use any empty container you have at home! I mixed equal parts of Antique White , Golden Oak, and Weathered Gray. This gave me the perfect finish that I was looking for. You just put all of that into the bucket and stir it up just a bit and you’re ready to go!

Make sure to sand all the surfaces with medium and fine sandpaper to get an even, beautiful finish. I like to use my Ryobi Corner Cat for this! An orbital sander also works great!

I often get asked what protective coat I like to use on top. My favorite polyurethane is THIS ONE!