Wooden nightstand plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about wooden nightstand plans. If you want to learn more about building a basic nightstand, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are so many designs and plans to choose from when building a wood nightstand, so make sure you take a look over the related woodworking projects that are featured on our site.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the nightstand to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a nightstand

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 3″ long, 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber- 13″ long, 2 pieces – 9″ long BASE
B – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 16″x17 1/4″ long, 2 pieces – 16″x20″ long FRAME
C – 1 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 17 1/4″x18 1/2″ long BACK
D – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/4″x18 1/2″ long SHELF
E – 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 13″ long, 2 pieces – 17″, 1 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 13″x15 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 8 1/4″x18 1/4″ long DRAWER

1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 1 ft
1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 4 ft
1 piece of 1×6 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
slides
drawer pull

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Building the frame of the nightstand

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the frame of the nightstand. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the side components and secure them to the bottom component, by inserting 1 1/4″ galvanized screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled and add glue to enhance the rigidity of the structure.

Building the base of the nightstand

Continue the project by attaching the base to the nightstand. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and secure them to the legs. Make sure the corners are right angled, before inserting the galvanized screws. Drill pilot holes through the supports and secure them to the bottom of the nightstand. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to enhance the bond of the structure.

Attaching the back wall

Build the back of the nightstand out of 3/4″ plywood and fit it between the side components, as it can be shown in the diagram. Drill pocket holes along the edges and secure it to the frame by using 1 1/4″ screws. Add waterproof glue to the joints and remove the excess by using a damp cloth.

Fitting the top

Lay the top of the nightstand on a level surface and center the frame with great care. Make sure the components are aligned with attention and insert screws into the tabletop. Leave no gaps between the components and add waterproof glue in order to get a professional result.

Fitting the shelf

Cut the shelf at the right size, drill pocket holes along the sides and secure it to the frame by inserting 1 1/4″ screws. Check if the corners are right-angled and leave no gaps between the components, in order to get the job done in a professional manner.

Building a drawer

Build the frame of the drawer out of 1×6 slats and the bottom out of 3/4″ plywood. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the side components and inset 1 1/4″ screws into the perpendicular components. Drill pocket holes along the edges of the bottom component and secure it to the frame with 1 1/4″ screws. Add glue to enhance the rigidity of the frame.

Fitting the drawer face

Fit the drawer inside the frame of the nightstand and secure it to the sides of the frame using metal slides. Check if the drawer opens and closes properly, before attaching the face and the handle. Fit the face to the drawer, making sure you leave about 1/8″ around the edges. Drill pilot holes through the drawer and insert 1 1/4″ screws into the face of the drawer. Leave no gaps between the components, in order to get a professional result.

Wooden nightstand plans

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues.

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