21 DIY Nightstand Ideas: Beginner to Pro (Plans Included)
Looking to build a bedside table? Here are 21 custom DIY nightstand ideas featuring woodworking plans, hidden charging stations, and drawer tutorials.
Building your own DIY nightstand is one of the best weekend woodworking projects to elevate your bedroom. While store-bought options are easy to find, custom builds let you tailor every detail to fit your exact routine and space including storage, style and color.
How tall should a nightstand be:
Ideal nightstand height should align with the top of your mattress (typically 20″ to 24″ tall). Building your own allows you to match exact mattress height, add custom drawer slides, or route hidden charging ports that off-the-shelf tables lack.
DIY Nightstand Project Ideas
1. Easy DIY Nightstand with Drawers
This DIY nightstand with drawers is a great beginner build. It is a simple box with “boxes” for drawers. The slightly angled legs give it a nice character.
It looks like it is made from pallet wood, but it isn’t. Don’t be intimidated by building drawers, I have you covered with a full tutorial, video, and plans!
Learn how to build a perfect drawer every time!
2. Nightstand with Hidden Compartment
This is a simple nightstand with a drawer and a shelf for books. But guess what? It also has a secret hidden compartment underneath the top!
It is also a slim design that works well for small bedrooms.
3. DIY PB Inspired Night Stand
I fell in love with a nightstand from Pottery Barn, but I didn’t love the price tag. I saved big $$$ by building my own nightstand with a drawer and shelves.
The X detail on this nightstand is one of my favorite things and the two shelves give us loads of extra bedside storage.
4. Nightstand with Charging Table
Say goodbye to wire clutter with this DIY nightstand with a hidden charging station.
I built this as an end table to go between our couches in the living room to corral all the wires from our devices, but it would work great as a nightstand also.
5. X-Leg Accent Table
My X-leg nightstand was one of the first builds I did when I first started. The drawer doesn’t use drawer slides and is very forgiving, making it a great beginner drawer project.
You can paint this nightstand any color you want or use a stain for a more natural finish.
6. DIY kids bedside table with book storage
Kids need nightstands too, and they need to incorporate storage for all the bedtime reading!
This kids’ nightstand with book storage is a very simple and easy project perfect for beginner woodworkers. All you need to know is to make the cuts and then assemble using pocket holes.
7. DIY Tall Nightstand from Houseful of Handmade
This DIY nightstand is designed to be 28 3/4″ tall, which gives you plenty of room to add drawers and a shelf. Paint or stain in the color of your choice and cute drawer pulls for a little added bling.
8. Nightstand with Notched Drawer from The Handyman’s Daughter
This modern DIY nightstand features a two-toned look by painting the body white and leaving the drawer natural. The notched drawer adds interest and brings attention to the maple drawer front.
9. Mid-Century Modern Nightstand from Woodshop Diaries
Make a DIY mid-century nightstand using one piece of plywood and some scrap wood. This nightstand feature a deep drawer, shelf, and lovely mid-century modern legs!
10. Simple DIY Nightstand from Charleston Crafted
Build this DIY nightstand from plywood and simple lumber in three easy steps. Build the base, build the drawer, and connect them. A drawer and two shelves are great for adding extra storage to your bedroom.
11. Live Edge Floating Nightstands from DIY Huntress
The frame of this DIY floating nightstand is made from walnut and poplar with a piece of live edge wood for the drawer front. I love how the live edge makes a natural drawer pull.
12. Craftsman Nightstand from Her Toolbelt
Craftsman style is classic and this nightstand doesn’t disappoint. Three drawers make it a must-have storage solution for the bedroom. It’s another one on the tall side at 28″ and is great to pair with a taller bed.
13. Rustic Nightstand from Rogue Engineer
If you’re looking for a nightstand with a rustic industrial look, then this is the one for you. This rustic nightstand is made using plywood, underlayment, and kiln-dried 2X8 lumber so that it won’t warp. Metal brackets add an industrial touch.
14. Extra Wide DIY Nightstands from Love and Renovations
This extra-wide nightstand features plenty of room on the tabletop, and the extra width makes the 2 shelves and drawer perfect for storing all the things you need at your bedside.
15. Easy DIY Floating Nightstands from Pine and Poplar
Make these easy DIY floating nighstands with a 1X10 and just four tools. They are an easy beginner woodworking project that you can do in a day. This simple design gives you enough storage bedside along with a custom built in look.
16. Nightstands with Hidden Charging Station from Jen Woodhouse
This 3-drawer nightstand comes complete with three drawers, a writing tray, and a hidden charging station. I think everyone should have a hidden charging station in the bedroom, put away those devices for a good night’s sleep!
17. Ashley Nightstand from Her Toolbelt
This nightstand is built to not block the heating and air vent. It is 3/4″ taller than the mattress making it the perfect height next to this bed. It was built using scrap wood, but you can build it using 1X6 boards if you don’t have enough scrap wood in your pile.
Related: What is Saw Kerf – Why it is Important When Cutting Wood
18. Super Easy Nightstand by Shark Tails for Remodelaholic
This nightstand was made with scrap knotty pine, making the cuts easier to make for the top and bottom. If you don’t have enough scrap wood, you can also use plywood for this project. The legs are cut from a 1X8 from corner to corner to make a right triangle, then cut off to the height needed. It really gives them a cool mid-century modern vibe.
19. Bedside Table by Jen Woodhouse
This DIY bedside table has a classic silhouette with two open shelves and a drawer. It’s wide enough to accommodate a lamp and anything else you need to have at bedside. Made using 1X12s, 1X2s, and plywood, this nightstand is an easy beginner woodworking project.
20. Wood Nightstand with Drawer from The Merry Thought
Made from ambrosia maple and plywood, this modern minimalist nightstand is customized in height and width for the space. The drawer has a half-circle cutout instead of a drawer pull to keep with the nightstand’s minimalist style.
Simple DIY Nightstand with Drawers from Woodshop Diaries
If you’re looking for a small nightstand with lots of storage, this is the one for you. It’s compact size is perfect for small spaces while still giving you plenty of storage with the 4 drawer design. It’s made using birch plywood and a few common boards, making it a budget friendly beginner project.
And there you have it!
A nightstand design for you to build for every decor, storage, or size. Which one will you build?
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Anika's goal is to inspire and empower beginners with woodworking, DIY, home improvement, and home decor ideas.
She wants everyone to unlock their creative potential and experience the feeling that comes with making something. Nothing feels better better than seeing something and saying "I can make that!"
