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Reclaimed Wood Look Bedside Table

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wood nightstand with drawers rustic farmhouse
Difficulty
Intermediate
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Rustic bedside table or nightstand - farmhouse style.  Free plans from ANA-WHITE.com

nightstand with three drawers

Featured photo by bRick

diy nightstand with three drawers small cute rustic wood

This rustic three drawer nightstand is easy to build with off the shelf lumber and basic tools.  

Dimensions
nightstand with drawers dimensions
Dimensions shown above

Preparation

Shopping List
  • 3 - 2x2 @ 8 feet long
  • 1 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
  • 3 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long
  • 1 - 1x6 @ 8 feet long
  • 2 - 1x3 @ 10 feet long
  • 1/4" plywood for back
  • 3 knobs or pulls
  • 3 sets 16" White Euro style drawer slides like shown in this plan
Common Materials
2 1/2 inch screws
1 1/4 inch finish nails
2 inch finish nails
1-1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
2-1/2" Pocket Hole Screws
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
paint brush
Cut List
  • 4 - 1x2 @ 14" (Side Trim)
  • 8 - 1x4 @ 23 1/4" (Side Panels)
  • 4 - 2x2 @ 27 1/4" (Legs)
  • 6 - 2x2 @ 16" (Front/Back Tie ins)
  • 1 - 2x2 @ 14" (Center Tie In)
  • 1 - 1/4" plywood @ 19" x 23 1/4" (Back)
  • 1 - 1x2 @ 21" (Top)
  • 4 - 1x4 @ 21" (Top)
  • 1 - 1x3 @ 21" (Top Front) Drawer cut list in plan
Cutting Instructions

Dire to the success of this project is using straight boards that measure true to width as follows: 1x6 - 5 1/2" wide 1x4 - 3 1/2" wide 1x3 - 2 1/2" wide 2x2 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" If your boards do not measure to these widths, you will need to adjust the plan. If your boards are not straight - namely the 1x4 side panels, you could have trouble with the drawers.

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander
Level
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

 

For long term durability and more professional results, I recommend using a pocket hole joinery system for wood joints.  Here is a video with tips for using a pocket hole jig:

Instructions

Step 1

If you have a Kreg Jig, attach the panel boards to each other first with 1 1/4" pocket hole screws, with your jig set for 3/4" stock. This will make the panel a solid piece. Attach with 1 1/4" finish nails and wood glue the panel trim, flush to top and bottom. Ensure that your panels are square (very important!)

 
If your panel boards are not coming out flat, do this sort of thing with additional 1x2s - lined up with the front tie ins.

Step 2

Now attach legs to ends of panels as shown in diagram, flush to tops.

Step 3

Whenever you build for drawers it is crucial that your project is very very square, or your drawers will not slide correctly. Attach the front/back tie ins, and check the entire project for square, measuring from opposite leg to opposite leg on both the top and bottom of the legs. You can also use 2 1/2" screws and wood glue to attach tie ins, with predrilled screws and wood glue.

Step 4

Add the center support as shown above.

Step 5

Step 6

Now the top, start at the back with the 1x2 and attach flush to the back, 1" overhangs on both sides. Continue adding 1x4s, and finally, the front is a 1x3 . . . Would be super cute to leave the top wood and paint the base a distressed finish.

Step 7

Now the drawers . . . Super important to build square drawers. Your drawer boxes should be built 1" less in width than the drawer housing (the interior of the project) to give clearance for drawer slides. The "perfect" measurements are shown here, but you may need to adjust for differing board thicknesses 6 - 1x3 @ 14 1/2" (Sides) 6 - 1x3 @ 15" (Fronts and Backs) 3 - 1/4" Plywood @ 16" x 15" (Drawer Bottoms) 3 - 1x6 @ 15 3/4" (Drawer Faces) Don't add the drawer faces quite yet. For a drawer with higher sides, you can also use 1x4s.

Step 8

Install drawer boxes as shown above, inset by 3/4" from the front of the project. Make sure your drawers slide well. Then position the drawer faces over the drawer boxes until there is an even 1/8" gap on all sides and nail drawer faces on. Be aware of hardware locations so you don't have to drill through nails later.

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth. 

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Project Type
Side and End Table Plans
Nightstands
Room
Bedroom
living room
Style
Cottage Style Furniture Plans
Farmhouse Furniture

Comments

deanna_g

Thu, 06/23/2011 - 11:26

I love this!!!! Once I have more money to purchase the lumber, I'm making 4 of these!!! 2 for the guest room and two for MY room!!!!

hook Fam

Thu, 06/23/2011 - 11:37

I'm so excited!! I just finished the reclaimed headboard and a footboard from the same pattern and just logged in to start a different side table. But I'm totally doing this one now!! Thanks!

ferbit

Sun, 06/26/2011 - 19:41

I agree with Apron Appeal - who needs all the wasted space under an end table! I love the idea of three drawers! This would be really pretty next to my storage daybed........ :)

Chelsey (not verified)

Thu, 07/14/2011 - 07:23

Almost done with this awesome night stand... just need to add the drawer fronts.. This is my first picture it was hard because i dont own my own saw so had to get it cut at home depot.... great project....and cheaper to make then MOST nightstands... Thanks for the blueprint!

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 19:01

how and where did you install the drawer slides? Are they attached directly to the sides of the nightstand?

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 12/02/2011 - 09:34

Where do you put the finishing nails, do you just nail them in right on top or from the backside so they don't show? Do you have to countersink a space for them first, and then fill it in with wood filler?

James Shelton

Wed, 05/02/2012 - 16:21

Hello,
I wanted to get the pdf for this project as it would be great to surprise my wife with.
But I keep getting an error every time I click on the pdf.

Thanks,
James

Tori (not verified)

Tue, 05/08/2012 - 22:10

I've just finished Grace's bookshelves and now I have the woodworking bug. This is hopefully my next project but I am concerned about shrinking and warping with the vertical panel pieces being glued and nailed to the 1x2 trim pieces (Step 1). Is there room for movement with this so that there won't be issues with warping or cracking?

MCD (not verified)

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 14:06

Where do we attach the drawer slides? Half of each set goes on the drawer, but where does the other half go?

claydowling

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 15:33

The traditional advice is to put the other half on the cabinet side. The vertical positioning is the challenge. You want about a dime's width between the bottom of the drawer and the opening. I usually just set the drawer on a pair of dimes. I assemble the slides, put the drawer into place, and then mark where the parts touch at the front, either on the drawer or the cabinet frame, depending on which you attached the slides to.

Senathon

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 12:17

This project was great and easy to build. The thing I can not figure out is how do the drawers are supposed to stay in without any type of guide. If a guide is suppoed to be used, can you provide tips on when and how to install for this table?

q0987

Thu, 12/31/2015 - 13:11

Hello all,

I am not able to figure out how the drawer is supported by the frame. Do we need to install extra frame in order to support the drawer? Basically, I don't understand how the drawer can slide in and out inside the table bed because I don't see any structure that can support the box.

Thank you