A bedside table does more work than almost any piece of furniture in the house, and it’s one of the easiest things to build yourself. These 23 gorgeous DIY nightstands cover every skill level and every size of bedroom. Short on floor space? Try a floating shelf, a rope swing table or a hanging wood slab. Got a free weekend and a saw? There are mid-century boxes on hairpin legs, a farmhouse table under $15 and a 2×4 build with a huge drawer and an open shelf for a basket. And if power tools aren’t your thing, stacked vintage suitcases, an old cheese box on casters and a painted yard sale pair prove a great nightstand can start as something else entirely. Measure the gap beside your bed before you pick, because the right height (usually level with the top of the mattress) matters more than the style.
1. DIY Box Sideboard Nightstand
This box sideboard nightstand is about as simple as furniture gets: four pieces of pine, wood glue and a set of screw-in legs. Cut two boards at 15 inches and two at 19 inches (two 36 inch pine shelves cut in half do the job), screw the leg plates to the bottom board about a centimeter in from the sides, then glue the other three boards on to form an open box. Wood glue sets in roughly 30 minutes. Leave the raw pine as is or stain it, and gold-dipped legs dress it right up.
Get the full tutorial at Fall For DIY.
2. X-Shaped Bedroom Nightstand
X-shaped legs give this nightstand a rustic farmhouse look, and the open box on top keeps the build simple. Cut and sand every piece first, then stain the pine box and paint the X legs before anything gets assembled. The box goes together with wood glue and 1 1/2 inch screws, the legs are built separately with braces between the front and back X, and hammered bronze corner brackets finish the look. Heavy lamps can make it top-heavy, so anchor it to the wall with two L brackets.
Get the full tutorial at Brittany Stager.
3. DIY Floating String Nightstand
A wooden cutting board and two lengths of coated steel wire turn into a floating string table that hangs right beside the bed. Drill four holes diagonally across the board, cut two equal pieces of wire and thread them through. Each wire end loops back through a ferrule and gets crimped tight with pincers, then the whole thing hangs from a single ceiling hook. For a softer look, glue a piece of leather to the board first and punch matching holes. It’s a modern Scandinavian piece that frees up the floor.
Get the full tutorial at monsterscircus.
4. DIY Mid-Century End Table
This mid-century nightstand is one of the easiest shapes to build: an open plywood box on hairpin legs. Cut two side panels at 15 by 45 cm and a top and bottom at 45 by 45 cm. Glue the sides to the bottom flush with the edges, tap in panel pins from underneath, glue the top on and let it dry overnight. Hairpin legs screw straight into the base with short screws, no pilot holes needed. Leave the wood natural, stain it walnut or scale it up into a coffee table.
Get the full tutorial at Burkatron.
5. DIY Suitcase Side Table
A $1 garage sale suitcase plus four legs salvaged from a broken mid-century table makes a side table with hidden storage. Flip the suitcase upside down, angle each leg toward its corner, and add a wood screw to any loose leg block first. Predrill and countersink so each leg base sits flush, mark which hole goes where, then fix the legs with 3/4 inch post screws from inside so nothing sharp pokes into the case. Check it with a level, and the whole project costs almost nothing.
Get the full tutorial at The Weathered Door.
6. Ikea Rast Nightstand Hack
The Ikea Rast chest is a blank canvas, and this hack turns it into a sophisticated pair of nightstands. Paint the frame a soft green-gray (Benjamin Moore Aura in Willow), stain the drawer fronts a deep cocoa with a low VOC stain, and finish with antique hardware. Can’t find enough matching pulls? Mixing two styles, with the top drawer different from the rest, looks deliberate and charming. A ReStore hardware bin is the place to dig for vintage pulls at a fraction of retail.
Get the full tutorial at Brittany Stager.
7. DIY Floating Nightstand
This floating nightstand has a built-in phone slot, so the phone doubles as an alarm and the cord stays tidy. Cut a 1×8 pine top and a 5/4×6 wall support to the same length (16 inches works well). Use a table saw with a dado blade to cut a slot one inch from the front edge, sized to fit the phone and its case, then drill a cord hole in front of where the support sits. Glue, clamp and nail the boards at 90 degrees, sand, then screw it level to the wall.
Get the full tutorial at The Merrythought.
8. DIY Rustic Modern Nightstand With Free Plans
Built entirely from 2x4s, this rustic modern nightstand is as sturdy as a house frame and comes with free downloadable plans. The supply list is short: 2×4 lumber, a drill, a saw, a level, screws and a sander. Follow the plans and the step by step video to build the frame and the oversized top drawer, then finish with stain and a chunky metal pull. That big drawer swallows chargers, books and remote controls, while the open shelf below fits a woven basket.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
9. Mirrored Nightstand
Mirrored nightstands can cost $450 to $750 in stores, but a $4 thrift store table and a few frameless mirror panels get the same glam look. Measure each face of the nightstand and have the mirror cut to size (some home improvement stores cut mirror free). Clean the old finish well, then fix each panel in place with mirror adhesive, with no hammering or drilling needed. Paint the drawer fronts or swap the pulls for a crisp contrast, and the old piece becomes unrecognizable.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
10. Stacked Vintage Suitcase Nightstand
Stacked vintage suitcases topped with an old wooden crate make a nightstand with built-in storage and zero building. Gather suitcases in graduated sizes, largest on the bottom, and stack them beside the bed. A wood crate on top brings the surface up to a useful height and gives a flat spot for a lamp. The cases can still hold yarn, fabric or other things you don’t need every day. Later on, a piece of glass or marble on the crate makes an even smoother tabletop.
Get the full tutorial at 17 Apart.
11. Midcentury-Style Nightstand
This midcentury-style nightstand is a four-piece box with a plywood back and tapered screw-in legs, and it takes about three hours and $42 in materials. Cut the top and bottom at 22 inches and the sides at 12 inches from a 1×18 board. Pocket holes along the side tops join them to the top panel, while screws through the base attach the bottom, so every fastener stays hidden. Leg plates go 1 1/2 inches in from each corner, and an optional drawer slips inside.
Get the full tutorial at Build Basic.
12. Build A Bookshelf Nightstand
A bookshelf nightstand is perfect for a reader’s bedroom, with a big open shelf for books and stuffed animals. The build uses 1×2 and 1×3 boards, a 1×10 and 1×8 top, a 3/4 inch plywood shelf and a 1/4 inch plywood back, joined with pocket hole screws, nails and wood glue. Two tips for a better result: sand every piece before assembly, and set the shelf about 2 inches lower than the plan so tall books stand upright. Prime, condition and paint to finish.
Get the full tutorial at Andrea's Notebook.
13. Cheesebox Nightstand
Vintage round cheese boxes on brass casters make nightstands with real history, since the boxes were once used to age cheese. Turn a box upside down, set three 2 inch casters where they should sit and mark the holes. Drill, push the bolts through from outside, then flip the box carefully and add a washer and nut to each bolt from the inside. A pair takes six casters and 24 each of bolts, nuts and washers, and the round shape softens a boxy bed and dresser.
Get the full tutorial at LAX TO YVR.
14. Ikea Rast Nightstand DIY
This Ikea Rast nightstand gets a bold makeover with paint, new hardware and a patterned drawer liner. The unfinished Rast chest is inexpensive and ready for color, so paint it in a vivid shade like Radiant Orchid and let it dry fully between coats. Swap the plain knobs for statement drawer pulls, then line each drawer with chevron paper for a surprise every time it opens. It’s a quick weekend project, and the same steps work in any color that suits the room.
Get the full tutorial at Rebecca Propes Design & DIY.
15. DIY Nightstand With Lighting
This tall, slim nightstand fits the tight gap between a bed and a door, and it has a built-in light. Cut a 1×8 back board to headboard height (about 50 inches) and three 2×8 shelves around 7 inches square. Screw the top two shelves in from the back and attach the bottom shelf with pocket holes as the anchor. Sand and stain, then drill a hole near the top for the light cord, plus holes under the shelves so phone chargers pop out right where needed.
Get the full tutorial at Amber Oliver.
16. DIY Hanging Bedside Wood Shelf
A hanging wood shelf takes the place of a nightstand when space or budget is tight, and renters can move it anywhere. Pick a small wood slab or board, then stain or paint it before drilling so no sawdust lands in wet finish. Mark three evenly spaced holes about 6 to 7 inches apart and drill with a 1/4 inch bit, slightly wider than the cord. Thread leather cord or rope through each hole, knot the ends underneath and hang it from a ceiling hook.
Get the full tutorial at DIYs.com.
17. Farmhouse Nightstand Under $15
This farmhouse nightstand costs under $15 because it’s built almost entirely from 1×4 and 2×2 lumber. Glue 1×4 slats together into panels (plywood works too), add 1×2 supports with glue and 1 1/4 inch screws, then cut 2×2 legs and fit the panels between them. Pocket-hole 2×2 supports join the bottom, while side rails hold a small drawer. Keep the corners square at every step, sand everything smooth, and finish with paint on the base and stain on top.
Get the full tutorial at HowToSpecialist.
18. Nightstand from Magazine Holders
Two curved wooden magazine holders stacked on a stool base make a narrow nightstand for a bed with only 12 inches of space on each side. Paint the pieces white so they read as one unit, then join the holders and attach them to the base. The curved shelves hold a laptop, a basket of remotes and chargers, and a phone, while existing holes in the sides let cords slip through neatly. Line each shelf with fabric that matches the bedding for a finished look.
Get the full tutorial at Brick City Love.
19. Wooden Electrical Spool Table Turned into a Bedside Nightstand
An old wooden electrical spool, cut in half, becomes a rustic half-round nightstand that sits flat against the wall. Look for spools at farm sales, utility yards or construction sites, then cut the spool down the middle so each half makes one table. A sheet of glass cut to size at a local glass shop protects the top and gives a smooth surface for a lamp. It’s a natural fit with reclaimed wood walls, pallet projects and cabin style bedrooms.
Get the full tutorial at A Vision to Remember.
20. Modern Floating Nightstand
This modern floating nightstand is built from a single 1x8x8 board, and it keeps a storage bed drawer clear underneath. Cut four pieces, then rip two of them into strips with a circular saw guide (or a table saw) and join each strip to a full board with pocket holes and wood glue to make a wider top and bottom. Pocket-hole the sides between them, add decorative X detailing, then stain and mount it to the wall so nothing sits on the floor.
Get the full tutorial at My Love 2 Create.
21. DIY Pendant Bedside Table Of Wood
A pendant bedside table swings from the ceiling on thick rope, perfect for modern, beach or industrial bedrooms. Gather a solid wood board about 60 by 25 cm, roughly 6 meters of 2 cm rope, two ceiling hooks with 8 mm dowels, a drill, a jigsaw, sandpaper and paint. Cut the board to size, mark a hole in each of the four corners and drill them through. Sand and paint, thread the rope down through the holes, knot it underneath and hang it level from the hooks.
Get the full tutorial at Shelterness.
22. Modern Painted Nightstands
A pair of $50 yard sale end tables turns into modern painted nightstands with one bold color. Start by ditching the doors (one was warped anyway), remove the hinges and fill the old screw holes and dings with wood filler. Once the filler dries, lightly sand with 150 grit. Two light coats of a deep navy furniture paint cover completely, then add a protective topcoat after 24 hours. A metallic finish on the original hardware brings the vintage pulls back to life.
Get the full tutorial at Thirty Eighth Street.
23. DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Nightstand
Free plans make this Pottery Barn-inspired nightstand a realistic weekend build at a fraction of the store price. It takes 2×2 legs, 1×2 rails, 3/4 inch plywood side panels, a bottom shelf and top, cove moulding and furniture feet. Build each side with pocket holes, attach the back panel to make the carcass, then add rails and drop in the notched bottom shelf. A 1×4 drawer on 14 inch slides, iron-on edge banding and cove moulding under the top give it that polished, high-end finish.
Get the full tutorial at The House of Wood.
