50 DIY Nightstand Ideas For Creative And Inspired Beginners

A nightstand can be a perfect DIY project for a beginner because it’s a small and simple piece of furniture and you can have a lot of fun customizing and personalizing the design. Think of it as a mini-table or as a tiny cabinet.

DIY Nightstand Ideas

You can make it as simple or as complicated as you wish but we’re generally more inclined towards minimalism so we suggest you stick with a clean and simple design. There are plenty of options to choose from so we’re showing you our favorite DIY nightstand projects.

50 Simple Nightstand Projects That You Can Build

Modern nightstand with an asymmetrical shape

Modern nightstand with an asymmetrical shape

This modern two-tone nightstand has an asymmetrical design which complements its minimalism in a really cool way. To build it you only need some lumber, a few tools including a circular saw, a dowel jig, a drill, a nail gun and white paint (or a different color).

Farmhouse nightstand with a sliding barn-style door

Farmhouse nightstand with a sliding barn-style door

You can keep the design of a DIY nightstand simple and still give it lots of character by focusing on a particular detail and make that element stand out. For example, this cute nightstand has a sliding barn door. Actually, it’s a mini version of that and it looks adorable. On shanty-2-chic you can find out how to build a nightstand like this you yourself.

Simple design with generous built-in storage

Simple design with generous built-in storage

You can also find plans on shanty-2-chic for a nightstand with hidden storage which can also serve as a cabinet or extension for a desk or as a side table. The design is simple but something a little something that makes it special. It may be the stain color or the rustic influence in the design.

Table-like nightstand for compact spaces

Table-like nightstand for compact spaces

This DIY nightstand featured on welivedhappilyeverafter looks quite similar to a backless chair. It has four legs and a top and because it’s so basic that means it’s also easy to build. The legs are painted white and they contrast a bit with the wooden top boards which is a really nice detail.

Industrial design made from concrete blocks

Industrial design made from concrete blocks

We find the nightstand featured on dwell to be very interesting, for obvious reasons. This is a nightstand made out of concrete blocks. You can buy these and they’re pretty cheap. You need three blocks to make a nightstand. Two of them form the base and the third one is the top. Isn’t it convenient how you can store things inside the blocks?

A cute barrel repurposed into a nightstand

A cute barrel repurposed into a nightstand

As you can see, we like the idea of repurposing things into practical furniture pieces so let’s check out a few more examples. This nightstand, for instance, is a repurposed wooden barrel. You can get one too. It’s just a matter of finding the right barrel.

Compact design featuring solid wood beams

Compact design featuring solid wood beams

Four wood beams are put together here to create a solid and compact nightstand which can also serve as a side table. Flat steel bars are used to keep the beams connected and to give the nightstand its clean, geometric shape. You can try to build something like this yourself or you can order the item on etsy.

Floating shelf with a simple and sleek look

Floating shelf with a simple and sleek look

This doesn’t happen a lot but if you by any chance have a cabinet door and you know what to do with it, turn it into a floating nightstand. Obviously you could just use a piece of wood or fiberboard cut to size but it’s more fun to repurpose items. This clever idea comes from urbanacreage.

Two-tone nightstand with open cubby storage

Two-tone nightstand with open cubby storage

It’s useful for nightstands to also have some sort of storage space like a drawer or a shelf so take this detail into consideration when selecting the design for your next DIY nightstand project. The plans featured on brittanystager are a good example and the design is also really chic which is always a plus.

Repurposed storage cabinet as a nightstand alternative

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If a shelf isn’t enough and you want your nightstand to include more storage space, how about a repurposed Ikea Rast cabinet which can act as a nightstand instead? It has three drawers and the dimensions are good. Of course, to make it look this way some work needs to be done. Find out the details on brittanystager.

Dressed into a nightstand

Stylish and minimalist nightstand with gold-tipped legs

This chic nightstand from build-basic has both a shelf and a drawer which is great. It also has tapered legs and a sleek and elegant design which is reminiscent of mid-century modern furniture. Have a look at the tutorial to find out how to build your own version.

Stylish and minimalist nightstand with gold-tipped legs

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Like we said before, a simple DIY nightstand can look chic and charming if you know what details to focus on. A nice example is the project shared on fallfordiy. This nightstand is a simple open box/ cubby with tapered legs that have golden tips. The wood is light-colored and left unstained which is a wonderful way of expressing the beauty of the material.

Small side table with hairpin legs

Small side table with hairpin legs

There are also other ways of showcasing wood’s natural beauty. For example, this is a wood slab side table with hairpin legs. It can function as a nightstand in the bedroom or you can place it by the sofa in the living room. Either way, it looks charming. It’s easy to build too.

A tree stump table with wheels

A tree stump table with wheels

A tree stump side table can function as a nightstand too. To make one you need a tree trunk or a large log cut to size. You can leave the bark on or not. You can also put casters on it so yo can move it around more easily, given that it would be pretty heavy.

Mini table with hairpin legs and open shelf storage

Mini table with hairpin legs and open shelf storage

We’d also like to show you this hairpin leg side table which has the perfect proportions to function as a nightstand. You can make something like this out of common wood boards or you can use reclaimed wood from a pallet or a fence if you like the worn look.

Old drum repurposed into a cool-looking nightstand

Old drum repurposed into a cool-looking nightstand

We continue the list of things which can be repurposed into unique furniture pieces with this nightstand featured on designsponge which used to be a drum. We think it’s a genius idea, especially if you’re a music lover. It doesn’t have to be a brand new drum. An old and damaged one would do just fine. You’d just have to clean it up a bit.

Rustic nightstand made of wood

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Rustic DIY nightstands are particularly charming and it may have something to do with the fact that the bedroom is a cozy space and this style suits it well. You can find plans for a rustic bedside table on rogueengineer. The design is simple but full of character.

Eclectic design for a multipurpose accent table

Eclectic design for a multipurpose accent table

This DIY nightstand design featured on shadesofblueinteriors also has a little bit of rustic charm in it but it also has a modern vibe and this combination is perfect for the bedroom. To build this nightstand you only need a few basic supplies like umber, screws, nails, wood glue and stain.

L-shaped floating shelf for tiny bedrooms

L-shaped floating shelf for tiny bedrooms

Floating nightstands are great for small bedrooms because they don’t take up any floor space and they have a simple and lightweight appearance. They’re also super easy to build. The design featured on themerrythought only requires two small pieces of wood and some screws. Notice it has a built-in dock for the phone.

Cute nightstand made of reclaimed pallet wood

Cute nightstand made of reclaimed pallet wood

Pallet wood is great for a lot of cool home improvement projects. A nightstand made out of pallet wood can potentially look wonderful and charming and in such a case the more weathered the wood is the better, at least that’s what this project from instructables suggests. Seeing how lovely this nightstand looks we tend to agree.

Cheese box nightstand with caster wheels

Cheese box nightstand with caster wheels

Speaking of recycled and repurposed materials, you should also check out these cool cheese box nightstands from laxtoyvr. They’re really cute and quite practical too. They have casters and they provide a nice contrast with a bed that has a clean, rectangular frame.

Wood slice shelf hanging from the ceiling

Wood slice shelf hanging from the ceiling

If you’d like to simplify your bedroom decor and you don’t really need your nightstands to include much storage, a cool idea could be to make some hanging shelves like the ones featured on diys. You can hang them from the ceiling or you can create a custom wall-mounted system.

A cool nightstand makeover using fabric

A cool nightstand makeover using fabric

Of course, you may already have a pair of nightstands and if they’re in good shape then you could give them a makeover and change their look. For instance, you can decorate them with tape, with fabric or with decals. Check out the ideas featured on seekaresew for inspiration.

Custom-made nightstand with just the right shape

Custom-made nightstand with just the right shape

Sometimes you simply can’t find a nightstand that has the right dimensions or look in stores so you either have to make compromises or to build your own nightstand. We’re always in favor of the second option. This inspiring project from brickcitylove can show you why.

A bookshelf-toy box combo turned into a unique nightstand

A bookshelf-toy box combo turned into a unique nightstand

A bookshelf at the top and a toy box at the bottom, that’s how this DIY nightstand is structured. It’s an interesting combo and although the actual shape and design could be modified to better suit one’s space and style, the idea remains a pretty cool one. Find the plans for this project on andreasnotebook.

Mid-century modern nightstand with contrasting colors

Mid-century modern nightstand with contrasting colors

Mid-century modern furniture is trending right now and a lot of DIY projects can show you how to build stuff in this style. One example is this beautiful and elegant nightstand from rogueengineer. The design is fairly simple and a big part of the design’s charm has to do with the color contrasts.

Floating nightstand with built-in storage

Floating nightstand with built-in storage

Floating nightstands, as mentioned before, are a great option for small spaces and usually they’re simple wall-mounted shelves. The design featured on mylove2create is a bit different in the sense that it has certain details which allow it to stand out, more specifically the double X pattern on the sides.

Handmade design featuring a wire basket as a base

Handmade design featuring a wire basket as a base

The base of this DIY nightstand from makinghomebase is actually a simple wire basket, can you believe it? The basket was spray painted and then a wooden tabletop was secured with fasteners and screws, creating this lovely piece. It can be used as a nightstand but also as a side table.

Repurposed wood crate with hairpin legs

Repurposed wood crate with hairpin legs

Sometimes the perfect DIY nightstand is right in front of you and you just have to have an open mind. For instance, have you ever looked at a wooden crate and imagined it as something else? Maybe you could do that next time and what you’ll see could be a nightstand as charming as the one featured on dwellbeautiful.

Rustic nightstand made from half of a cable spool

Rustic nightstand made from half of a cable spool

Maybe you’ve seen cable spools being turned into tables before. It’s a cool transformation and if the tables weren’t so round and big you could also use them as nightstands. Actually you can do that and the solution is very simple: cut a cable spool in half vertically to make two matching nightstands. This ingenious idea comes from avisiontoremember.

A clever, practical and easy way to repurpose wood crates

 A clever, practical and easy way to repurpose wood crates

As you’ve seen, a wooden crate can be easily turned into a nightstand but there’s actually more than one way to do it. You can attach the crate to the wall but you can also install hairpin legs (or some other kind) or you can stack two crates to make a larger freestanding nightstand with lots of storage inside. All of these options are described in more detail on morelikehome.

Tall and slender nightstand for narrow spaces

Tall and slender nightstand for narrow spaces

Don’t lose hope if you have a small bedroom and the space for the nightstand is very narrow. There are ways to overcome this challenge. A good example is the DIY nightstand project from amber-oliver which is very slender, like a mini tower and has tiny shelves and even a simple cable-management system.

Compact nightstand with a marble-inspired top

Compact nightstand with a marble-inspired top

A DIY nightstand makeover doesn’t have to be very complex or time-consuming in order to be efficient or to have a big impact on the design of the nightstand and the room in general. An easy upgrade with marble contact paper could be a great option in this case.

A repurposed vintage chair

A repurposed vintage chair

Sometimes you don’t even ave to change anything when you want to repurpose a piece of furniture into something else. A chair, for example, can be used as a nightstand and all you’d need to do in order to make that happen is move the chair by the bed. It helps if the chair has a solid and flat seat, like the one featured on emmas-blogg. Vintage and traditional chairs are particularly suitable for such transformations.

A super clever use for vintage suitcases

A super clever use for vintage suitcases

One, two or more vintage suitcases can also be repurposed into a one-of-a-kind nightstand. You can stack the suitcases by the bed and you can even store things inside if needed. For example, you could keep some of your favorites books there or perhaps an extra blanket. If you like the idea, check out some of the design possibilities on 17apart.

Simple, Scandinavian-inspired bedside table

Simple, Scandinavian-inspired bedside table

Simple designs such as this one are super versatile and perfect for Scandinavian-style bedrooms. The base is very simple, with four legs and support boards that hold up the square-shaped top surface. The lower trim boards and the legs are painted white which creates a nice and subtle contrast with the natural wood finish on the top. You can find more details about this lovely little project on welivedhappilyeverafter.

Small bookcase used as a nightstand

Small bookcase used as a nightstand

As you’re probably aware, many Ikea furniture pieces are known to be highly versatile and customizable. Something as simple as a small shelf can potentially be repurposed into a lovely nightstand. You can either place directly on the floor or install some small feet to raise it up just a little bit. What’s great about this transformation is that the nightstand has plenty of built-in storage which you can use for books and various other things. This project idea comes from theeverygirl.

Floating shelf with a compact and airy aesthetic

Floating shelf with a compact and airy aesthetic

Isn’t this floating nightstand gorgeous? It’s so simple but it’s also very stylish and highly customizable. Because it doesn’t have a base, it appears to be floating which leaves the space underneath empty and allows the room to look airy and spacious even with a small floor plan. As you can see, there’s a groove cut into the surface of the nightstand and there’s a little hole that you can fit a cable through to charge your phone at night. Check out the tutorial on youtube to find out how this was built.

Handmade nightstand with a mid-century modern design

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Mid-century modern furniture is so very charming and this nightstand is a perfect expression of this style. It’s simple but at the same time it has plenty of character and it’s very practical too. There’s a storage space at the top where you can keep a few essentials, a favorite book, some chargers and cables and so on. Check out the youtube tutorial to see how it’s built and feel free to customize your own version in any way you see fit.

White nightstand with black hairpin legs

White nightstand with black hairpin legs

The hairpin legs give this stylish nightstand a lightweight and slender look which is always desirable when decorating a bedroom. Also, the combination of colors is great since black and white is a timeless and classy combo that never goes out of style. If you want to find out how you can craft a beautiful nightstand like this one for yourself, there’s a tutorial on youtube that you can check out.

Minimalist two-tone design

Minimalist two-tone design

Because of the clean and simple lines, modern furniture is fairly easy to build which makes this a great project for DIY beginners. The combination of colors and finishes is nice and similar to some of the designs we’ve seen earlier and if you’re curious to see how this beautiful nightstand was built from start to finish you can check out the complete tutorial on youtube. This will also give you some pointers for how to make your own modern bedside table.

Open storage, drawer and tapered legs

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Here’s another beautiful nightstand, this time with a mid-century modern design. Like all the other projects mentioned earlier, this one is simple and can be done by anyone using only a few materials and tools. As you’ll see in the video which can be found on youtube, the nightstand has four tapered legs made of wood, an open storage module painted white and a drawer with a wooden front. Some of the details and the choice of colors and finishes can be modified based on your own preferences.

Stylish nightstand built into the bed frame

Stylish nightstand built into the bed frame

In order to save a bit of space and to give your bedroom a more open and airy feel, one idea is to opt for floating nightstands which you can either attach to the wall or to the headboard. This entire platform bed and the accessories that go with it were built from scratch and as a result the pieces fit together perfectly. The floating nightstands match the headboard and the bed frame which allows them to blend in seamlessly. Check out the tutorial on youtube to find out more details about this rather complex project.

Simple and versatile nightstand made of plywood

Simple and versatile nightstand made of plywood

This plywood nightstand is compact, modern, stylish and very practical. It’s a perfect combination and on top of that you can craft this piece yourself from scratch and give it the exact dimensions and proportions required so it fits into your bedroom perfectly. You can use the little open space at the bottom as a display shelf for a cute planter, some books or as a storage nook for a few things that you want to keep near your bed at night. Check out the tutorial on youtube to find out all the steps of this project.

A simple hardwood nightstand with cute legs

A simple hardwood nightstand with cute legs

If you’re still in the research phase, browsing for materials and design options for your future handmade nightstand, check out this beauty. It’s a hardwood nightstand with a simple but stylish and elegant design. As the wood ages it gets darker and that adds character to the design. You can find the tutorial for this project on instructables if you want to give it a try.

Concrete and live edge wood nightstand

Concrete and live edge wood nightstand

Concrete is not usually a material that pops into our minds when we’re thinking about furniture. Nevertheless, it’s one of the staple materials for a lot of contemporary and industrial interiors and there’s a lot of cool projects that you can do with it, like this amazing nightstand featured on instructables. When paired with the live edge wood the concrete frame looks magnificent.

A rolling overbed table

A rolling overbed table

If you enjoy breakfast in bed, this project is definitely something you need to check out. This is an overbed table and, as you can see, it’s designed to fit over the frame of the bed and to hover above the mattress so you can easily have breakfast on it. On has wheels so it can smoothly slide in place. When you’re not using it you could push it out of the way against a wall or behind a sofa. For more details check out the tutorial on grillo-designs.

Compact nightstand with two drawers

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It can be difficult to balance out the need for storage and the desire to have a compact and stylish-looking nightstand. Luckily, you don’t need to make compromises because you can have both these things. This love design featured on ana-white is a great example. Two drawers give you plenty of space to store all the items and the nightstand doesn’t take up more space than it has to.

A robust nightstand with generous storage

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Super small and lightweight nightstand don’t always fit the style or aesthetic of the room and sometimes it’s better to go with something a bit more robust instead. This nightstand which you can find on pneumaticaddict is actually not that big but it looks nice and sturdy and it has two generously-sized drawers which definitely stand out.

Rustic nightstand with a pull-out shelf

Rustic nightstand with a pull-out shelf

It’s always cool and interesting to find ways to include unexpected details or extra features to a design. In this case we’re talking about a rustic-style nightstand with a fairly simple structure. It has a nice wood patina and details that add depth to its design, including a small pull-out shelf that fits between the top and the drawer. Check out the plans on rogueengineer for more details.

Simple end table with open storage and a drawer

If you’re unsure what style you want to go with or if you want to include influences for several styles, that’s a great way to make a piece of furniture look special. A nice example is this super simple nightstand created by Angela Marie Made which has a modern but also rustic flavor. It has clean and simple lines, a nice patina and also a very practical drawer for storage.

Simple and easy to make wood nightstand

Don’t want to complicate things with a nightstand that includes all sorts of extra features or has an eye-catching design? Then this super simple one made by Kelly Concepts should be just the thing for you. It’s easy to build, it doesn’t require a lot of tools or supplies and the design is actually really versatile.

Wood nightstand with a concrete top

Last time we checked out a concrete nightstand the concrete was used to give it a minimalist and smooth frame. This time however the base is made of reclaimed wood and the concrete is used for the top. This is actually a cool idea if you ever want to give an old table a makeover by replacing the top. Also, isn’t this combination of materials just perfect? Check out DIY PETE for more details about this project.

Simple nightstand with angled legs and big drawers

Some designs are not focused on size, shape or the geometry of the nightstand and try instead to bring out the beauty of the materials used in it. Wood for example is a very beautiful and very versatile material. There’s all sorts of different types of wood and each piece is unique. This design by Anika’s DIY Life takes advantage of that.

Small side table with a square top

When you don’t have a lot of space to spare in the bedroom, every little inch counts. Keep things simple and keep the room airy with a small nightstand. A design like the one created by 731 Woodworks is not just practical but easy to replicate as well.