Made Modern DIY Floating Nightstand with Hidden Storage
Looking to add some extra storage next to your bed while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic? A DIY floating nightstand with drawer is the perfect solution. Floating nightstands save floorspace by mounting to the wall, and the hidden drawer provides discreet storage for bedside essentials.
In this tutorial, we'll walk through how to build your own made modern floating nightstand from scratch. With just basic tools and materials like boards, drawer slides, and finishes, you can create customized bedside storage that looks like it came right out of a high-end catalog.
Gather Materials for a On Trend, Space Saving Bedside Table
Floating nightstands lend a lighter, airier feel by getting furniture off the floor. When choosing materials, durable hardwoods like oak or maple work best. We opted for 1/2 inch thick boards for the sides and drawer fronts. Consider finish as you select wood type and quality for your desired look.
Standard boards and plywood make up the basic components. Complement with drawer slides, pulls, screws, and your stain or paint of choice. Make sure you have basic DIY tools on hand too, like a saw, drill, level, and sandpaper for construction.
Alternative Wood Types for Customization
While our pine floating nightstand complements the modern farmhouse style, wood types like bamboo or reclaimed boards could provide an eco-friendly touch. For a more polished finished product, higher grade plywood offers smooth surfaces to stain or paint.
Build Box Base with Wall Mounted Supports
Constructing the box base is straightforward using pocket holes to assemble the sides, back, front, and bottom panels cut from plywood. Clamp pieces together first to reinforce joints before driving screws. Attach a French cleat board to the back top edge to mount.
Cut 1x4 boards to length for frame supports that will be screwed into wall studs. Place three vertical supports spaced evenly to bear the weight using wall anchors in drywall only. Securely attach the tabletop French cleat to supports.
Tips for Proper Alignment and Hanging
When mounting to the wall, a level helps locate exactly where screws hit studs for stability. Use a stud finder to mark locations first. Place shims underneath the floating nightstand to adjust levelness before bearing full weight.
Check for wobbling, gaps, or instability in your DIY furniture. Add additional braces or supports if needed until satisfied with the connection. The nightstand itself should also be level and square.
Add Hidden Storage with Smooth Rolling Drawer
Built-in drawers maximize nightstand functionality for stashing bedside necessities. Construct the drawer box using 1/2 inch plywood for sides, bottom, and subfront before installing drawer slides and attaching a table saw cut front face board.
Keep the lines clean with recessed pull hardware on drawer front. For smooth rolling action, properly align slides and make sure the drawer box remains square. Sand and finish drawer fronts to match nightstand box wood type and stain.
Troubleshooting Tricks
If drawers stick, check alignment around the slides and horizontal tracks. Adjust fit as needed with light sanding until operation is silky smooth. Lubricating slides can help longevity of roll.
Prevent sag over time by reinforcing the drawer box. Glue blocks in corners or attach drawer bottom from below using screws to improve structural integrity.
Personalize with Finish Colors and Added Features
The simplicity of floating open shelves nightstands allows for easy customization. Sand carefully before choosing any combo of wood stain, paint, or clear polyurethates for protection.
Go bold with contrasting drawer colors or stick to all one tone. Leave wood grain visible for a natural look or pick a crisp shade like navy for drama. Match other existing decor with floated furniture finishing touches.
Add LED lighting along the base or edge for ambient glow. Build a charging station into one side of the nightstand for electronics. Install a flip-down clock face or cubbies along the back. Get creative dreaming up special details just for your unique space!
Floating a nightstand is a beginner DIY project that makes a stylish statement. Follow our steps for constructing your own made modern bedside storage table fitted exactly to your space.