DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand

Hey friends! Today I’m sharing plans to make this retro style DIY mid-century modern nightstand. For that mid-century modern look I designed this piece with clean lines, no knobs or handles and slanted drawers.

Add some Mid-Century Modern style ideas to your bedroom with these easy to build DIY nightstand plans.

For your convenience this post contains affiliate links to products or tools I used to complete this project. Click here to visit my site policies.

Inspiration for the mid-century modern nightstand came from two places. The style inspiration came from this dresser on Hometalk.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - front view

The size and color scheme for the mid-century modern nightstand was inspired by a nightstand I found at Living Spaces.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - corner view
Check out the quick build video before you skate down to the plan!

 

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand

Printed Plan
Click here to download a PDF of the Mid-Century Modern Nightstand Plan

Supplies
3/4″ 4×8 plywood
1/8″ 2×4 hardboard
1×2 – about 36″
1×3 – about 14″
3/4″ brad nails
1-1/4″ pocket screws
1-1/4″ brad nails
2″ wood screws
Elmer’s Wood Glue Max
Primer
Paint
Minwax Polycrylic Water Based Satin Polyurethane

Tools
Stanley FatMax Tape Measure
Miter Saw
Table Saw or Circular Saw
Kreg Jig
DEWALT Drill
Countersink drill bit

Note: 3/4″ plywood is actually thinner than 3/4″. To avoid driving the pocket screws through the edge of the plywood, set your pocket hole drill bit between the 1/2″ and 3/4″ mark.

Step 1. Make the Top. Cut a piece of plywood to 22-1/2″ x 16-1/2″ and drill pocket holes in each end.

Step 2. Make the Bottom. Cut a piece of plywood to 22-1/2″ x 15-3/4″ and drill pocket holes in each end.

Step 3. Make the Sides. Cut two pieces of plywood to 16-1/2″ x 14-5/8″.

Step 4. Assemble the Carcass. Apply glue to the top and clamp to the sides.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - carcass assembly 1

Attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - carcass assembly 2

Apply glue to the bottom, clamp to the sides so that the bottom is flush with the back of the sides and attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - carcass assembly 3

Step 5. Cut and Install the Back. Check the inside dimensions of your carcass. It should measure 22-1/2″ x 13-1/8″. Cut the back to fit the carcass from a piece of 3/4″ plywood and drill pocket holes around the edges. Apply glue to the edges of the back, position in the carcass and attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - back

Step 6. Cut and Install the Drawer Guide Supports. I made my own drawer slides rather than buying them. You can purchase drawer slides, but you may need to adjust the width of the drawer box (Step 12 and Step 13). Cut 8 pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 14-1/4″ x 1-1/2″. I cut a few pieces of scrap wood to help install the supports. I cut two pieces to 10-1/4″ and two pieces to 3-3/4″. I also ripped a piece of scrap to 13/16″. Place the 10-1/4″ scrap on the bottom of the carcass, apply glue to a support and place on top of the scrap.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer supports 1

Attach using 1-1/4″ brad nails. Remove the scrap.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer supports 2

Hold the 13/16″ scrap below the support, apply glue to another support, place below the scrap and attach using 1-1/4″ brad nails. Remove the scrap.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer supports 3

Place the 3-1/4″ scrap on the bottom of the carcass, apply glue to a support, place on top of the scrap and attach using 1-1/4″ brad nails. Remove the scrap.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer supports 4

Hold the 13/16″ scrap below the support, apply glue to another support, place below the scrap and attach using 1-1/4″ brad nails. Remove the scrap. Repeat for the other side.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer supports 5

Step 7. Cut the Legs. Cut four pieces of 1×3 to 4″. Cut a 22.5 degree angle on one end – please be careful making these miter cuts as these parts are small. Drill two pocket holes on the opposite end of the miter cut.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - leg

Step 8. Cut the Long Leg Brace. Cut a 1×2 to 18-13/16″ and drill a pocket hole in each end. Apply glue to each end and attach a leg using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - leg assembly 1

Step 9. Cut the Short Leg Braces. Cut two pieces of 1×2 to 9-5/16″ with a 22.5 degree miter cut on one end. Drill a pocket hole on the opposite end of the miter. Apply glue to the end and attach a leg using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - leg braces

Step 10. Install the Legs. Draw a line from corner to corner on the bottom of the carcass. These lines will help align the legs. Apply glue to the long leg assembly, place on one of the lines and center from corner to corner. Apply glue to the short leg assemblies, place on the line and center from corner to corner. Once the legs are properly aligned, attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws. Also drill several countersink holes in the leg braces.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - legs 2

Attach using 2″ wood screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - legs 3

Step 11. Cut the Drawer Box Sides. Rip four pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 5-1/2″ and cut to 14-3/4″ with a 5 degree miter cut on one end.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer side

Step 12. Cut the Drawer Box Backs. Rip two pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 5-1/2″ and cut to 19-3/8″ Drill pocket holes in each end. Note: You made need to adjust the length if you purchase drawer guides, rather than making your own (Step 6).

Step 13. Assemble the Drawer Boxes. Apply glue to the ends of the drawer back, clamp to the sides and attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer box 2

To make the drawer box fronts, rip two pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 6″ with a 5 degree bevel on one edge and cut to 19-3/8″. Place the front in between the sides with 5 degree bevel on your workbench and mark the top edge of the front.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer box 3

Rip the front to this mark with a 5 degree bevel. Drill pocket holes in each edge of the front. Apply glue to the ends of the drawer front, clamp to the sides and attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws. Note: You may need to adjust the length if you purchase drawer slides, rather than making your own (Step 6).

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer box front

Check the dimensions of your drawer box. It should measure 20-7/8″ x 14-3/4″. Cut the drawer bottoms to fit your drawer from 1/8″ hardboard. Apply glue to the bottom of the drawer box and place the drawer bottom and attach using 3/4″ brad nails.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer box 5

To make the drawer slides, rip 4 pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 11/16″ and cut to 15″. Test fit the drawer slides and the drawer in the carcass. The drawer should move easily without being too loose – adjust the width of the slides if necessary. To install the drawer slide on the drawer box, place the drawer box on your workbench, clamp a scrap piece of 1 x3 to the side, place the slide on the scrap, mark the ends and cut to length.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer guide 1

Apply glue to the slide.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer guide 2

and attach using 1-1/4″ brad nails.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer guide 3

Step 14. Cut the Drawer Fronts and Attach to the Drawer Boxes. The drawer fronts attach to the drawer box and will be visible from the outside of the nightstand. Cut two pieces of 3/4″ plywood to 22-1/4″ x 7-1/2″ (these pieces are cut a little wider than necessary in order to make the bevel cuts). Set your table saw to 5 degrees and cut a bevel on one side of each drawer front. From the beveled side measure 6-7/16″ and cut a 5 degree bevel parallel to the first bevel.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer front

To attach the drawer front to the drawer box, first insert the drawer box into the bottom drawer opening in the carcass. There should be an 1/8″ gap between the drawer front and the carcass. Place a few scrap pieces of 1/8″ hardboard on the bottom of the carcass.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer front 1

Place the drawer front on top of the scrap, then place 1/8″ hardboard on each side and clamp in place. If you can’t fit the 1/8″ scrap on each side of the drawer front, adjust the length of the drawer front to fit.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer front 2

From inside the drawer box, drill countersink holes and attach using 1-1/4″ wood screws.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer front 3

Optional: I used a roundover bit in my router to make a “pull” on the underside of each drawer front.

DIY Mid-Century Modern Nightstand - drawer pull

Note: The drawers are made shallower than the depth of the carcass. If the drawers are going too deep into the cabinet, attach two 3/4″ wood screws to the back of the drawer box. Adjust the screws in or out to get the drawer front flush with the front of the carcass.

Step 15. Finish the Nightstand. Fill any holes in the carcass with Ready Patch, then sand the carcass and drawer fronts. Prime and paint the carcass. I’m not really a fan of polyurethane, but I did apply several coats of a water based polyurethane to the drawer fronts. Apply candle wax to the drawer guides to help the drawers move smoothly.


PIN THIS!

Add some Mid-Century Modern style ideas to your bedroom with these easy to build DIY nightstand plans.

[wysija_form id=”3″]

8 Comments

  1. This is such a gorgeous piece. I love the midcentury modern look and you nailed it! (Pun intended) Keep up the good work. 🙂

COMMENTS

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.