Simple DIY Floating Nightstand with a Modern Vibe

Transform your traditional nightstand into an upcycled modern floating nightstand with this simple DIY project.

Are you looking to refresh the look of your bedroom?

This easy makeover will give your space an instant update.

With minimal supplies, you can transform a traditional nightstand into a sleek and stylish floating nightstand that adds a modern vibe to any decor.

Plus, the open shelf and drawer give you easy access to under-bed storage.

Which is just what we need in Aiden’s bedroom, since his bed has storage drawers.

So let’s get started on this fun and easy DIY project.

In this post . . .

Welcome to Week 7 of the ORC

Welcome to Week 7 of the One Room Challenge!

This is our final project in the challenge and next week we will be adding all of the fun decor pieces that will make Aiden’s room come to life.

So make sure you stop back next week for the BIG reveal!

As a reminder you can easily navigate through each week of this room makeover, by clicking on the links below.

If you’re new here, we’re Michelle and Steph, a mom and daughter team.

WELCOME! You can learn more about us here.

Be sure to join our DIY community of doers so you won’t miss any of our DIY projects and ideas for your home.

In addition, you’ll want to follow us on Instagram for behind the scenes progress and updates!

And don’t forget on the One Room Challenge website, you’ll find lots of ideas for updating any space in your home.

Nightstand Before Makeover

It has been our goal for this project to stay under $500 for this Star Wars bedroom makeover.

And so as we looked for nightstand options, my mom suggested that we shop her basement.

She has quite a collection of furniture she no longer uses as well as gifted furniture pieces and is always looking for ways to clear it out.

Traditional nightstand with colonial details before a modern makeover.

Lucky for me, she has an old traditional nightstand she bought when she was first married.

It’s a solid wood piece, just the right size and she hung onto it knowing that it could be re-imagined into something amazing!

As you can see this nightstand has very traditional lines and feels a bit dated, but with a little imagination and work it will be perfect for Aiden’s bedroom.

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Supplies and Tools Needed

Here’s a list of the tools and supplies we used to upcycle a traditional piece into a modern floating nightstand.

table saw or circular saw
drill
orbital sander
Kreg pocket hole jig
3/4″ screen moulding
Bondo
primer
black spray paint
modern drawer pull

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Dismantle Nightstand

To get this makeover started you’ll first want do remove any traditional moulding pieces.

This is pretty easy to do with a putty knife, chisel and hammer.

Traditional nightstand with decorative moulding removed, preparing for the modern makeover.

Not only did we remove the moulding but we also took the top off the old nightstand.

Our top was attached with a couple of screws to cleats that were inside the nightstand.

Shorten Nightstand

Next up, we need to shorten the nightstand.

We will remove about 5 ” from the bottom of the nightstand and the section that was for the top drawer.

This will leave us two sections for our floating nightstand, one will be an open shelf, the other a drawer.

The traditional nightstand is shortened on the table saw to make it a floating nightstand.

To shorten the original nightstand we set up the fence to cut off the sides of the nightstand, aligning with the edge of the crossbar piece.

We also cut off 5 inches from the bottom of the nightstand, aligning the back with the bottom crossbar piece.

Now we are left with a wood base that’s about 12″ tall.

Assemble Floating Nightstand

Now we’re ready to put this baby back together!

A new cleat is secured on each side of the nightstand that the top will be secured to. Woman attached cleat with a clamp and a brad nailer.

First we need to attach cleats to each side of the nightstand, so we can reattached the top.

When we dismantled the nightstand, the original cleats became damaged, so with the scrap wood from cutting down the sides, we cut two cleats the depth of the nightstand.

Then we attached them to each side with wood glue and brads, flush with the top of the side wood.

Create Open Shelf

Next we need to make a shelf where the drawer used to be.

To create the shelf, we measured the dimension of the area and cut a piece of scrap oak to fit.

We then made pocket holes in the sides of the oak board and then made it flush with the front and back cross brace.

Woman holds a drill to secure pocket screw into the shelf for the floating nightstand.

Finally we secured it to the sides of the nightstand with wood glue and screws.

To keep the shelf in place and flush with the braces, we placed a couple of clamps to hold it while we inserted the screws.

Pocket screws are used to secure a backing in the shelf section of the floating nightstand.

We also needed to cover the opening in the back of the open shelf area.

Again we took a piece of scrap wood and made pocket holes in it with our Kreg jig.

Then we brushed wood glue around the perimeter of the wood and attached it to the back of the floating nightstand with screws.

On the bottom of the nightstand we reattached the two corner braces that were originally on the nightstand.

Pocket holes are drilled to secure a cleat for mounting the drawer side on.

And finally to reconstruct the shell of the floating nightstand we added a brace on the bottom to mount the drawer slide to.

Again we used the Kreg pocket hole jig and then secured the wood to the front and back brace with wood glue and screws.

We needed to add this brace because I wanted the drawer to be flush with the nightstand shell and so we needed to shorten the drawer slide.

Attach Floating Nightstand Top

To modernize the look of this very traditional nightstand we decided to cut off the routed edge of the top.

Nightstand top is placed on table saw to trim off the routed edge for a more modern look.

To remove the routed edge, we set up the fence on the table saw and trimmed down three sides of the top.

Woman secures the top to the nightstand with a screw through the cleat into the top.

Then we reattached the top of the nightstand with screws through the two side cleats.

Modify NIghstand drawer

Drawer front is placed on the table saw to cut off the routed edge for a more modern look.

To create a more modern look with the floating nightstand, I want the drawer to be inset.

So we set up the fence on the table saw and removed the routed edge on all four sides.

Woman using an orbital sander, sands off excess bondo wood putty to fill in hardware holes in drawer front.

Then we filled in the holes for the original hardware with Bondo, once hardened we sanded it smooth.

Next I want to create a modern design on the front of the drawer with 3/4″ pine screen moulding.

A woman at the miter saw cuts the flat screen moulding at 15° for the geometric detail that will be added to the drawer front of the floating nightstand.

We set the miter saw for a 15° angle and cut 6 pieces with a right angle and 6 with a left angle.

Modern geometric design is created on drawer front of the floating nightstand with 3/4" screen moulding and 1/8". tile spaces. It's secured into position with wood glue and brads.

Then we did a dry fit and used 1/8″ title spacers between each of the boards.

A brad nailer is used to secure the flat screen moulding into a geometric design on the drawer front.

Once happy with the design, apply wood glue and secure with a few brads.

Excess modern geometric trim is cut with the table saw on the drawer for the floating nightstand.

Then use the table saw to cut off the excess moulding.

A woman applies wood filler into the nail holes on the moulding for the drawer front.

Finally fill in with wood filler, let dry and sand smooth.

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Paint Floating Nightstand

We are thrilled with the way this little floating nightstand turned out!

It’s the perfect size for Aiden’s bedroom and he will still able to access the drawers under his bed.

At this time, sand and prime the nightstand for paint.

Because of the tight quarters of the open shelf in our nightstand, we opted for spray paint to finish this nightstand.

We first applied a coat of primer, let dry and then a light sanding.

Then applied 2 coats of satin black spray paint.

Once dry, I also applied 2 coats of an oil-based topcoat.

I applied the topcoat with the same technique used on the desk and shelves.

My kids are so hard on everything, and I really want this to last for years to come.

Floating Nightstand Reveal

Black floating nightstand hung next to bed with Star Wars bedding. Open shelf on nightstand with books, black lamp, clock and potted plant on top of nightstand.

I love this little floating nightstand and it’s perfect for this space!

This project may look intimidating, but taking it step by step and with the help of a few tools, you too can DIY your own floating nightstand from an old piece.

Not only do I love the modern lines and feel of this nightstand now, but it allows us to add another bank of drawers under Aiden’s bed, for much needed storage in this small bedroom.

Shop Floating Nightstands

Thanks for spending some time with us today, we hope you found some inspiration!

Is this a project you’d like to try to make from an old nightstand?

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PINTEREST IMAGE DIY MODERN FLOATING NIGHTSTAND PAINTED BLACK WITH GEOMETRIC DESIGN ON DRAWER FRONT.

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This Post Has 2 Comments

Renae May 17, 2023 Reply

Such a great idea. I love it. The wood strip detail is amazing. Aiden’s room is looking great. I bet he loves it.
1. Michelle Dickson May 17, 2023 Reply
  
  Thank you Renae. Aiden is thrilled with his room. We took video of him the other day as we started to hand the decor on the wall and he was speachless. It’s been a fun one. Have a wonderful day my friend.