Furniture

DIY Retro Side Table

Retro Mid Century Modern Decor is coming back in style.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 3.3–6.3 hours
Cost: $$

About this build

Retro Mid Century Modern Decor is coming back in style. Get ahead of the old-times and build your own stylish retro side table with a storage drawer! A great, easy build for anyone who wants great style on a tight budget!

Tools

Essential

Drill / Driver
Miter Saw
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander

Optional / nice to have

Bar / Pipe Clamps

Materials

Item	Qty
Board, 1x10 72"	1 board
Board, 1x6 96"	1 board
1 1/4" Kreg Pocket Hole Screws	50 each
1 1/4" Brad Nails (optional)	10 each
6" Set Drawer Slides	1 each
Drawer Pull	1 each
Wood Filler	1 each
Wood Stain & Sealer	1 each
Tapered Table Legs (link for product on blog)	4 each
Angled Plates for Legs (link for product on blog)	4 each

Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
Top Piece	1	1" × 10" × 16"
Bottom Piece	1	1" × 10" × 16"
Side Pieces	2	1" × 10" × 10"
Shelf	1	1" × 10" × 14"
Back Panel	1	1" × 6" × 14"
Drawer Sides	2	1" × 4" × 6"
Drawer Sides	2	1" × 4" × 11"
Drawer Bottom	1	1" × 4" × 11"
Drawer Front	1	1" × 6" × 14"

What to buy

Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.

1" × 10"

1 board

16"16"14"10"10"

1" × 6"

1 board

14"14"

1" × 4"

1 board

11"11"11"6"6"

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

1Check Dimensions & Cut List
Prior to starting this project, check the dimensions and cut list.
2Assemble The Frame
Once your frame pieces are cut, attach the top & bottom panels to the side panels using wood glue and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws.
3Add The Shelf
Add the shelf to the frame by using wood glue and pocket hole screws. You will need a compact drill here in order to get the screws in. If you do not have a compact drill, you can also use brad nails and wood glue to attach the shelf from the sides. Make sure to attach the frame 5 1/2" up to make room for the drawer.
4Attach Back Panel
Attach the back panel of the table to the frame underneath the shelf. You can attach this piece with pocket holes in the back. Use wood glue and 1 1/4" screws to adhere.
5Build The Drawer
- Assemble the drawer by attaching the sides with pocket holes & screws. Make sure to place the pocket holes in the back and front panels (they will be hidden by the drawer face and back panel).
- Next, attach the bottom panel of the drawer flush, inside the drawer frame with brad nails and wood glue. Lastly, attach the drawer front with brad nails or screws. You may have to sand and/or trim the panel in order to get it to fit without rubbing.
6Install The Drawer
Install the drawer by adding 6" long drawer slides to the frame. Follow the directions provided with your drawer slides for installation.
7Finish It Up
Fill all pocket holes and sand down the table. Once sanded, stain the piece and add hardware and legs (you can find links for the products I used on my blog).