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This nightstand skips knob or pull hardware entirely — the drawer face's top edge is cut at an angle to create a finger pull built directly into the wood, a small detail that gives the piece a cleaner front than anything with applied hardware. The plan assumes 1x8 boards measure a true 7-1/4" wide, and flags directly that a cut-as-you-go approach is the right fallback if your actual stock measures differently — worth checking your boards before committing to the tabletop's fixed cut list.
Build the tabletop first from edge-glued 1x8 boards, then add 1x2 side trim flush to the front, followed by 1x4 trim glued to the inside of the 1x2s. The 2x4 legs attach with their pocket holes all facing backward — a specific orientation called out in the plan's own diagram, since getting this wrong means visible pocket holes on the finished sides.
The shelf is built and pocket-holed as its own unit before being set inside the nightstand and nailed in place, outside edges kept flush. Drawer slide support strips get nailed to the front inside edge of the legs, flush to the leg's inside face, and checked level with a square before the drawer slides go in — a slide installed square to a leg that's slightly out of true still runs crooked, so this level check is worth doing carefully rather than trusting the leg attachment alone.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x8, 13 board ft total (8 ft and 5 ft pieces) | 13 ft |
| 1x10, 29 in total | 1 each |
| 1x6, 6 board ft total | 6 ft |
| 1x2, 5 board ft total | 5 ft |
| 1x4, 3 board ft total | 3 ft |
| 2x4, 8 ft, pine or soft yellow wood | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood, 16 in x 21 in | 1 each |
| Euro drawer slide, 16 in, white bottom corner mount | 1 pair |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 25 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 8 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" and 3/4" | 60 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Sandpaper, 120 and 220 grit | 4 sheet |
| Stain or paint, with poly top coat if staining | 1 set |
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.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top boards1x8, 13 board ft total (8 ft and 5 ft pieces) | 4 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 16" |
| Top side trim1x2, 5 board ft totalMeasure and cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 29" |
| Top inside trim1x4, 3 board ft total | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16" |
| Legs2x4, 8 ft, pine or soft yellow wood | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21 1/2" |
| Sides1x10, 29 in total | 2 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 14 1/2" |
| Shelf boards1x8, 13 board ft total (8 ft and 5 ft pieces)Measure and cut to fit the 1x2 top trim. | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 29" |
| Drawer sides1x6, 6 board ft total | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 16" |
| Drawer front/back1x6, 6 board ft totalMeasure and cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 19 1/2" |
| Drawer bottom1/4" plywood, 16 in x 21 inAbout 1" less than opening. | 1 | 1/4" × 16" × 21" |
| Drawer faces1x8, 13 board ft total (8 ft and 5 ft pieces)Joined edge to edge; top edge cut at an angle for a finger pull. | 3 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 10" |
Buy 8 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
2 boards
Confirm your 1x8s measure 7-1/4" wide; cut as you go if they don't. Cut the tabletop boards and drill 3/4" pocket holes on three of the four. Clamp and attach edge to edge with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Measure and cut the 1x2 side trim and attach flush to the front with 1-1/4" brad nails, keeping the top smooth and flush. Attach the 1x4 trim to the inside of the 1x2s with brad nails and wood glue.
Set the pocket hole jig for 1-1/2" material. Drill two pocket holes on one end of each 2x4 leg. Attach to the tabletop with pocket holes all facing backward. Reset the jig to 3/4" and attach the sides flush to the outside of the legs.
Cut the shelf boards to match the length of the 1x2 top trim. Join with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, then place inside the nightstand and attach with glue and 1-1/4" brad nails, keeping outside edges flush.
Attach 1x2 strips to the front inside edge of the legs with 1-1/4" brad nails, flush to the inside of the 2x4 leg. Check level with a square before installing the drawer slides.
Install the drawer slides, checking that the top of the slide is level. Build the drawer box, and cut the finger-pull angle into the joined drawer face boards.
Sand with 120 and then 220 grit sandpaper, and apply stain or paint with a poly top coat if staining.
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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 →