The Hawley Wood Rustic Nightstand Free Plan

One of my readers, Scott Hawley shared his designed for a nightstand to match his Rustic Farmhouse Bed. Below are step by step instructions on how to build one yourself.

Material List

• 2 2x6s @ 6′
• 4 2x4s @ 6′
• 1 1×5 @ 6′
• 1 1×4 @ 6′
• 1 1×10 @ 6′
• 1/2″ plywood @ 48″ x 48″
• 1/4″ plywood @ 48″ x 48″
• 2 Drawer Knobs
• 2 sets 12″ bottom mount drawer slides

Note: In some home improvement centers, you can find plywood sheets in smaller dimensions. Refer to the cut list below for the amount of 1/2″ and 1/4″ plywood material and get smaller pieces if you can.

Cut List

• (4) 2x6s @ 26″, ripped to 4″ wide
• (4) 2x4s @ 24.5″
• (6) 2x4s @ 21″
• (4) 1x6s @ 13.5″, ripped to 4″ wide
• (4) 1x4s @ 8″
• (2) 1x10s @ 20 3/4″ ripped to 7 3/4″ wide
• (4) 1/2″ plywood @ 6″ x 13.25″
• (4) 1/2″ plywood @ 6″ x 20″
• (2) 1/4″ plywood @ 13 3/4″ x 19 1/2″

Here’s a link to a 3D model of the nightstand for those of you who use SketchUp.

Part 1: Frame assembly

I’m creating the side panels with biscuits, but you can also join the edges with pocket holes.

Next, add the top and bottom panel boards, joining the edges with pocket holes. The construction of the side panels is designed to match the headboard and footer style of the Rustic Farmhouse Bed.

The panel is then joined to the 2×4 legs. The side panels are 3/4″ thick and are set flush to the inside edge of the legs so that from the side, they appear inset. You can see that a little better in the picture of the 2 sides below.

Next, attach the rear 2×4 supports, again using pocket holes and wood glue.

Using the same joinery, attach the front supports to complete the nightstand frame construction.

Part 2: Drawer Assembly

Cut the drawer boards to size and then, using a table saw cut 1/4″ deep and wide dados 1/4″ from the bottom of the panels.

Then, assemble 3 sides of the drawer using pocket holes. Drill the pocket holes on the outside of the drawer panels so that the angle of the pocket hole screw aims toward the center of the material, not the corners.

Insert the 1/4″ drawer bottom panel into the dado grooves.

Using pocket hole screws and wood glue, join the front panel onto the drawer to complete the box.

To complete the drawer, you’ll attach the drawer face and the slide hardware to the drawer.

Because these are inset drawers, there are a couple tricks that you can use here to make sure that the faces are positioned correctly. Of course, you can do a lot of precision measuring and hope that you get everything positioned just right. But I find this method easier. Before attaching the drawer face, I like to go ahead and install the drawer slide hardware to the nightstand frame and position the drawer boxes where I want them to be.

Once the drawers are installed, then I can position the drawer faces so there’s a 1/8″ gap all around using some shims. Scrap paint stirrers or craft tongue depressors will also do the trick. Then with the drawer faces positioned in place, I mark the center, drill a pilot hole through both the face and the drawer box and then join the face to the drawer box with wood glue and install the drawer pull.

Step 3: Top Assembly

Cut your top by ripping 4 pieces of 2x6s to 4″ wide. Join them side by side using pocket holes.

Next, attach the top to the base.

Here’s Scott’s finished nightstands.