Save Space With a Wall-Mounted Nightstand

Well, my co host, Shari Hiller, and I have been known to be pretty tricky when it comes to decorating. Together, she and I have come up with a project that could save you much needed floor space in that tiny bedroom--a wall-mounted nightstand.

Although a wall mounted night stand is small, it can serve a big purpose. It offers plenty of room on top for a clock, box of tissues, or even a glass of water and all sorts of treasures will fit in the drawer. The lower shelf can also easily hold a phone.

To make a wall-mounted nightstand, you'll need the following materials:

self-anchoring Molly bolts
awl
screws
level
double-sided tape
scrap paper
poplar lumber
jigsaw with a scroll blade
sandpaper
drill
wood glue
finish nails
hammer
nail set
luan plywood
router
Roman ogee bit
wood putty
stain
satin polyurethane
drawer pull

Steps:

1. To make the side pieces, first sketch the design for them on a piece of paper to use as a template. Put double-sided tape between the two pieces of lumber so they can be cut at the same time so they're identical. Trace the design onto the lumber and cut it out using a jigsaw with a scroll blade attached (cut as close as possible to the line). Sand the pieces smooth using the pencil lines as a guide and separate the boards.

2. For the drawer area, cut two boards to make the horizontal supports for the cabinet and the drawer location.

3. Cut another board for the lowest shelf of the nightstand and add a soft curve to it using a jigsaw.

4. To assemble the pieces, drill pilot holes into the sides; line up the boards and secure using wood glue and finish nails. Countersink the nails with a nail set.

5. The drawer is a rectangular box with a front, back, two sides and an inside divider and is constructed using butt joints. Measure the inside dimension of the cabinet and cut the boards to the appropriate size. Cut a piece of luan plywood for the bottom of the drawer and nail it in place. Add a small luan slat to the outer center of the bottom to create the drawer glide.

6. Cut the front facing piece for the drawer and add a decorative routed edge using a roman ogee bit. Attach the piece to the box driving in the screws from the back.

7. For the drawer area, cut two boards to make supports and add two luan slats where appropriate to guide the drawer .

8. Cut the top piece of the nightstand an inch longer and wider to give it more dimension. Once it's nailed in place, fill all the nail holes with wood putty that matches the desired finish. Once dry, stain and seal the entire piece with two coats of polyurethane. Let dry.

9. Drill a small hole in the drawer front and attach a pull.

10. To mount the piece, hold it level in place on the wall (minus the drawer). Drill through the back board in one or two places. Set the nightstand aside and push an awl into the hole(s) to enlarge them. Install self-anchoring Molly bolts and hold the shelf in place again. Line up the holes and screw the piece in place. Replace the drawer.

(Matt Fox and Shari Hiller, co-hosts of the HGTV show Room by Room, alternate writing this column.)