Build a Floating Bedside Table

Adding new furniture to a bedroom can often give it a whole new look or feel. For more great ideas for custom furniture, go to Carter Can.

Carter Can : Episode HCCAN-202 -- More Projects »
PHOTO
Materials and Tools:

two 3/4-inch ledgers, each 13-3/4 inches long
two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood, each 15 x 14-1/4 inches, for table sides
three pieces of 3/4-inch plywood, each 13-3/4 x 34-1/2 inches, for the top, middle and bottom
one piece of 3/4-inch plywood, 5 x 13-3/4 inches, for spacer
one piece of 3/4-inch plywood, 34-3/4 x 14-1/4 inches, for backing
two pieces of 3/4-inch poplar, 1-1/2 x 33 inches, for facing the top and bottom pieces
one piece of 3/4-inch poplar, 1 x 33 inches, for facing the middle shelf
two pieces of 3/4-inch poplar, 1-1/2 x 14-1/4 inches, for facing the sides
one piece of 3/4-inch poplar, 1 x 5 inches, for facing the spacer
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 15-1/4 x 3-1/2, for front and back of upper drawers
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 12-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches for sides of upper drawers
1/4-inch prefinished plywood, 13 x 14-1/2 inches, for bottom of upper drawers
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 32-1/8 x 4-1/2 inches, for front and back of lower drawer
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 12-3/4 x 4-1/2 inches, for sides of lower drawer
1/4-inch prefinished plywood, 13 x 31-1/2 inches, for bottom of lower drawer
three pairs of 14-inch drawer guides.
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 16-1/2 x 4 inches, for facing the upper drawers
1/2-inch prefinished plywood, 34 x 6 inches, facing of lower drawer –
1/2-inch prefinished plywood tabletop, 13-3/4 x 34-1/2 inches
1-inch brads
2-inch brads
1-1/2-inch screws
drawer knobs or pulls
safety goggles
pencil
measuring tape
table saw
carpenter's glue
router
1/2-inch router bit
saw with 1/2-inch-kerf blade

PHOTO

Figure A
1. Cut all the lumber to size. Lay out the side pieces for the table. Glue the edge of the ledger and place at the bottom end of the sidepiece. Use 2-inch brads to attach. Ledgers are used to help establish level surface areas. Place your bottom piece over the ledger and attach with 1-inch brads (figure A).
PHOTO

Figure B
2. Next, find the center point of your middle shelf. Glue and nail your vertical spacer into place using 1-inch brads from underneath (figure B). Measure 7 inches from the bottom and attach the middle shelf to the table sides with 2-inch brads. Attach the top shelf to the table sides and the spacer.
PHOTO

Figure C
3. With the frame of the table built, it's time to attach the facing, starting with the side facing (figure C). With the facing attached, it is time to make the drawers. You can purchase drawer sides at your local hardware store. Use a 1/2-inch-kerf blade to make a 1/2-inch groove 1/4-inch from the bottom.
PHOTO

Figure D
4. Rout a 1-inch rabbet on the right inner side of each piece. Slide each drawer side onto the drawer bottom, with the rabbeted end of one piece joining the un-rabbeted end of another until the drawer is built (figure D). Secure with 1-inch brads.

5. Rabbet around the top inside of each drawer 1/4-inch. This will clean up the drawer and allow easier access inside. Stain or paint as desired.

6. Attach the drawer guides to the inside of the drawer space. Hold the drawer rollers to the drawers and try inserting them into the drawer space. Adjust the position of the rollers until they allow the drawer to close smoothly. Make sure the drawers sit far back enough so that when you add the facing to the drawers, everything will be flush. Once set, mark the position of the rollers and then attach.

7. Putting the drawers in place and hold the facing in position. Find a dark spot on the wood and insert a brad nail to hold the facing in place. Next, remove the drawer and screw from the inside of the drawer to the facing with a 1-1/2-inch screw.

8. Attach the tabletop by using 2-inch brads. Add your hardware to the drawers.

9. To mount the table, attach a 1/2 x 34-½ x 14-1/2-inch board to the wall where the table will be placed. Since we left a 1/2-inch space in the back of the table, it should fit right over it. Screw the table into the board to fasten it to the wall.

Also in this Episode
Carter Can : Episode HCCAN-202
•Green Solution: Formaldehyde-Free Soy-Based Adhesive
•Build a Floating Bedside Table