You Can Build a

Bedside Table
If you like making panels, you’ll love this project.

By JEFF BRANCH discontinued that line. So my wife challenged

me to build a bedside table which included

M
y current home is a modest one. design elements found in our existing
But it is a big improvement over furniture. The resulting table is shown on
our small starter home. As you this page. I have always liked the design and
would expect, when we moved up to a larger it also provides much needed storage space.
home, we found ourselves in need of more
furniture. My wife and I were still newly Building the table
weds, so we got by as best as we could. This is a good learning project for panel
construction: creating stub tenon joints and
Our original bedside table was of the round inserting either a flat panel or a raised one.
particle board variety; the kind with three Panels are used for the sides, the doors, and
splayed legs screwed into the table top. Its the bottom, and then web frames are used as
customary to finish off this type of furniture upper and lower drawer runners. All of the
by throwing a table cloth over it. It is only stub tenons and their corresponding slots are
natural to do so, since the parts underneath the same size which enables you to set up a
are really way to ugly to be shown. Even with production process for creating them.
a nice table cloth, I always disliked that
table—it was hardly something an aspiring I made this table out of knotty pine which
woodworker would want in his home. matched our existing furniture. If you decide
to use pine for your project, be warned that
After I set up my work shop, it was my goal to pine today is different than what was readily
replace that table as fast as possible. For our available about 20 years ago when this table
previous home, we had already purchased a was built. Home center pine is often super
four poster bed, a nice chest of drawers and a soft which means it dents easily and is prone
large chest on chest—all made of pine. to serious blotching when colored with stain.
If you do opt for home center pine, be very
By the time we got around to replacing our selective when choosing boards. I cover how
first bedside table, the manufacturer had best to stain such lumber later in this plan.
 Dimensions

© 2012 Jeff Branch

The illustrations shown above provide the main dimensions of the bedside table. Some dimensions are very precise: the drawer height for example. These are final
dimensions which allow for fitting and future wood movement. The left door has been removed to reveal the interior of the table.

2 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Cut List
Case Web Frames/Shelves Doors the bread board ends in place, and six 1/4” dowels to
Ⓐ 4 Web Frame Stiles 12 3/4 x 3 x 3/4” Ⓨ 4 Door Stiles 14 15/16 x 1 1/2 x 3/4” join the drawer sides to the drawer front.
Ⓑ 4 Web Frame Rails 27 3/4 x 2 x 3/4” Ⓩ 2 Upper Door Rails 9 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/4”
I used two #10 biscuits to join the front corners of the
Ⓒ 1 Middle Shelf 27 1/4 x 15 7/8 x 3/4” ⒶⒶ 2 Lower Door Rails 9 3/4 x 2 x 3/4”
bracket feet.
Ⓓ 2 Lower Shelf Stiles 10 3/4 x 3 x 3/4” ⒶⒷ 2 Door Panels 12 3/16 x 9 21/32 x 1/2”
Ⓔ 2 Lower Shelf Rails 27 3/4 x 3 x 3/4” This project requires 30 board feet of lumber.
Ⓕ 1 Lower Shelf Panel 22 1/2 x 10 5/8 x 3/4” Drawer
ⒶⒸ 1 Drawer Front 24 x 4 13/16 x 3/4” Sanding and staining your project
Case Left and Right Sides Often times it is easier to sand parts prior to
ⒶⒹ 2 Drawer Sides 15 3/4 x 4 13/16 x 1/2”
Ⓖ 2 Side Front Stiles 24 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 3/4” assembly, and with this project you’ll need to pre-
ⒶⒺ 1 Drawer Back 23 1/2 x 4 5/16 x 1/2”
Ⓗ 2 Side Rear Stiles 24 1/4 x 2 x 3/4” stain parts prior to glue-up.
ⒶⒻ 1 Drawer Bottom 23 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1/4”
Ⓘ 2 Side Upper Rails 14 3/8 x 3 1/2 x 3/4”
ⒶⒼ 2 Drawer Runner Sides 16 x 1 1/2 x 3/4” For the purposes of this project plan, it is a given that
Ⓙ 2 Right Lower Rails 14 3/8 x 4 1/4 x 3/4”
parts will be sanded prior to glue-up. Parts that need
Ⓚ 2 Side Panels 17 1/4 x 14 3/8 x 9/16” ⒶⒽ 1 Drawer Runner Back 24 1/16 x 1 1/2 x 3/4”
to be pre-finished will be noted.
Ⓛ 4 Base Cleats 16 x 1 x 3/4” ⒶⒾ 1 Drawer Kicker 16 x 2 1/8 x 3/4”
If you will be using pine, maple or cherry for your
Table Top, Back and Moldings table, I recommend using Charles Neil’s Pre-Color
Face Frame
ⒶⒿ 1 Top 28 1/4 x 18 3/8 x 3/4” Conditioner, which you can buy by visiting
Ⓜ 2 Face Frame Stiles 24 1/4 x 2 x 3/4”
ⒶⓀ 2 Breadboard Ends 2 x 18 3/8 x 3/4” http://www.cn-woodworking.com. Look for the link
Ⓝ 1 Face Frame Lower Rail 24 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 3/4”
in the CNW Store area of the site.
Ⓞ 1 Face Frame Middle Rail 24 3/4 x 1 1/8 x 3/4” ⒶⓁ 2 Outer Back Slats 24 1/4 x 4 3/4 x 3/4”
Ⓟ 1 Face Frame Top Rail 24 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/4” ⒶⓂ 4 Inner Back Slats 24 1/4 x 4 7/8 x 3/4” Safety
Ⓠ 2 Stile Upper Beads 5 9/16 x 3/4 x 11/32” ⒶⓃ 4 Side Moldings 18 1/8 x 1/2 x 1/2” Be sure to understand and practice safe workshop
Ⓡ 2 Stile Lower Beads proceedures. Using a panel raising bit in a router or
15 11/16 x 3/4 x 11/32” ⒶⓄ 2 Front Moldings 29 3/4 x 1/2 x 1/2”
forming tenons on the table saw means working with
Base stock in special ways.
Hardware
Ⓢ 2 Base Frame Stiles 12 1/2 x 3 x 3/4” For the bedside table, I used historic reproduction
Remember to be safe as you work through the
Ⓣ 2 Base Frame Rails 29 x 3 x 3/4” brass drawer pulls, keyhole escutcheon, door knobs
construction of this table.
Ⓤ 1 Base Frame Panel 23 3/4 x 12 1/2 x 1/4” and hinges, I got them from Horton Brasses at
Ⓥ 2 Base Sides 18 1/4 x 4 3/4 x 3/4” http://www.horton-brasses.com.

Ⓦ 1 Base Front 30 x 4 3/4 x 3/4”

I used six 3/8” dowels to join the face frame
Ⓧ 2 Rear Feet 4 1/4 x 4 x 3/4” © 2012 Jeff Branch
components, six 1/4” dowels in the table top to pin

3 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step One: Create the Initial Panels

Note the 3/8” deep

1/4” slot runs along
the inside edge of
parts B.
Ⓐ Upper Web Frame
Ⓑ
Ⓑ
Ⓐ

Ⓐ
Ⓑ
The tongue is 1/4”
thick and 3/8”
Ⓑ Ⓐ long.
Middle Web Frame 4b

Ⓓ The lower shelf panel has a 1/4”

thick and 3/8” long tongue on
Ⓔ all four edges.

Ⓕ Lower Shelf

Ⓓ
ch
Bran
4a Jeff
012
©2

Using the cut list, fabricate the components needed for the upper and middle web frames.
The tongue
Illustration 4b shows a close-up of the tenons and their corresponding slots. For each web frame
and slot are
or panel, the tenons and their mating slots are all 1/4” x 3/8”. The lower shelf panel, part F, gets a
the same as
tongue on all four edges as shown in 4c. Pre-finish part F and glue the whole panel together, 4c shown in 4b.
allowing part F to float—no glue.

4 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Two: Make the Sides

The tongues are 7/8”

1/4” thick and
Ⓘ 3/8” long.
3/4”

5 19/32”

Drill holes for

The slots are dowels which
1/4” wide and support the
3/4”
3/8” deep. adjustable
shelf.

Ⓚ
5 13/32”
Ⓗ 1 1/2”
Ⓖ

5 1/2”

© 2012 Jeff Branch

Ⓙ
3/4”
1”
5a 5b

Again, using the dimensions shown in the cut list, begin forming the components needed to create the sides. Using a panel raising bit in a router table, create the
panel. Prior to glue-up, drill 1/4” holes 3/8” deep for both stiles, parts G and H as shown in 5b. Pre-finish the raised panel, part K. Cut the required 1/4” deep dados
(highlighted by red arrows) so that a snug fit with the web frames and lower shelf is achieved. Cut a 3/8” deep by 7/8” wide rabbet along the inside rear edge of part H.
Lastly, apply glue to the tenons and glue the side components together (no glue for the raised panel—it should float).

5 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Three: Create the Case

1 1/4”

Ⓑ
1 1/4”

Ⓒ 6b

This view shows

Note shelf part L in place.
support.
© 2012 Jeff Branch

Ⓛ Ⓛ
6a

The bedside table top will be attached to the upper web frame with four wood screws (we’ll do this
later in the project). The wood screws will be driven into the top from the underside of the upper web frame
near each corner (note the red arrows in 6a). In an effort to make this as easy as possible, go ahead and pre- Ⓛ
drill pilot holes for these screws. See illustration 6b.

Glue the web frames and lower shelf into the sides. We want the raised panels, parts K, to float, so no glue
where the middle web frame meets the panel. Once the glue has dried, turn the case over and attach the base
cleats, parts L with glue and brads as shown in 6c. The bracket foot assembly will attach to the case with screws 6c - view from underneath.
driven into these cleats.

6 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Four: Add the Face Frame
45° miter.

1 1/2”
3/8” dowel.

Ⓟ
Ⓠ
3/4”
Ⓞ

6 3/16”
7b

16 7/16”
Ⓜ

The middle web frame

7/8”
Ⓡ is positioned slightly
Ⓝ higher than the face
2 1/4” frame middle rail.

7a 3/8”dowel 7c
© 2012 Jeff Branch

Form the rails and stiles for the face frame using the cut list. With a router outfitted with a beading bit, form beads on the parts N, O and P as shown (see 7b). Drill
holes for the dowels using a doweling jig. Glue the face frame together and when dry, simply glue it to the table case. The lower rail, part N fits flush with the surface of the
lower shelf. Form separate beads for the stiles, parts Q and R, miter their corners and attach with glue. Lastly route a chamfer on parts M as shown.

7 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 The completed base starts off as a
Step Five: Build the Base simple panel which is wrapped with rails, stiles
and bracket feet. The same construction process
is employed for the panel as shown in illustration
1 3/8” 4c (note that part U is 1/4” thick).

© 2012
Jeff Bra
Pre-drill holes in the rails as shown (note red
1 3/8”
Ⓢ nch
Ⓣ
arrows). Form the panel by gluing the rails and
1 7/8” stiles together allowing the panel to float.

Ⓤ Cut the components for the bracket feet to size

(adjust their length if needed to fit the panel).
Ⓣ Ⓢ Then cut the rabbet along the upper inside edge
1 3/8”
of parts V and W.
Create a 3/8” wide by 3/4” 29” 17 3/4”
Next, cut a 45° miter at the front corners and
deep rabbet along the
then add the biscuit slots. Lastly, cut the dado at
inside edge of the bracket
Slots and tenons the inside rear of parts V to allow for the tenon
feet, parts V and W.
are 1/4” by 3/8”. on part X.
Ⓧ
See page 16 for a cutting diagram and tips for
creating the bracket feet.
Ⓥ 3/8” x 3/8” tongue
and corresponding Ⓧ Glue the bracket feet together and then glue the
dado. completed base panel in place.

After the glue is dry, place the cabinet on it’s

back; position the base on it’s back, flush with
the cabinet back and centered.
#10 biscuit. Ⓥ
Ⓦ Using the pilot holes in parts T, drive 1 1/2” wood
screws through the pilot holes and into parts L
(parts L are shown on page 6).

Cut a 45° miter at the front corners.

8b

8 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Six: Create the Doors

Creating the doors is the same process

as creating the sides. They are basically the
same panel assembly except for the addition of
door hardware.

Cut the components to size and form the

tenons and slots. Then create the panels as
shown.
Ⓩ
Prior to glue up, chisel out the recess needed
for the hinges. The upper boundary for these
recesses are two inches in from the top and 3 1/4”
bottom of the outer stiles. Size the recess based 2”
on the hinges you obtain.

Cut mating recesses in the lower beads, parts R

(see them on page 7). You can create these
recesses prior to attaching the lower beads or Ⓨ ⒶⒷ
afterwards.

Drill a hole for the door knob centered on the

inside stile with the center of the hole 3 1/4” Ⓨ
down from the top of the stile.
nch
ff Bra
2 Je
Pre-finish the raised panels, parts AB. Then, ©
201
glue the rails and stiles together allowing the
panel to float.
ⒶⒶ
Trim the doors as needed to obtain an even
reveal within their openings. Then, using the
hinges, attach the doors to the table. 2”

Trim the inner stiles as needed so the doors can

open freely.

9 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 The joinery used on the
Step Seven: Make the Drawer drawers is up to you. I am not
skilled in hand cut dovetails. The
dado joint at the back of the
drawer is one I’ve seen on TV
many times.
See a detailed view of the side
on page 11. The more decorative dowel joinery
ⒶⒺ at the front is handsome especially
since the dowel’s end grain will
finish darker than the sides.

ⒶⒹ Cut the components to size and

form the necessary slots as shown
on page 11. Drill 1/4” holes in the
sides and then use these holes as
guides for drilling corresponding
ⒶⒻ
holes in the drawer front.

If you want the drawer front to be

stained and the rest of the drawer
ⒶⒹ
a natural color, pre-stain the
drawer front prior to assembly.
©
ⒶⒸ
20
1 2J
eff
Bra Glue the left drawer side in place,
nc
h slip the drawer bottom into the
slots allowing it to float; then glue
the right drawer side in place.
See a detailed view of the front on
page 11. Add glue to the rear dados and
while spreading the sides apart,
1/4” dowels are one inch long.
slip the drawer back into place.

Clamp everything, making sure the

The location of the drawer pulls will depend drawer is square and nail the
drawer bottom in place at the back
on the style and size you purchase.
using a single nail.

10 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

Make the Drawer

ⒶⒸ
The dadoes for the sides
and the bottom 1/2” deep.
© 2012 Jeff Branch

This hole is centered on

ⒶⒹ
the width of the board.
The rear and bottom
dadoes are 1/4” deep.

11 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Make the Drawer

ⒶⒾ

ⒶⒼ
ⒶⒼ

ⒶⒽ

© 2012 Jeff
Branch

The last step related to the drawer is to provide a proper home for it. This is done by adding three slender boards to the middle web frame and one to the upper web
frame. We begin by adding parts AG aligning the inner face flush with the beads that line the left and right drawer openings. Position these parts and lock them in place with
glue and brads. Then fill in with part AH across the back, attaching it the same way. Next add the drawer kicker, part AI, by centering it on the upper web frame as shown
and attach it with glue and brads.

12 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Eight: Add the Top 1”

1/4” dowels

ⒶⓀ

ⒶⓀ Elongate holes
for the center 8 1/8”
and rear peg.

ⒶⒿ

anch
© 2012 Jeff Br

Tenon 1”
wide.

8”
Wood screw

1 1/4”

13a 13b 5/8”

The end is in sight. Begin by cutting the top, part AJ to size. Form 1/4” thick by one inch deep tenons on each end of the table. Cut the bread board ends, parts AK to
size and cut a slot to mate with the tenon. Temporarily clamp the bread board ends in place, and mark and drill 1/4” holes to receive the pegs. Remove the bread board ends
and elongate the center and rear holes. Spread glue to the top and bottom of the first six inches of the tenon and slide the bread board end in place. Clamp and allow to dry.
Glue the dowels in place and trim flush. Attach the top to the case with four wood screws using the pilot holes shown in illustration 6b.

13 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Nine: Final Assembly

14b

ⒶⓃ

14c
ⒶⓁ
ⒶⓁ

ⒶⓂ ⒶⓃ
© 2012 Jeff Branch

14a

Begin final assembly by forming the back slats. The outer back slats are slightly smaller
than the inner slats. Cut them to size and nail them to the upper web frame and the lower shelf. Cut
quarter round moldings, parts AN and AO and attach with brads (parts AO are shown on page 15). 14d ⒶⓃ
Lastly, add a decorative edge to the table top with a 1/2” round over router bit.

14 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Step Ten: Apply the Finish

There are a variety of ways to finish a

woodworking project. Often the finishing method takes
into account the type of wood used.

Since the bedside table was made of pine and pine has
an off-white color in its natural state, I needed to stain
it. The problem with staining pine is that it often will
blotch or have an uneven color which isn’t good.

Over the years, I have tried a variety of different ways

to overcome the blotch effect of pine and currently, my
favorite method goes like this:
ⒶⓄ
 Using a flash light, shine light across the surfaces nch
ff Bra
of the table so any scratches or dings appear. 01 2 Je
©2
Repair as needed.
 Sand up to 220 grit.
 Use a tack cloth to remove all dust.
 Following the directions provided, apply two coats
of Charles Neil’s Pre-Color Conditioner (source
listed on page 3).
 Sand with 400 grit paper.
 Apply a coat of an oil based stain following the
directions provided.
 Lightly sand with 400 grit paper.
 Apply a wipe-on polyurethane following the
directions provided. Lightly sand with 400 grit ⒶⓄ
paper between coats.

Add the key hole escutcheon. One tip: use a black

Sharpie pen to darken the area where the key would fit
prior to adding the escutcheon. Your project is
completed!

15 · You Can Build a Bedside Table

 Bracket Feet Template

6 1/8”

1 1/32” 2 3/8” 1”

© 2012 Jeff Branch

4 3/4”

Each square = 1”

3 3/4”

Creating the bracket feet is a fun part of this project. These feet instantly add a historic look to the bedside table. Get started by cutting the components to size.
Add the needed dadoes, the 45° corners and the biscuit slots. Lay out the pattern shown above on the parts for the bracket feet and trace an outline onto the stock. Using a
band saw, cut out the profile. File and sand the saw marks left by band saw operation.

© 2012 by Jeff Branch. Project design and construction; plan illustration, page layout and text by Jeff Branch. See additional project plans at Sawtooth Ideas.com.

16 · You Can Build a Bedside Table