DIY Bedside Table Ideas | 20 Brilliant DIY Ideas

Bedside tables usually stand out as the most important item of furniture in a bedroom after the bed and wardrobe. They provide a convenient place for us to store essential belongings that we may need before, after and during sleep. They’re small in size and simple in structure when compared to other more complex pieces of furniture. As a result, it’s not too difficult to create your own bedside table, with the help of some of our DIY inspiration ideas. If you want a bedside table that suits your style and the style of your bedroom, then have a look through this article at some of our favourite DIY bedside table solutions.

1. You can create a modern style bedside table using sheets of plywood and hairpin feet that are commonly found at builders merchants. Hairpin feet have seen a recent rise in popularity, and add an industrial feel to your bedside table. In order for the feet to stand out, we recommend you keep the design of your wooden storage section and surface as simple as possible.

2. Using a small ladder as a bedside table can be really stylish. You can choose a small ladder that’s in keeping with the general decoration style of your bedroom. The steps of the ladder will provide spaces to store essential items. You can either adapt a larger ladder to be fit for purpose using building materials, or instead buy a smaller step-ladder that will be the perfect size already.

3. Another everyday item that can be used as a bedside table is a stool. A minimal and stylish look can be created in your room using a simple stool instead of a bedside table. Stools are usually made of wood but you can choose a style, colour and texture that suits you and your bedroom. You can also easily make your own stool with simple materials. You could also use an old stool that you have lying around at home and modify it, so it becomes the perfect bedside table for you.

4. Another great solution is to mount a shelf. You can either buy a ready-made shelf, or you can cut plywood to the required measurements for your bedside table. Wall-mounted shelves will allow you to create a stylish and simplistic arrangement on an empty wall, as pictured below. We recommend considering bedside lighting too when thinking about the design for your shelves.

5. If your bed doesn’t have a headboard, or if you are bored of your existing headboard, how about combining your bedside table with your headboard. It isn’t too difficult to design something that provides both of these functions together. You can use sheets of wood that you’ll find at any builder's merchant. With the right design, this wooden item will act as your bed’s headboard but with additional width to accommodate your essential items. If you can pull this off, we’re confident this innovative design will be the most impressive part of your room!

6. You can create a really stylish bedside table by mounting a wooden block to the wall, as pictured. These box-like structures, formed by assembling wooden blocks, allow you to store your stuff both inside and on top. You can add a couple of these structures to your empty wall and create a truly unique arrangement for your bedroom that not only looks great, but is highly functional.

7. When thinking of bedside table ideas, wood is usually the first material that comes to mind. But, why not try using some different materials to create something a bit more unique. For example, you can repurpose a basket and mount it on your wall so that it functions as a bedside table. If you find a suitable basket, remember that you can always use dyes to recolour the basket to make it the perfect shade for your bedroom.

8. Making new items by modifying old and disused things is one of the most important processes in DIY! One fun and unique idea for a bedside table is to use old suitcases. Their original functionality can be preserved, you can store items inside them. But, you also use the top off the piece of luggage as the surface for your bedside table. This is a great one for anyone who prefers a vintage look in their home decor!

9. This suggestion will work best if integrated into a natural and rustic styled interior. You can create a really impressive table by hanging a wooden board or tray with sturdy ropes from the ceiling. Make sure the rope matches the wood in style. This bedside table will be simple and elegant, and we’re sure it will end up being the most interesting corner of the room!

10. Now, this is a more unusual suggestion for anyone who isn’t interested in using wood as their main material for their bedside table design. You can use a couple of concrete blocks, and combine them in a way that is the right height and has gaps for storage. This will look great in a home that already has industrial themes running through the decor style. Storage space can be found inside the blocks themselves, but also in the way you space out the blocks.

11. You could create your bedside table by using wooden crates that you’d find in a market. These crates are easy to paint and therefore can be modified to fit in with the existing colour schemes in your room. They can be arranged in a range of different ways and, if positioned correctly, they’ll provide a robust place to store your essential bedside items.

12. Here’s another idea that is better suited to a home or room that already has a natural or rustic decor style. You can simply use unprocessed and raw wooden logs. These logs will look beautiful and are commonly used as coffee tables and stools. So, why not pull up a couple of logs to the bed and put them to use as your new bedside table.

13. It’s possible to create a range of interesting compositions using a simple wooden plank that you’ll find at any builders merchants. For a unique bedside solution, how about mounting the plank and adding a shelf, as pictured. You can also integrate lighting, and other features such as a drawer or hangers.

14. If your bed is positioned right up against a wall, then you’ll find it difficult to have a bedside table on that side (for obvious reasons!) One solution would be to create a corner shelf that is raised above the bed, and acts as a bedside table. Although the actual surface area of the table may be small, it can be an effective solution for your room if measured and implemented correctly.

15. This next bedside table solution will be perfect for anyone who wants to add a bit of arty vibrancy and dynamism to their bedroom. Wire mesh baskets come in a range of designs and colours, and, and they can be used as the foundation for your bedside table. It’ll be functional but also a decorative item for your bedroom. After selecting a basket (which is sturdy enough) you need to find a suitable surface for the table top to mount. Our suggestion would be to use a wooden disk that will be solid but also provide a nice contrast with the basket.

16. If you already have a bedside table but you fancy a change, we recommend that you pause for a moment to review what you already have. If the bedside table is made of a paintable material, you can repaint in a new colour in order to totally change the style and create a piece of furniture that looks and feels brand new. For example, if you have a classic style wooden bedside table, you can paint it in a vivid and bright colour that can provide some contrast in your room, and give it a breath of fresh air.

17. Another idea for revitalising an existing bedside table is to add a pattern print. If your table is made of a paintable material, you can simply paint on an exciting and creative design, paying attention to the colour palettes. This can be done to wonderful effect and bring your bedside table back to life!

18. Here’s another idea for repurposing a household item to function as a bedside table… Poufs! Poufs can be the perfect height to function as a bedside table. We recommend you choose the fabric and colour of your pouf-come-bedside-table as one that will complement the overall decoration style of your room, and complement other textiles such as the pillow covers and bed linen

19. A single mounted drawer is another great DIY solution for a bedside table. It not only provides a flat table surface, but also a storage solution inside for your bedside essentials. It’s a solution that’s being used more and more these days, as it’s practical and looks the part too.

20. Adding wheels to items is an adaptation you can make to most DIY bedside table ideas. This can really make the best use out of small areas. You’ll be able to find the wheels at building shops, and they'll give an industrial and modern touch to your bedside table.