I went in search of a nightstand for a very narrow area on one side of a bed in our guestroom and had very poor luck finding anything. Admittedly, I did find a couple of things but they were much more expensive than I thought they should be or was willing to pay. I saw a couple cute ideas on pinterest but they were a lot more labor intensive than I wanted, or required skills I do not really possess, or they just didn’t have the look I wanted. So, I started to think outside the box and see what I could turn in to a nightstand, but size limitations were a problem.

But then I saw it! The answer to my problem! Sitting right there at IKEA while my husband waited in line to buy a new office chair. It wasn’t a ready made nightstand and they were not even out of the package. It was 2 metal shelf brackets in with a fun circle pattern in the color red and it was in the Odds & Ends section for half price for $3.50 because it has been discontinued (although, I think $7 would have been a great price too.) It could have not been more perfect because the other accent items in the room also have red as a common color. As soon as I saw them, it came to me. With shelf brackets, I can cut the wood (or ask my husband to) to the exact size the space is. I didn’t need multiple levels in a nightstand, I needed a space to put a small lamp and allow guests to place a glass of water on. If you like the red color, check out theses IKEA red shelf brackets for under $8 on Amazon that also have free Prime shipping.

It all started to seem to simple and logical, but then I thought, “What if I could find a board already made?” I figured it couldn’t hurt to look at hardware stores. I found this board that was the perfect size at Fleet Farm. Now I had beautifully beveled edges and something already cut for only $2.50. You can also buy this same wooden plaque on Amazon, but it costs a little more.

My simple DIY nightstand was all coming together. I knew I had a lacquer spray paint to use as a top coat (3-4 coats needed) but totally lucked out when I saw the color I wanted for a stain was the what my husband used when he refinished a drum set. Stain goes a long way, so he could have bought a much smaller can and there still would have been leftovers.

I didn’t actually use the foam brush in the picture, but instead used an old rag to wipe on the stain and wipe it off. I used two coats of stain, then let it dry 24 hours before using the spray lacquer. Be sure to allow the spray lacquer to dry between coats.

Then I simply used anchors and screws in the wall on the bracket that was not on a stud and just screws in the bracket that was on the stud. Finally, I used a couple of short screws to attach the bracket to the top. It was quite simple and now I have the perfectly sized nightstand in our guest bedroom.

If you are looking for a few more DIY bedroom decor ideas, check out these posts:

• Make a Pottery Barn Inspired Headboard Out of a Door
• DIY Area Rug on a Budget
• Upcycled Storage Containers
• Simple Storage Crafts You “Can” Do
• DIY Mosaic Mirror

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