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Repurposed Nightstand into Child’s Desk

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Sometimes the best furniture makeovers start with a “what if?” This outdated nightstand was nothing special until I saw its potential as a sweet little desk for a child. With a few simple modifications and a dash of creativity, it went from forgotten to functional! If you’ve got an old piece hanging around, this easy transformation might just spark your next project.

This is a very heavy picture post! You might want to grab a cup of coffee or your other favorite beverage.

Cheap Yard Sale Nightstand

old nightstand

I got this nightstand/side table last year at a yard sale. After a year in my garage, it suffered some water damage. (We had a very wet spring and early summer)

Inspect Furniture to Assess Damage

damaged nightstand leg

However, I wasn’t going to throw out a table with good bones.

prepare to cut lower portion of nightstand

I pried off the bottom trim and used my circular saw to trim off the rotten wood. Clamping a new piece of lumber acts as a guide to ensure a straight line.

Designing a Repurposed Nightstand Desk

old nightstand with a piece of pywood to be a desk with a wooden chair

 I located a piece of plywood in my stash, and it was nearly the PERFECT size to turn this nightstand into a kid’s desk. Adding a chair to see if it all comes together to suit me.

a nightstand with the top removed

I removed the top from the table by locating the screws that were securing it to the base.

I Have Two Options for the Legs

two different leg options laying against the new desk top

To complete the kids’ repurposed nightstand desk, I needed two legs. I have a couple of options, including a Queen Anne-style leg and a turned kitchen table leg.

Using Plywood is a Frugal Option

small pieces of trim to make a frame for the plywood desk top

I wanted to frame out the top of the plywood so that you wouldn’t see the raw edges with small pieces of trim. In this photo, I had already cut one on the miter saw.

woman holding a corner mitered joint together

I mitered the corners. This trim will give the repurposed nightstand a more finished look, eliminating the raw edge on the plywood.

plywood resting in a blue kreg jig ready to drill a pocket hole

I used my Kreg Jig® K4  to make pocket holes in the plywood, allowing short pocket hole screws to attach the trim to the plywood.

an orbital sander on the plywood desktop

I screwed the facing onto the plywood, then sanded it all down with an orbital sander. Sanding the edges of the trim on both sides and the front will make the joint look flawless.

Repurposed Nightstand Desk in Progress

test fitting new desk top

The new kid’s desk, made from a nightstand, is quickly coming together.

ugly bottom trim around the nightstand

The left side and front of the nightstand are in rough shape.

It’s Time to Address the Trim Situation

damaged cheap wood on the bottom of the nightstand

But the right side requires a significant repair.

three pieces of trim laying on a work table

First, I grab some molding out of the garage and get busy measuring and sawing.

two pieces of trim laying on the work table

I want to explain how to trim out the bottom of a piece of furniture. I hope you can follow along with the pictures below.

Tips for Adding New Trim to Old Furniture

a pencil line on a miter cut piece of trim

Do you see that line? It’s not a measuring line, it’s a directional line. When I lay my board on the piece of furniture, I draw a line indicating the direction I need to cut the wood.

white trim molding on a miter saw

To the compound miter saw. I cut it at a 45-degree angle, with the flat part of the board directly up against the fence.

cutting left 45-degree angle on a miter saw

For the opposite end, I slide the saw to the other side. Again, holding it up against the fence of the saw.

adding new trim to old furniture

When I do this trim, I do the angles/corners first. The left and right pieces I cut a little long, because I can always straight cut them to the correct length. I nailed it in place with my nail gun.

Add Legs to the Desk

reclaimed table leg laying on work table

I measured, marked, and cut the legs to the correct height.

kreg pocket hole jig clamped on to top of reclaimed table leg

Now, I’m on to the legs. I used my Kreg Jig to make pocket holes on the legs. The pocket hole screws will secure at an upward angle into the bottom of the desktop.

reclaimed materials come together to transform a nightstand into a childs desk

This is a dry fit to make sure the legs are at the proper height.

gorilla wood glue helps secure desk leg

In this picture, you can see the pocket holes I drilled to attach the facing. I placed the leg on the piece and drew lines to determine the direction of the pocket holes on the legs.

pocket hole screws secure table leg to desktop

Why did I use Gorilla Glue with pocket hole screws? I typically don’t use glue with the pocket hole screws, but I wanted to ensure I had a great hold when I secured it with my pocket hole screws.

Prepare the Kids’ Desk for Painting

painter's tape around the edge of desktop

After I got both legs on, I started taping off the desktop for painting. I taped all around the top . . .

desktop covered with newspaper and painters tape

… then I put a newspaper on top and taped it again.

nightstand desk upside down for painting blue

Then I broke out the spray paint! Last year, my sister gave me tons of spray paint, and I’m about 1/3 of the way through the stash.

Add the Finishing Touches to the Nightstand Desk

patching pocket holes with drywall mud

I filled the holes with drywall mud. What does this color (blue) make you think of?

repurposed nightstand into kids desk painted blue with a chalkboard top

After I finished spray painting the desk, I applied several coats of chalkboard paint to the top.

chalkboard desk conditioned with chalk

I conditioned the top with chalk.

blue desk with chalkboard top and building block handles

Once I started spray painting it, I thought to myself, this looks like a Smurf! I was trying to make the desk non-gender-specific.

I’d love for you to share this idea on Pinterest with your friends.

blue desk with building block knobs

What do you think of the knobs? The original hardware is not suitable for children. Smile

What have you repurposed lately?

gail

Related Content: See More Desk Projects Here

57 Comments

  1. We make these little desks but in our effort to repurpose using all repurposed items, we use a leaf from a table ( one that no longer has a table of course!!) They are generally already the right depth and often times will have a rim that did match the table but now becomes the perfect leg brace!! Try one !!

    1. Jo,

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Great tip! Although I’m having a little trouble understanding exactly how you bring it all together. I have a couple of table leafs in my stash…

      gail

  2. This is amazing!! I love how you made the transformation but the cutest detail is the knobs!! This really inspires me to think “out of the box” and imagine what furniture could be instead of just what it is. Thanks so much! 🙂

  3. Wow. This is truly amazing! This project was obviously A LOT of hard work, and it turned out beautiful in the end! LOVE the chalkboard top! ~Becka

  4. Hey sweet girl! 🙂 Glad you liked my mirror molding post, I love how much it changed the room. 🙂 Funny that you knew who was behind the camera before I told….was it the angle of him looking up to me in the video that gave it away?! lol He’s such a good little boy! I felt weird going the vlog, but I figured nobody really cares what I look like as long as I’m teaching them something. 🙂 hee hee hee OH and yes I do know about the caulking guns with the pokey things on them…I’m just too cheap to go buy a new one as long as this one is still working. 🙂 lolLove ya girl!Missy

  5. This is super cute! I like the knobs! I finished a large vintage library table with chalk board paint on top then mod podged newspaper on the legs. Looks cute I think!

  6. You are so good! Awesome transformation, Gail! Love it! 😉

    You’d be proud – I used my air compressor/staple gun finally! haha! Thinking the Kreg Jig is next on my list.

    Thanks SO much for the vote! Your help is appreciated!

    Roeshel

  7. Yeah, you’re a GENIUS! Seriously. You come up with things that are brilliant! Thank you for the tips on the miter saw…I need to get out there and try it again! I also love the knobs! 🙂

  8. I love the tools you work with and am making a wish list for myself!

    This little desk…is the bees knees! I love it!
    I think it’s my favorite too!

    some lucky child is going to get this cute desk an make lots of memories there!

    Pat

  9. Gail
    This is one of the cleverest ideas yet!

    I often pass up single nightstands but this would make a super gift for the grandkids.

    May I borrow your idea?

  10. O-M-G…is there anything you can’t build?! This is freakin’ adorable! Love how you used those blocks for the knobs…genius~

    I wish you lived around here…I just bought a new (to me…it was actually purchased from an estate sale) miter saw, and I have no idea what to do with it…I haven’t even had the nerve to turn it on yet (although I know that it does work). Sadly there was no owner’s manual and I have not been able to track one down yet. I am very intimidated and sadly my hubby knows less about this stuff than I do! LOL! I just knew that I NEEDED it though!

  11. You never cease to amaze me! So cute and what a great job. I bet this gets snatched up quickly. I love the “knobs”

    Do you have a “photo album” at your booth of all the projects you have made?

    Jan

  12. Your recreations leave me speechless every time, great job, love the desk! What amazes me the most is what you are able to see the potential of an old piece of furniture. Here in Frankfurt in Germany people can bring all unnecessary items on Tuesday evening out of their house and just leave them on the pavement for Wednesday rubbish collection. I check out the little piles of furniture every time in the hope of spotting something nice…but my eyes always let me down. Any tips?

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