Tuesday, March 24

Clipboard Calendar {free printable}

Last year it was the middle of February when I finally made my printable clipboard calendar. And I loved it. I loved that the simple style was pretty enough to hang in my kitchen. I loved the big spaces. I loved that it was on a clipboard so it was so easy to pull it down, mark a date, and put it back up. You guys, I can't go back to regular calendars.


But this year it was over halfway through March and I still hadn't found the time to make an updated one. In February I thought I would just move the numbers on this one rather than start over, and I didn't even find time for that! So I did the easiest thing I could think of. I deleted all the dates so I can just print a new one off every year and write them in. If you're photoshop savvy that may not be the faster option for you... but it definitely is for me!


And I made that into a free printable for you. Because a 2014 calendar is not super helpful anymore.


So if you are as far behind as I am, or really like to plan ahead for next year, you can print your own and fill it out with the correct dates for the year. Then just clip it on a clipboard with a loop at the top and you're good to go! As each month ends I like to just slip that page to the back of the stack. It makes it much easier the next year because I can flip through the pages and copy any important dates like birthdays.



Now my only goal for next year is to have it printed in January. And maybe change the main font. But let's not get carried away.

Saturday, March 21

Nightstands Day 18 - Easy Open Storage


We've made it to the final day in our DIY nightstand series! See the entire series here. Today's plan is the fastest, easiest nightstand we've shared thus far. Kind of like no homework the day before spring break? It's a simple design with lots of open storage.

P.S. Now you can build a matching coffee table, too!


This super simple build is a great way to get your feet wet in DIY, or a great first project for kids who want to follow in your footsteps! The open storage is perfect for stacking all your favorite books, or tucking in a few baskets for extra blankets.


This nightstand is inspired by another Ikea find. It's very affordable, but the beauty of DIY is that you can adjust it to any size you need. Plus it's a good option if you're not one of the lucky people that live next to Ikea!

image via Ikea.com

Shopping List:
1  -  1x12  @  8'
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)

Finished Dimensions: 20" wide  x  16" high  11 1/4" deep

Friday, March 20

Nightstands Day 17 - Nesting with Drawers


It's already day 17 in our DIY nightstand series! See the entire series here. Today's plan is one of our favorites in the series. It's nesting tables that are like two nightstands in one!


You can separate them when you need more space (too many books to read, anyone?) and tuck them back in when you don't.  They U-shaped legs help the tables slide neatly together to look like a finished piece.


I spotted just a little glimpse of some nesting tables in a Better Homes & Gardens magazine that inspired the plans today. I made the top drawer a little deeper but tried to keep the clean lines and simple style.

image via Better Homes & Gardens magazine

You can alter the length of the legs to get the height you need for your bed. But don't stop there! These nesting tables are also great in the living room!


Two tables = two drawers for double the hidden storage! Ready to build your own? Let's get started!


Thursday, March 19

Nightstands Day 16 - Chunky Modern


Welcome back! Today is day 16 in our DIY nightstand series. See the entire series here. Today's nightstand has a chunky build paired with clean lines for a modern style. It's a wide, shallow plan with a large drawer and an open shelf.


We'll be giving you two options for the base - keep it open (above) or frame it in (below). It's an easy way to customize the style to your taste! And of course you can customize it further with the paints and stains you choose. Our combo of stained top and black painted legs adds to it's modern elements, but you could always tone it down a bit by finishing the top and legs the same.


This design was inspired by another nightstand I spotted on pinterest. I fell in love with the sleek, industrial style. We painted wood legs black to mimic the look, but if you have a way to make a metal base (any welders in the group?) you could more closely match the inspiration. You could also try a set of hairpin legs to give it a more industrial vibe. 

image via pinterest

Shopping List:
1  -  2x12  @  8' (you can use a 6' if you cut your sides being about 1/8" shorter)
2  -  1x2  @  8'
1  -  1x12  @  4'  (or a 21" scrap)
1  -  1x10  @  4'  (or a 20" scrap)
1  -  1x6  @  4'
1  -  1x8  @  4'  (or a 20 3/4" scrap)
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)

Finished Dimensions: 24" wide  x  25" tall  x  11 1/4" deep


Wednesday, March 18

Nightstands Day 15 - Classic Mini Dresser


Hello again! Today we're working on the fifteenth plan in our DIY nightstand series. If you're just joining us you can check out the entire series here. Today's plan is another mini dresser (we also did one on day 10), this time in a more classic style inspired by our own little yard sale dresser. This is one of our larger nightstand design and features two roomy drawer plus an open shelf. It's great as a nightstand, side table, entry table, in the nursery, or anywhere you need a small dresser!


Shopping List:
1  -  sheet 3/4" plywood
2  -  1x2  @  10'
1  -  1x4  @  6'
3  -  1x6  @  8'
1  -  1x8  @  8'
2 sets 16-17" side mount drawer slides
4 drawer pulls
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws (if you don't have a Kreg Jig)
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)


Tuesday, March 17

Nightstands Day 14 - Versatile Cubby and Drawer


I can't believe we're on day fourteen of our nightstand series already! You can check out the entire series here. Today's plan is simple yet super versatile. It features a drawer on bottom with a cubby space on top, but we'll be looking at a few ways to customize it and make it your own. It also works great as a living room end table!


This plan was inspired by several nightstands and there are simple changes you can make to change the style! The plans lean on this design for proportions and a notched drawer pull. You can swap out our base for a set of tapered legs to get a mid century modern vibe.

image via pinterest

Our base is inspired by this similar design from West Elm. It's easy to build and requires standard dimensional lumber that is readily available at your hardware store. If you prefer these proportions, you can just make your drawer box taller!

image via West Elm

But wait, there's more! At the end of the plans we'll also give you the option to do a two-drawer look that's more along these lines. You'll have to make your table a little more tall and narrow to match the proportions of this inspiration piece. But enough chit chat. Let's get to the plans!

image via pinterest

Shopping List:
1  -  sheet 3/4" plywood
1  -  1x6  @  6'
1  -  1x3  @  4'   OR  a set of legs about 5 1/2" tall
1  -  1x8  @  4'  (or a 2' scrap)
1  -  set 12-13" drawer slides
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails

Finished Dimensions: 22" wide  x  25 1/2" tall  x  15" deep


Monday, March 16

Nightstands Day 13 - Deep with Hidden Charging Shelf


It's day thirteen of our nightstand series - welcome back! You can see the entire series here. Today's plan is much deeper than any of our plans thus far, so it's a great option if you need more storage and have limited wall space beside the bed. Plus it has a secret - a hidden shelf inside the drawer! It's a great place to stash your books out of sight, or you can even run a power cord in through the back for a hidden charging station.


This nightstand was inspired by another Ikea find. We'll be sharing two design options in our plans - individual legs or solid sides. It's on the taller end of our nightstand designs, but you can easily adjust the height by shortening the legs if needed.


Shopping List:
1  -  1x12  @  8'
1  -  1x2  @  10' OR 3/4" plywood for solid sides
1  -  1x8  @  4'
1  -  1x6  @  4'
1 set 16" side-mount drawer slides
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails

Finished Dimensions: 11 1/4" wide  x  25 3/4" tall  x  19" deep


Sunday, March 15

Nightstands Day 12 - Stepstool


We're already on day twelve of our nightstand series! If you need to catch up you can check out the entire series here. Today's plan is for a unique, open storage design. It's easy to build, affordable, and a great way to add a little fun style to your room.

This is not an actual step stool and I do not recommend letting it bear your weight!

I spotted a step stool being used as a nightstand in the 2015 Ikea catalog and loved the idea, but not the small shelf provided by the bottom step. I altered the design in my plan to feature a full-depth bottom shelf so there's no worry of books tipping off such a narrow ledge.

image via Ikea catalog


Shopping List:
2  -  1x2  @  8'
3/4" plywood (look for a small "project board" 3x3' or 2x4' because you don't need very much)
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" pocket screws (optional)

Finished Dimensions: 17" wide  x  19 1/2" tall  x  16" deep


Saturday, March 14

Nightstand Day 11 - Book Rack


Welcome back! We're ready for day eleven of our nightstand series and hope you are too! You can see the entire series here. Today's project is a really simple (and cheap!) add-on that can be used with several of our nightstands to add storage and keep your tabletop clutter-free. It's an easy built-in book rack! Our book rack is sized to fit the mini-dresser nightstand we shared yesterday, but seriously guys, it is so easy to adjust the size to fit whatever nightstand you are building, or even to add on to a nightstand you already have!


Shopping List:
1  -  1x3  @  4' 
1  -  narrow decorative molding, about 3/4" tall (roughly this size, any style you like)
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws (depending on the thickness of your dresser you may need a few longer screws to install the finished book rack)
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)



Friday, March 13

Nightstands Day 10 - Modern Mini Dresser


It's day ten and we're already over halfway through nightstand series! You can see the entire series here. Today we're looking at one of my favorite branches of the nightstand family tree with plans for a mini dresser in a modern style.


I love to use a small dresser as a nightstand. It holds so. much. stuff. so it's a great way to sneak a little extra storage into your space! Drawers look less cluttered than open storage so you can tuck everything nice and neat and out of sight. These are so functional they would also work great as side tables, or a small entry table if you lengthen the legs! There are several great ways you can customize this nightstand, such as substituting any set of legs you like (or even bun feet if your bed is particularly low). You could also opt to cut a notch out of each drawer front instead of using drawer pulls (like in Day 2).


These plans were inspired by another nightstand I spotted in Better Homes and Gardens. A bright coat of paint is another easy way to make your nightstand unique!

Image via Better Homes & Gardens

Or for an easy twist on these plans, you could omit the top drawer and put in a shelf instead.

image via pinterest

Shopping List:
1  -  sheet 3/4" plywood
1  -  1x6  @  8'
1  -  1x8  @  6'
1  -  2x2  @  6' (or four 6" scraps)  OR  a set of legs about 6" tall (like this mid century modern style)
2 sets 16" side-mount drawer slides
2 drawer pulls.
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)

Finished Dimensions: 28" wide  x  22 3/8" high  x  18" deep


Thursday, March 12

Nightstands Day 9 - Floating Nightstand with Drawer


Hello and welcome to day nine of our nightstand series! You can see the entire series here. Today's project is our third "floating" installment (we already made floating boxes and a floating bookshelf). With both a shelf and a drawer, this plan offers plenty of storage options in a style that is simple, sleek, and unique!


Floating nightstands are a great way to make your space instantly feel less cluttered. The drawer lets you take it a step farther by stashing any would-be tabletop clutter out of sight! This plan is based on a simple, uncluttered inspiration photo I spotted on Pinterest and is a quick, easy build:

image via pinterest


Shopping List:
1  -  1x12  @  10'
1  -  1x10  @  4'  (or a 2' scrap)
1  -  1x4  @  4' 
1  -  1x6  @  4'  (or a 2' scrap)
9" side-mount drawer slides (full extension is best if possible)
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)

Finished dimensions:  26" wide  x  12 3/4" tall  x  11 1/4" deep


Wednesday, March 11

Nightstands Day 8 - Classic Cupboard


Welcome back! We're on day eight of our DIY nightstand series. You can see the entire series here. Most of our projects so far have been leaned toward a simple, modern style so today we are mixing it up with a good old classic.


This classic style features both a drawer and a cupboard for maximum hidden storage. With a good distressed finish it can look like it came straight out of the antique store!

image via pinterest

Shopping List:
1  -  2x2  @  10'
1  -  1x2  @ 8'
1  -  1x3  @  4'
1  -  1x4  @  15" (you'll have to buy a full 4' board if you don't have scraps)
1  -  1x8  @  4'
1 sheet 3/4" plywood 
11" drawer slides
hinges
knobs
wood filler
wood glue
1 1/4" screws
2" screws
Kreg Jig with 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" pocket screws (optional)
finishing nails (optional)

Finished dimensions are 20" wide x 26 3/4" tall x 15" deep.


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