These bedside tables were inspired by the Curator Table by Anthropologie, which is no longer on their site, but you can see a picture here. It was selling for more than $900(CAD), and we were able to make them for less than $100 each.
I have no woodworking experience, which probably shows, but it means that ANYONE can make this!
The finished product is 22" high and 14" wide.
Materials (for one table) with approximate pricing:
2 Fira mini chests with 3* drawers from Ikea: $15 (seen here)
4 123 Wooden legs from hardware store like Home Depot: $5 each
4 Metal top plate (to attach legs to chest) from Home Depot: $2 each
Decorative trim, assorted styles, 6-82 long: approx. $25
Paint: $20
6 Knobs (ours were vintage, but check hardware store): $2.50 each
Wood glue, paint brushes, hardwood for base: $15
One piece of hardwood cut to the size of the bottom of the chest (which is Width: 14 "
Depth: 10 1/4 ")
You will also need (but may already have):
Small nails
Sandpaper
Hacksaw (we have a small hacksaw that cost $5)
*About the Fira chests: I bought the 5-drawer version because it was the only one available at our Ikea. I was actually looking for the 3-drawer one which would be a bit easier to work with. I decided to glue the three little drawers together - now the top drawer has built-in dividers.
I have no woodworking experience, which probably shows, but it means that ANYONE can make this!
The finished product is 22" high and 14" wide.
Materials (for one table) with approximate pricing:
2 Fira mini chests with 3* drawers from Ikea: $15 (seen here)
4 123 Wooden legs from hardware store like Home Depot: $5 each
4 Metal top plate (to attach legs to chest) from Home Depot: $2 each
Decorative trim, assorted styles, 6-82 long: approx. $25
Paint: $20
6 Knobs (ours were vintage, but check hardware store): $2.50 each
Wood glue, paint brushes, hardwood for base: $15
One piece of hardwood cut to the size of the bottom of the chest (which is Width: 14 "
Depth: 10 1/4 ")
You will also need (but may already have):
Small nails
Sandpaper
Hacksaw (we have a small hacksaw that cost $5)
*About the Fira chests: I bought the 5-drawer version because it was the only one available at our Ikea. I was actually looking for the 3-drawer one which would be a bit easier to work with. I decided to glue the three little drawers together - now the top drawer has built-in dividers.
Step 1: Put together the Fira chest
Put together the fira mini chests as per Ikea's lovely instructions.
(The 5 drawer version of the Fira chest is shown, which is what I used)
(The 5 drawer version of the Fira chest is shown, which is what I used)
Step 2: Attach the legs
You can't just screw the legs into the chest because then, of course, the bottom drawer wouldn't open. So get a piece of hardwood cut to the size of the fira chest, or just a smidge smaller. A friendly worker at Home Depot cut ours. Use generous amounts of wood glue to adhere the wood to the bottom of the chest, then hammer small nails along the edge. Screw the metal plates into the wood at the four corners.
Now you can screw the legs in (and off should you need to move it).
Now you can screw the legs in (and off should you need to move it).
Step 3: Glue top three drawers into one
**This only applies if you have the 5 drawer version. If you have the 3 drawer Fira, skip this step**
Attach the three top drawers together with the wood glue and clamp them. I used medium sized binder clips and they worked wonderfully. Our Elmers wood glue said to clamp for 1 hour and let sit for 24 hours. I didn't have the patience so I set them aside, clamped, for a couple of hours while I did the other things. They were really strong by the time I was ready to use them.
Attach the three top drawers together with the wood glue and clamp them. I used medium sized binder clips and they worked wonderfully. Our Elmers wood glue said to clamp for 1 hour and let sit for 24 hours. I didn't have the patience so I set them aside, clamped, for a couple of hours while I did the other things. They were really strong by the time I was ready to use them.
Step 4: Decorate with trim
Cut all the trim to the size of the chest (not the drawers - so that they will go right to the edge) with a hacksaw. This didn't take as long as I thought it would. Most trim was thin enough that it just took a couple seconds to saw and then snap them apart. Don't worry about rough edges, you can sand them later.
I laid the pieces out on the floor in the pattern I wanted (the same for both tables).
Some things to keep in mind:
I didn’t want the thin edges of the chest to show much so I let just a tiny bit of trim stick down below each drawer.
Use one of the wider trims as the top layer on each drawer so the little cut out is completely covered.
You need to leave a space between the trim on each drawer to make it easier to attach the knobs later.
Now start gluing the trim to the drawers. Hold each strip down for a minute or so. You can clamp the top trim with a couple of binder clips.
You can attach the trim with little nails but I don’t recommend it - the wood splits very easily.
I laid the pieces out on the floor in the pattern I wanted (the same for both tables).
Some things to keep in mind:
I didn’t want the thin edges of the chest to show much so I let just a tiny bit of trim stick down below each drawer.
Use one of the wider trims as the top layer on each drawer so the little cut out is completely covered.
You need to leave a space between the trim on each drawer to make it easier to attach the knobs later.
Now start gluing the trim to the drawers. Hold each strip down for a minute or so. You can clamp the top trim with a couple of binder clips.
You can attach the trim with little nails but I don’t recommend it - the wood splits very easily.
Step 5: Trim the bottom edge, let sit & sand
You will want to cover up the ugly plywood and metal plates on the bottom with trim.
Now let it all sit for at least a couple of hours to let the glue dry.
Sand all the edges well.
Now let it all sit for at least a couple of hours to let the glue dry.
Sand all the edges well.
Step 6: Paint & attach knobs
You can prime and then paint. Or buy a paint that is primer and paint in one and do two thin coats (this kind of paint is for bathrooms I think but a girl at Home Depot recommended it).
Do not paint the sides of the drawers or the inside of the chest because it's already a snug fit without layers of paint.
I used a color called "West Coast Gray".
Let it dry overnight.
Attach the knobs:
Screw them in where you left a space between trims on each drawer.
Do not paint the sides of the drawers or the inside of the chest because it's already a snug fit without layers of paint.
I used a color called "West Coast Gray".
Let it dry overnight.
Attach the knobs:
Screw them in where you left a space between trims on each drawer.
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One problem tho' - Ikea no longer sells the Fira drawers in any size. So where do I get something like them??
Well it still turned out nice.