How to Build Solid White Oak Nightstands (Step by Step Guide)

How to Build White Oak Nightstands: A Complete DIY Furniture Build

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your bedroom furniture with something handcrafted, durable, and beautifully matched, this project is a perfect fit. In this guide, we walk through the full process of building a pair of solid white oak nightstands—from rough lumber to finished furniture. Whether you're an experienced woodworker or a DIYer ready for your first furniture project, you’ll find clear steps, practical tips, and techniques you can use in future builds.

Materials & Tools

Materials

• 20 board feet of 4/4 white oak

• Wood glue

• 3/16" paneling for drawer bottoms

• Drawer slides

• Drawer pulls

• Golden Oak stain

• Warm semi‑gloss polyurethane

• L‑brackets for attaching tops

Tools

• Table saw

• Planer

• Jointer

• Bar clamps

• Dowel jig

• Miter saw

• Sander (random orbital)

• Drill & bits

• Corner clamp

Step‑by‑Step Build Instructions

1. Preparing the Lumber

The project begins with milling about 20 board feet of 4/4 white oak. We cut the first sections for the legs—four pieces at 23" long, later trimmed to 22" after glue‑up.

To maximize material, we also cut a 46" board, ripped part of it for future use, and split the remainder to create the final two leg blanks.

Key Steps

• Plane one face of each board flat.

• Glue boards together to create thicker leg blanks.

• Clamp tightly and allow to dry overnight.

2. Building the Table Tops

While the leg glue‑ups dried, the next task is preparing the top panels.

Process

• Cut five 20" boards for each top.

• Plane all boards to ¾" thickness.

• Joint one edge and rip into 3¼" strips.

• Glue five strips together to form each top (20" × 16¼").

After drying, the tops are scraped, sanded, and squared on the table saw.

3. Cutting the Legs to Final Size

Once the laminated leg blanks are dry:

• Rip them into 2" strips.

• Joint and plane to final dimensions: 2" × 1½" × 22".

• Trim both ends cleanly.

4. Preparing Side, Back, and Face Frame Pieces

We cut and milled all remaining components:

• Side & back panels: 7" wide × 15¼" long

• Drawer faces: 6" wide × 17" long

• Face frame pieces: ripped and cut to size, including 1" top and bottom rails

Then we sanded all the pieces before assembly to make finishing easier.

5. Adding the Roman Ogee Profile

To match our existing bedroom furniture, a Roman ogee profile was routed along the tops and drawer fronts. This adds a classic, elegant detail that elevates the final look.

6. Dowel Joinery for the Base

Instead of pocket holes—which risk cracking oak due to its coarse grain—we chose to use dowel joinery for the first time.

Steps

• Use a dowel jig and a ¾" sacrificial board to align holes.

• Drill three dowel holes per joint.

• Test‑fit legs and side panels before committing to glue.

• Assemble all four leg‑and‑panel units.

• Add dowels for the back and face frame pieces.

• Glue and clamp the full base together using heavy‑duty clamps.

7. Building the Drawer Boxes

Because we ran short on oak, the drawer boxes are made from pine—an economical and practical choice.

Drawer Construction

• Cut eight boards at 12¾" long.

• Rip to 4" height.

• Cut grooves for the 3/16" panel bottoms (¼" deep, ¼" from the bottom).

• Cut drawer bottoms to 13¼" × 11¾".

• Assemble using pocket hole screws and a corner clamp for perfect alignment.

8. Installing Drawer Slides & Faces

• Attach slides to the drawer bottoms.

• Install the cabinet‑side slides with pilot holes to prevent cracking the oak.

• Clamp drawer faces in place and secure with 1¼" screws from inside the drawer.

• Install decorative pulls using a recessed hole to accommodate the threaded stud.

9. Attaching the Tops

Using small metal L‑brackets:

• Center the tops front‑to‑back and side‑to‑side.

• Mark and drill pilot holes.

• Secure the tops to the bases.

10. Staining & Finishing

We applied:

• Two coats of Golden Oak stain

• Two coats of warm semi‑gloss polyurethane, sanding between coats

The result is a warm, rich finish that highlights the natural beauty of white oak.

Final Reveal

After all the sanding, joinery, assembly, and finishing, the nightstands look stunning—solid, seamless, and perfectly matched. The dowel construction gives them a clean, screw‑free appearance, and the drawers operate smoothly thanks to careful installation.

These nightstands are built to last for decades, and the project offers a rewarding mix of milling, joinery, and furniture‑making skills.