Clean and Modern DIY Nightstand // an Ikea Hack

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Do you ever look back and wonder where the time went? I remember those days when I had just two kids, when life felt a little less chaotic, and I could actually take a moment to breathe. Remember taking a shower and even styling your hair? Crazy, right? Now, with three little ones running around, those moments feel like distant memories. But hey, I’m grateful for every single one of them.

I wanted to share something fun with you today—a project I managed to pull off before baby number three came along. It’s one of those little projects that reminds me of simpler times. When I first shared the inspiration board for our shared master bedroom and nursery, I mentioned these nightstands. Let me walk you through the story behind them.

The idea for these nightstands came to me out of nowhere. I envisioned crisp lines, a modern vibe, and a bright white finish that would serve as the perfect bedside table. Problem was, I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. I scoured the internet for days, finding similar pieces that either cost way too much or didn’t quite match my vision. One option I found looked exactly like what I had in mind, but it was the wrong size and priced at nearly $1000 per piece. Um, no thanks. So, I decided to DIY. I mean, I tried to convince my husband to build them for me (with a little bribery involved, of course). We started researching materials, paints, and tools, and it all seemed promising—until one evening when I stumbled upon something better.

I hopped online and discovered these Expedit shelves from IKEA. They were perfect! We measured everything again, just to be sure, and yep—they’d fit perfectly on either side of our bed. Best of all, they were under $40 each. Talk about a steal!

The next weekend, we headed to IKEA, loaded up our car, and got to work. Chris assembled the shelves in no time—it took him maybe five minutes since we only used three of the pieces included in the kit. At first, he was a bit skeptical about their structural integrity since these shelves didn’t come with the full support of the larger shelving unit. But guess what? Four months later, they’re still holding strong. Maybe it’s because they’re wedged between the wall and our bed—they don’t have any wiggle room. We even considered reinforcing them with L-brackets, but honestly, they’ve been working perfectly fine without them.

Here’s a fun challenge: Can you spot which nightstand is mine in the photos below?

IKEA Hack Bedroom Nightstand

And speaking of styling, I followed Emily Henderson’s three rules for bedside tables:

  • Something tall—like lamps or vases.
  • Something solid and horizontal—books or trays work great.
  • Something sculptural—to balance the vertical and horizontal elements.

I’ve been thinking about adding some colorful prints or artwork leaning against the wall, but for now, I love the simplicity of it all. Clean lines and minimalism give me peace of mind, especially with three kids in the house. Life gets messy enough without cluttering up our space.

Oh, and if you’re curious about the art on our walls—no, they’re not original masterpieces by me or my kids (though that would be awesome!). These paintings were actually created by elephants in Thailand. Yes, you read that right—elephants! Chris and I bought them during a trip to Chicago years ago. They’re such a unique touch and bring a little whimsy to our room. Here’s proof of the adorable little artists who painted them:

Elephant Art

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone. Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

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P.S. If you’re looking for some amazing kid-friendly room ideas, check out Aliyah and Brayden’s shared room over on Apartment Therapy. It’s stunning!

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