This simple dolls house night table project can be made with or without a drawer and with a range of different styles of toe kicks or tops. This project is a good first project for building miniature furniture with drawers or shelves. Only simple butt joints are used, and the tables can be made using hand tools. This project is suitable for an older child, and can be made by a younger child if the parts are pre cut and there is some adult supervision.
The night table can be made with a door on the bottom section if you wish. The door can be hinged with a simple pin hinge through the drawer support and the bottom shelf. If you want to add a door to this project, Assemble the night table case without the top and fit the door and hinge pins, then install the top of the case frame. For more information on pin hinges of this type, see the tutorial for Making a simple cupboard or armoire with opening doors
In the tutorial that follows I have shown the basic night table made with an overhanging top. For a more modern table you can leave the overhanging top off the design. I have also shown the night table with or without drawers, and with or without different toe kicks or plinths below the bottom shelf.
Variations
It is very easy to turn this design into a sideboard or console table. To do this make the sides the correct height for a table (30 inches in your choice of scale), and adjust the width of the top and drawer support and bottom shelf to the width you want. On a console table or side board, you can insert a dividing piece (similar to a plain toe kick or plinth) so it acts as a divider between two drawers, (add an extra divider if you want three drawers) and leave the back off the table. You can also leave off the drawers entirely and have a simple console table with an upper and lower shelf.
