DIY Custom Simple Bedside Table

When we switched our son from a single bed to a bunk bed, the ladder interfered with the existing bedside table. As someone who would be lost without a place to put my glasses and phone at night, I came up with this simple solution that you can customize to your needs.

I wanted to be able to fit an under-bed storage box partially underneath the bedside table, so I came up with at design that easily attaches one side of the table securely but temporarily to the bed frame while the other side is supported by a leg. The result is a sideways L-shaped table that is very sturdy, but light-weight and easy to remove for cleaning or rearranging furniture.

I build my table out of cardboard, but you could certainly use foam core board or wood. Most of my cardboard was already 1" (2.5 cm) thick, but you could glue together several sheets of cardboard or foam core board to achieve the same strength.

To cover the raw edges of the cardboard, I used a thin layer of white glue and strips of newspaper. You could also use tape, tissue paper, or wrapping paper. I then painted the entire table with acrylic paint and stuck a rectangle of contact paper on the top. You can finish and decorate your table however you want to make it match your decor.

MATERIALS
- board (cardboard, foam core board or wood)
- a way to cut the board (knife, scissors, saw, etc.)
- a way to secure the boards together (glue, screws, etc.)
- ruler, tape measure, pencil
- if using wood, you can use metal L-brackets at both ends of the table top

MEASUREMENTS
- A = width of the space between the outside of the bed rail and where you want the end of the table
- B = width of the bed rail
- C = A + B + the thickness of your board (single layer of cardboard or foam core board)
- D = depth you want to make the table
- E = height from the top edge of the bed rail down on the mattress side (inside) to the board/slats/springs
- F = thickness of your table top board (thick cardboard or foam core board)
- G = E + F
- H = height from the floor up to the top edge of the bed rail

PIECES OF BOARD TO CUT
- TABLE TOP = C x D (thick cardboard or foam core board)
- LEG = H x D (thick cardboard or foam core board)
- INSIDE RAIL BRACKET = G x D (single layer of cardboard or foam core board thick)
*or use 2 metal L-brackets for wood
- OUTSIDE RAIL BRACKET = 1" (2.5 cm) x D (thick cardboard or foam core board)
*or use 2 metal L-brackets for wood
- CORNER SUPPORT = 3" (7.5 cm) x D (thick cardboard or foam core board)
*or use 2 metal L-brackets for wood

ASSEMBLY
1. Attach one end of the table top to the edge of the leg in an L-shape. Attach corner support to inside.

2. Attach inside rail bracket to edge of opposite end of table top.

3. On the underside of the table top, mark B (the width of the bed rail) in several places and connect with a line. Attach the outside rail bracket along this line (leaving space between the two brackets for the bed rail).

4. Decorate as you please.

5. Put the table in place by sliding the bracket edge over the bed rail. 

DONE.