For some time now, I've been frustrated with how my nightstand looks. As I get more dependent on devices, the more charging cords are hanging off the nightstand and crowding the electrical outlet.
I was storing all of my devices on top of my nightstand at night - my phone, ear buds, reader, remote, etc. - which created a hot mess to look at and nothing would really get charged as some shared one charging cord that hung over the nightstand and the weight would often pull items down to the floor. Not to mention the crowded extension cord!
I decided that enough was enough and needed to get this area organized, so I got my tools together and created a charging station in my top drawer to deal with the charging cord issue.
HOW TO DIY NIGHTSTAND CHARGING STATION
Step 1 ~ GATHER YOUR CHARGING STATION SUPPLIES.
For my charging station, I used:
~ Cordless drill and spade drill bits
~ Charging cords for devices
Step 2 ~ DRILL HOLES FOR POWER STRIP.
After cleaning out the drawer of my nightstand really well, I drilled a hole at the back to allow the power cord to run through. My first attempt with a 1" spade was not large enough so I used the 2" to open the hole a bit wider. I would suggest a 2" Spade bit or Forstner bit to get the job done.
First I began by removing the drawer and figuring out where the best placement for the hole would be. I arranged mine on the right side since the power strip was oriented in that direction and it was closer to the outlet on the wall. Once I did that, I found a place in the middle to drill the hole and slowly drilled it out.
Some nightstands already have a hole drilled through the back for something like this. If this is the case for you, great! You can move on to the next steps.
If your nightstand is like mine, let the drilling fun begin!
Once you have finished with the drawer, next you drill a hole at the back of the nightstand. Make sure you line up your drawer hole with the back hole so the cords can move freely through.
Step 3 ~ INSTALL DRAWER LINER
This step is fun and easy because you get to pick out a design and stick it to your drawer! The easiest way to get this done, is to lay the paper roll into the draw and with your finger nail, press it into the edges to get the outline of the drawer onto the paper. When you cut, make sure you cut outside of the line you just traced. It's better to make it bigger and slowly make your way to the actual size, than to make it too small and have to start all over. Don't stress, It's not rocket science; just do the best you can. Here are some fun contact paper designs I like to use! Flowers, Geo, Wood, Patterns, Arrows, Leaf
STEP 4 ~ ATTACH THE POWER STRIP TO THE DRAWER
Once I figured out where I was placing the power strip, I was able to attach the power strip to the back of the drawer.
I used hook and loop tape which is much like velcro but better in my opinion. I just stuck the two sets onto the power strip then adhered the strip to the back of the drawer.
I was then able to thread the power cord through the holes I created and plug the power strip into the extension cord, which plugged into the wall.
Note: You'll want to make sure your cords are long enough to have a little give. This will allow them to move freely when you open and close the drawer.
STEP 5 ~ PLUG IN ALL YOUR DEVICES INTO YOUR CHARGING STATION!
I played around with the placement a little before I found an arrangement that worked best for me.
I ended up putting my phone closest to the bed so I can easily reach it. I use a 6' charging cord so I don't have to ever worry about pulling the plug out while using it in bed. When I'm not using the cord, I simply coil it up and place it neatly back in the tray.
For the back of the nightstand, I used zip ties so the cords didn't become entangled with each other.
STEP 6 ~ ADD BINS OR TRAYS
To keep all my items neat and organized, I decided to use small trays to divide up the drawer and to give each device a designated home. The trays also help hide all the cords a little better so that the drawer has a neater appearance.
Step 7 ~ ENJOY YOUR NEW CHARGING STATION!
I have loved being able to charge all my devices in one spot, tucked away neatly without all the ugly cords everywhere. This was a simple project and solved a problem that had been bothering me for months.
No more cords!