Savvy DIYer Uses Concrete Blocks For A Durable Alternative To A Nightstand

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"Waste not, want not" is a truism that comes from a different era, but with daily challenges what they are, DIYers are proving its relevance project by project. There are all kinds of inspirational instances of people turning concrete blocks into home and garden treasures that are more meaningful, more unique, and even more stylish than something store-bought. And you can't overlook the prime example from Instagrammer harleyrenovating, who rescued a couple of concrete blocks from being thrown away by turning them into a remarkable nightstand. You will not be judged if visions of austere freshman dorm rooms flood your mind. But this influencer took the blocks to a whole different level, creating a boldly unconventional and long-lasting build that's completely within the skill set of nearly any DIYer.

A simple pairing of concrete blocks is the foundation for this table, giving you a strong, damage-resistant spot to keep your nighttime essentials. Stand them side by side, stick them together, and enjoy the new streamlined bedside table that will hold a few pieces on top and store small items in the pre-fab cubby holes. Once you knock out the functional build, you can have fun styling it, whether you just attack it with some paint to match your room's color scheme or you follow this DIYer's lead by giving it a more stone-like texture with joint compound. Regardless of the route you take, be sure you choose concrete blocks or cinder blocks that don't have cracks or fractured edges. If you are rescuing the concrete blocks from a questionable environment, clean them with a hose or pressure washer and allow them to dry completely before starting the project.

The first thing our influencer does is "glue" the concrete blocks together, making the basic nightstand. Spread a generous amount of construction adhesive, like Loctite PL Premium Construction Adhesive, across the side of one of the blocks. Press the other block into it, ensuring the edges at the top, bottom, front, and back are flush. Let the adhesive cure. 

With that done, your nightstand will be ready to use but probably not the most stylish addition to the bedroom. To get the creator's original look, apply a heavy coat of drywall joint compound to fill the porous surface of the blocks. Give it sufficient time to cure as well. You can make the blocks perfectly smooth using the compound or leave a little texture to the surface; it's up to you. Sanding the compound smooth is dusty, so do it outside if possible. The last step is painting the nightstand. Use a good quality latex paint. The paint does two things: It seals drywall compound, and it provides a durable finish to the nightstand. Two coats are better than one in this instance, as tabletops get a fair amount of abuse.

There are a couple of practical considerations to keep in mind with this project. Concrete blocks are heavy. If you place this nightstand on a carpeted floor, it will compress the carpet. If you are putting it on a hardwood floor or other hard surface, attaching felt pads , such as X-Protector Felt Furniture Pads, is a good idea. These will protect the floor from scratching and allow the stand to slide without damaging the floor.