When my friend Josh first introduced me to the world of Airbnb hosting, I had no idea that it would open so many doors. Not only financially, giving us the ability to boost our savings in a big way, but also opening the door to a whole community of really amazing supportive people around the globe who are running their own Airbnb rentals! 

Through my Instagram @picturesquebrooklyn, I met an awesome and inspiring girl named Leena who lives in Philadelphia who is crushing it with DIY projects for her super cute townhouse that she has listed on Airbnb!

Now, you know I love a good DIY project so when I saw the beautiful bedside table she made from a wood slice, I had to know how she did it! Leena has been so gracious to share her mad bedside table making skills with us on the blog today! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and make sure to connect with Leena on Instagram so you can see more of her DIYs or check her place out next time you are looking for an Airbnb to rent in Philly! 

Click the button below to grab a $40 Airbnb credit to use during your first stay!

I started working on DIY projects right out of college, building little things here and there. I was about to start my new job in a telecommunications company, and with a background in Mechanical Engineering, you bet I was going to need a pet project outside of work to satisfy my thirst for building things!

I recently bought a home in Center City Philly, and finally had access to do the DIYs of my dreams. So far I’ve successfully built two night stands out of tree stumps (see instructions below), a side table, a floating desk, and I have many more projects planned (hello pallet wall!).

If you're interested in getting on the DIY train, I'd say it's best to start with a small project; familiarize yourself with the tools you may need and DON'T be afraid to fail. Trust me, you will fail - at least for the first few projects. I know it's an age old cliche, but failing is good and necessary...how else will you know how to make it better next time?

I've also learned that it's important to have a good support system; someone who won’t discourage you from creating things on your own, but will also tell you when you’ve gone too far (i.e. building an indoor swing).

Enter: Ashley Marion. I met Ashley on Craigslist in the fall of 2017 and have been working with her ever since. She’s guided and supported me through all of the projects in my new home, from buying new furniture to painting walls and choosing the right amount of pillows (which apparently you can never have enough).  I truly can't imagine having done any of it without her; both her friendship and creative intuition has been invaluable (plus, painting a statement wall at 1:00AM is way more fun with someone else!). 

If you have the appetite to create things, go for it - and make sure you surround yourself with people who will support you.

DIY Wood Slice Bedside Table

Step 1: Pick your wood!

Yes, I literally picked up the stump from the side of the road. Needless to say, this is the only type of wood you should be picking up on the side of the road – bazinga!

Step 2: Cut the wood!

Safety here is key! I cut 2-2” discs off of the stump and cut a straight line about  1”-1.5”deep off the ends of them so that they can be mounted flush to the wall.

Step 3: Sand the wood!

Just keep sanding, just keep sanding. Channel your inner Dory.

Step 4: Seal the wood!

I used an off-the-self wood sealant from Home Depot. I applied 3 coats then let it dry for 24 hours.

Step 5: Mount the wood!

Choose your favorite “L” bracket or fixture to mount your side table to the wall. You could do legs instead, your choice! Definitely use anchors if you can’t use the studs in the wall. And voila! You’ve made your own night stand.

*Follow me on Instagram at @beanzrealestate to see more of my projects!

Leena, thank you so much for sharing your DIY bedside table with us! We hope to hear more from you again soon!