Happy Tuesday to you!
Later today I’m delivering this night table to Dianne. She’s a fun client of mine who purchased this raised stencil dresser – then requested this night table be painted to match. The night table is perfect for her needs but it was a few inches too short.
For today’s Quick-Tip-Tuesday, I’ll show you how we added height and interest to Dianne’s piece – the easy way.
The simplest way to add furniture legs to a smaller piece of furniture is by using T-Nuts!
T-Nuts (aka Tee-Nuts, Rivet or Blind Nuts) can be found in local hardware stores in the fastener section for usually less than 50¢ each.
They come in various sizes to accommodate large and small screws, and once installed, they’re a nice secure fastener.
Here are the materials I used:
:: Furniture Legs
:: T-Nuts
:: Hammer
:: Measuring Tape
:: Drill + Drill Bit
I start by finding the center point where the legs are to be attached. After marking the center, I drill a hole the same depth as the length of the screw on the furniture leg. Here’s an easy DIY Drill Bit Depth Stopper.
Once the appropriate size hole is drilled (in this case the T-Nut and drill bit I used was 5/16) I hammer in the T-Nut until the teeth have gripped into the wood and the nut is totally flush with the surface.
Just an off-topic side note – If you’re a regular reader, you’ve probably noticed this old beat up hammer in many of my tutorials. This is one of my Dad’s old hammers that he gave me when I purchased my very first home. I just can’t seem to part with for nostalgic reasons! <3
Once the T-Nut is installed, the wooden furniture leg screws in easily.
This is the simplest method I know to attach wooden furniture legs to smaller pieces of furniture. So long as the drill hole is a snug fit for the T-Nut and screw, it will hold your wood furniture legs in perfectly!
What do you use to attach wooden furniture legs when restyling your pieces? Do you have any tools that have sentimental value and you just can’t get rid of? 🙂 If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below! As always, I love hearing from you!
Catch last week’s Q-T-T here – and if YOU have any ideas or tips you would like to share on the SI Quick-Tip-Tuesday-Series, send me an email!
Have an amazing day and have fun with your next project!
Denise x
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Hi,Denise what is the name of the color the use in the piece of furniture I Love it i I know is look blue but I want to know what can of blue is 😊thank you have a wonderful day!😊
Hi Mirian! The color is Miss Mustard Seed’s “French Enamel” Milk Paint. If you’re new to milk paint, I have some Milk Paint Tips that may help here, here and here.
TableLegs.com has a number of other ways to attach feet and legs. Check it out!
A couple of web clicks and I found my answer to put legs on a Victrola. Thank you!
Thanks for this post.
Hi Denise,
I have some IKEA legs to put on a bookshelf, and they use M8 screws. I got M8 T-Nuts (they fit the legs perfectly), and looked up the conversion and got a 5/16 drill bit. Drilled the hole aaaaand…the hole is too small to hammer the T-Nut into! What am I missing here? 🙁
the 5/16″ measurement is the inside measurement. Might try re-drilling, up 1/32 at a time 11/32, 3/8″ It could easily be 3/8″hole for a 5/16″ nut.
Was the wood block where you put the nut inside already there? Or did you install it and how? Would have helped if you showed the underside before any modifications. Thanks!
Hi Rita! Yes, the ‘wood block’ was already there. You are correct in that if it wasn’t – a block of wood can be added.
Hello there! What’s the best way to attach the block of wood?
Screwing it into the mainframe or body of the piece is the best Beatriz. And if you want, you can even add some wood glue also. 🙂
I am trying to add non-Ikea legs to an Ikea Kallax cabinet. The universal plate that was included with the legs is very thin and the instructions do not include drilling into the cabinet to secure the leg (other than attaching the plate). As a result, the cabinet is a bit wobbly and I’m not satisfied with the result. Have you used T-Nuts on flat-pack furniture? Do they only work on solid wood, or would they be an option to save my Ikea-with-legs project? Thanks!!
Hi Andrea! Sorry, I’ve only used these T-Nuts in solid wood so I’m unsure if they would work on your Ikea Kallax Cabinet. If anyone reading this knows, feel free to chime in.
Denise,
Maybe I missed it but the color is drop dead beautiful! Did you spray paint or brush it on?
And to think I was going to dump my old looking night stands and buy newer ones that were more feminine. I can add the legs paint and done! I still plan to buy the a white scroll frame for my mattress but now I’m wondering since I’m on a tight budget, I should just paint my bed frame, maybe white to add contrast-Hmmm not sure yet. I have the bed with the pillars like what people use to put mosquito nets on even though the poles are not that tall. Any ideas?
Hi Carmen! This night table and tallboy raised stencil dresser was brushed with Miss Mustard Seed’s “French Enamel” Milk Paint. And just my opinion, but painting your bed frame/pillars in white sounds beautiful! I’m a sucker for white though. 🙂
I too was mesmerized by the paint – it is beautiful!! I look for items to upcycle on my walks and I will only pick up wood items. I have a set of drawers that I intend to make into pet beds for my cats and will definitely look for Ms. Mustard paints.
Since my intention is for pet beds, I will experiment with wood glue for the cats and see how it goes, but the paint – THUD!! Beautiful!
I just painted my dark walnut stained Calif King headboard, footboard & metal frame in Linen White Chalk Paint and it looks beautiful… dreamy, classy, just amazing!
In my humble opinion, I say — Go for it..!
Hello,
I love what you did with this piece. I would like to add legs to a very heavy couch that pulls out to a bed to give it a midcentury feel. It’s super heavy. How could I add legs that would support the weight of the couch? Thank you
9/15/2016 Great idea; however, I have an antique baker’s table that used to have porcelain wheels. It’s too short to use as a surface, so I have bought “additional legs” to bring it to comfortable height, but how to attach? There are holes in the legs in the original piece to insert the porcelain casters. At one time the higher legs were attached, but during several house moves the things, i.e., screws, tubes, metal attaching things were lost. What do I need from the hardware store to attach besides t-nuts?
Hi Nora! I recently installed angled furniture legs with inexpensive hardware.You can buy the same sort of hardware attachment plates to install legs straight too.
This is so great!! So helpful for me and gave me an idea for a night table I was going to send to the landfill!
I painted it green with Chalk paint and added a darker wax and now I’m adding legs. I just love it and have lots of compliments. Thanks!
How do you put the screw in the leg (wood)in? I need to buy a bracket and the legs for a bookcase I am working on. Actually I need to repaint. Ordered the calcium carbonate. Everything looked good until on put polycrylic on to seal. It yellowed. I used it before and it was fine. I am not sure I know what happened. Will start again when calcium carbonate arrives.
Oh Debbie, sorry to hear about the yellowing poly…how frustrating! As for the screw in the wood furniture legs, when purchasing legs, most of the time these screws are already assembled into the leg so you don’t have to worry about it.
This is sooo great! I also have tried the expensive screws, this is a great replacement! The dresser and nightstand are just BEAUTIFUL!!! You always do such nice work!
Thanks Tess… I always appreciate you dropping by! 🙂 🙂 🙂
This looks so cute! I love this. That color is so pretty!
Thank you Heather! And your Obie is precious…I love your adoption story! I adopted a rescue dog (Gidget) back in December and it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. And just like you, I KNEW I had to have this little girl as soon as I saw her online. Have fun with your new fur-baby. 🙂
Brilliant! I had been buying the hardware that screws in to attach legs and it runs $2-3. This is WAY easier and cheaper, thank you!
If you have a large/heavy piece, that hardware may be your better option Tanya. But for smaller pieces, these T-Nuts are amazing! 🙂
Hi Denise,
I’m trying to attach legs to already existing short stubby legs on a daybed in order to give it more height – do you suggest trying the t-nuts or is this a piece of furniture that you would use the above mentioned hardware (and what would that hardware be? haha)?
If I were to try the t-nuts and the legs I have do not already have screws installed, do you know how I would go about doing that?
Thanks!
Erica
Brilliant! I’ve never heard of T-nuts or how/when to use them, thank you!!! The piece turned out fabulous!
Thanks Christina… so happy you’ve found this helpful. 🙂 The night table is a perfect match to the dresser so Dianne (my client) really liked it! 🙂 As an added bonus, when I delivered last night, I saw the raised stencil dresser in her room and it looked soooo good! She has amazing style. It was such a treat to see one of my pieces all staged in it’s new home. Sounds silly I suppose, but often I deliver or clients pick up, and I never get to see the furniture in it’s new environment.
Hi Denise,
Did you have to attach that piece where the t-nut is mounted into ?
Thanks !
Great question Maria. No I did not… the wood I installed the T-Nut/furniture leg into was original to the piece. If there is not an existing leg platform to install the leg, you can easily add a block of wood to the underside of the furniture and then install.
I cannot believe how much better this cabinet looks with legs!!! What a transformation. Thanks for sharing how to do it. 🙂
Pleasure Julie. 🙂 And I agree, not only did the legs bring it to the perfect height for Dianne’s needs, but it made the night table super cute!