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How to Add an Outlet Extender to Your Nightstand

ByKorilyn Martin

Here I’ll show you how to add an outlet extender to your nightstand table with a few tools!

Old houses are notorious for not have enough outlets. Sometimes you have to redesign your room just to make sure there are outlets where you’ll need them!

I know I need to have an outlet next to my bed so that I can charge my phone at night.

Not having enough outlets can make that tricky, unless you don’t mind walking across the room to plug it in. This is where an outlet extender will come in handy! 

If you are wondering how to keep your phone charger on a nightstand, an outlet extender is your answer! 

It makes charging your phone and other devices a breeze! With a few tools, I’ll show how you can install an outlet extender into your nightstand table, and answer some questions along the way. 

Are outlet extenders safe?

An outlet extender is a great way to extend an existing indoor outlet, and yes, they are safe! Having an extension cord running across the middle of a room is a safety hazard.

Adding power to your nightstand keeps the cords tucked away so that they don’t get tripped on or cause any other issues! 

Outlet extenders by themselves are safe, they just have to be handled safely! It’s important to keep in mind the capacity of your electrical circuit.

Some outlet extenders only have a 2-prong outlet, when you may need a 3 prong outlet for a lamp or your computer.

There are extenders out there that plug the 3 prong plug into the 2-prong outlet, but this increases the risk of overloading the circuit. This is for sure safer than taking off the 3rd prong of the plug-in – which is a definite no-no! 

What are three warning signs of an overloaded electrical circuit?

Adding an extension cord to your nightstand is a safe project for the most part! It mostly just requires you to be vigilant of what your electrical system can take. If you are worried about overloading your circuit, there are a few things you can look out for: 

  • Flickering, dimming, or blinking lights – if your lights start to act up, your electrical circuit might not be able to support everything plugged into it 
  • Warm or discolored wall plates – pay attention to the color of the wall plates, if they get too hot they can cause damage. If the circuit is overloaded, they may have a burning odor coming from them and the wall switches. 
  • Mild shock or tingle from appliances, receptacles, or switches – if you touch something and you feel a jolt run through you, it may be a sign the circuit is overloaded. 

How do I add a USB port to a table?

USB ports are essential now when it comes to charging devices! Some outlet extenders have USB ports included, like the one I got!

My steps make having end tables with outlets and USB ports that much easier! They are so nice because charging blocks are so easy to lose.

If you are looking to add an outlet extender to your nightstand, find one that already has USB ports, and you are already all set! 

How do you make a nightstand charging station?

You can make a nightstand charging station following the few steps below. I’ll show how I added my outlet extender to my nightstand, it takes some time but it is so worth it! You can also add a charging station and power outlets to your coffee table!  Once you have added your outlet extender, you can add some more organizational tools to really make it a charging station. There are device organizers that keep your phones, smartwatches, and tablets in place while they charge. Places like Walmart and amazon also have cord organizers that keep charging cords in place so that they don’t get tangled up! 

Steps to installing your outlet extender on your nightstand

And here we are! Here is my step-by-step guide to how I got my side table with an electrical outlet! 

  1. Measure the size of where the outlet extender will sit inside the drawer. –  I placed mine on the back of the drawer so that my drawers would still be functional 
  2. Use a jigsaw to cut the hole so the extender can sit comfortably and securely inside the drawer. – I also had to cut another hole in the back of the nightstand for the extender to fit through when the drawer is closed. (Use the drill gun in each corner of the measured square on drawer before using the jigsaw. This will allow the jigsaw to fit in nicely)
  3. Place the outlet extender inside the holes to see if everything fits and then mark the screw holes.
  4. Remove the outlet extender and then drill the marked holes for the screws
  5. Place the drawer back to the nightstand and then place the outlet extender inside. Then, secure it with a screw and nut. 

Be sure to pin for later!

bedroom nightstand and with outlet in drawer.

Want to shop this post? Just click on an image! *These are affiliate links and if purchased, I will receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this brand of mine!

Thank so much for reading along!

Much love,

Kori ~ From The Farmhouse Life

Blogger, Decorator

Kori is the creative force behind The Farmhouse Life. She is a devoted mom of three and happily married to her college sweetheart. Kori lives in Central New Hampshire on a 25 acre pig farm. When Kori isn’t working on her latest home project, she enjoys reading, shopping on Poshmark, Indulging in skincare routines on Youtube, and watching reruns of New Girl. She is also working on becoming a certified interior designer.

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