night tables

Personally I’d use birch or paint grade hard maple. More durable.

Pockets are fine depending on how you put it together. I wouldn’t use pockets if you stack the sides on top of the base.

Pocket screws would be fine. They will be hidden inside, and they are strong. Might take a little practice on scrap for the initial setup since it is new to you, but they work well.

Dowels, I say. You may have some trouble getting the last of the pocket screws in. Besides which, given the style of the piece, and that it’s gonna be painted, you might just as well use finish nails and wood filler. Or…

Or, if miter joints turn you on… Biscuits. A good, strong, invisible joint. Biscuits would even make for easier assembly with butt points. Yeah. That’s what I’d do. Then, I’d probably round over the top and bottom edges to the point of the butt joint.

And then, I’d ask myownbadself why I didn’t just go buy a couple of them, already made, at a thrift store. I don’t have room to be buiiding furniture, as much as I’d like to be building furniture.

Don’t mean to make light of it.

-- Mark

I’d miter those with a spline.

-- Bondo Gaposis