Quick and Easy Furniture Makeover

This furniture makeover couldn't be easier! I wanted to add a pop of color to my extremely neutral guest room (you'll see what I mean in the after photos!), and updating the nightstand was a quick and easy option.

My guest room features a Murphy Bed, and I wanted two nightstands on either side of it. At some point in the future I might purchase a matching set, but until such time I am embracing frugality and using two mis-matched vintage nightstands. (You can see the other nightstand HERE).

I had guests arriving the next day, so I only had a few hours to tackle this project.

Vintage Dixie brand nightstand before paint.

This is a vintage Dixie-brand nightstand with the original finish. Overall the piece is sturdy and in fairly good condition. 

Vintage Dixie-brand nightstand before paint.

As I mentioned earlier, the room really needed a pop of color so I chose a beautiful Provence blue! I am using chalk paint for this project, and you can see in the photo that once the paint starts drying the finish looks very uneven.  I know many beginner painters worry about the uneven coverage of the first coat, but this is normal and the second coat will give it a nice finish.

First coat of blue paint drying.

The second coat of paint is giving me the coverage I wanted. I am using my favorite brush for applying chalk paint. It's a short-handled brush with natural bristles. I find natural bristles instead of synthetic work best with chalk paint.

Applying blue chalk paint with a sash brush.

I intentionally let the brush skim over the trim details. This gave me a slightly worn and distressed finish without taking the time later as an extra step to sand back the paint. 

Slightly uneven coverage gives an aged finish without sanding.

While the paint was drying I began work on the drawer pulls. The backs of the drawer pulls are visible, so both the front and backs need to be painted. To save time with having to wait for one side to dry before painting the other side, I put the screws in the pulls and held onto them so it's easy to paint both sides at once.

Hold the screws while painting drawer pulls.

Once the back is painted, I flip the pull over and paint the front.

Painting vintage drawer pulls blue.

Next I set the pulls down to dry while I finished painting the nightstand. Later I applied a quick second coat to the drawer pulls. 

I don't have photos of the final process, but I did use clear wax to seal the paint on the nightstand and the drawer pulls. Then I applied a water-based poly over the wax on the top of the nightstand to give the finish a little extra durability.

Painted drawer pulls drying on drop cloth.

AFTER:

In just a few hours my project is complete! Most of the time was spent waiting for the paint to dry. 

Vintage Dixie brand nightstand painted Provence blue.

Painted blue nightstand with vase of peonies.

Drawer pulls painted blue to match the nightstand.

The main guests that stay in my guest room are my infant and toddler grandsons. So the artwork I chose to hang above the nightstand features the sweetest farm animals which they love.

Framed art above the nightstand was selected for young guests.

I store a few toys and books inside the drawers which helps keep the room neat and tidy.

The nightstand drawers provide storage for books and toys.

I remove the flowers when the grandkids come to visit. But the pink blooms look beautiful against the blue.

Pink peony blooms look beautiful with the blue nightstand.

You can see the murphy bed in the background of the photo. I'll write about that project soon. But as you can see the walls, murphy bed, and carpet are all very neutral and similar in color, so the pop of color on the nightstand adds a bit of fun to the room.

Blue nightstand next to a Murphy Bed.

Here's a close up of the waxed and poly finish.

The paint was sealed with wax and poly.

Another close up shows what I wrote about earlier that I didn't try to achieve a 100% finish. 

Aged painted finish without sanding.

I am very pleased with the transformation.

Painted blue nightstand in guest room.

Thank you for reading about my project. I am happy that you stopped by and hope you visit again soon.

Before and After: Painted Dixie-brand nighstand.

SUPPLIES USED:

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Provence

It can sometimes be difficult to find the Annie Sloan brand locally, so I use Jolie Matte Finish Paint as an alternative as well. I like both equally well as both brands have a matte finish.

Clear Wax

Polycrylic

Short handle paint brush