How to Make Over Ugly Free Nightstands With Paint!
I got these two nightstands from my neighbor for free. He posted them in our neighborhood Facebook group. What was I supposed to do, not take free nightstands? Besides, I was craving a new painting project…
One has the drawer on the top and one on the bottom. They are also slightly different sizes. So I decided not to paint them to match. Instead, I’m taking this opportunity to work with a little color, which is something I don’t usually do with paint projects for my house.
So for one I decided to do a slick black with a bright teal on the inset area. The other is an off-white with a bright purple in the inset area. I’m working with DecoArt paints today, as always, and although I regularly work for them, this project is not sponsored. 🙂
Supplies
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- DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels Classic Black
- DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels True Teal
- DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels Soft Linen
- DecoArt Americana Decor Indoor/Outdoor in Pansy
- Wooster angled brush and small paint roller
- FrogTape
First, as with every painted furniture project, I removed the drawers and hardware. Then I wiped down everything with a wet rag and let it dry.
For the first nightstand, I put two coats of Classic Black on everything but the inset area. I always use a mixture of a brush and small roller for different parts of the process. Also, sometimes a roller is just faster and easier on bigger spaces like table tops and the sides of nightstands or shelving units.
Once the black was completely dry, I taped off the areas that bumped up against the unpainted parts and put two coats of True Teal on the inset. I added a simple new drawer pull to give the piece a more updated look, and that’s it!
For the other one…
I did three coats of Soft Linen on the outside and then two coats of Pansy on the interior. I decided to keep the hardware on this one because it wasn’t in bad shape.
As always, it’s amazing how much of a difference a few coats of paint can make! Now to find homes for these bad boys.
Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
Greetings Brittany;
You have created two outstanding, beautiful pieces of work. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Donna 🙂