Porch Daydreamer

  • Paint Projects
    • Paint Project Resource Guide
    • Paint Colors
  • DIY Projects
    • Home Repair and Organization Resource
    • How To Videos
      • How-to Paint Cabinets with an Airless Paint Sprayer
      • How-To Prime with an Airless Paint Sprayer
      • How-To Change a Cabinet Knob to a Cup Pull
      • How-To Install Cabinet Hardware
      • How-To Fix a Broken Light Switch
      • How-To Replace a Door Handle
  • Design Projects
    • Seasonal Decor
      • Fall Ideas and Home Tour
      • Christmas Posts
    • Home Tours
    • Room Makeovers
      • Master Bathroom Remodel
      • Powder Room Remodel
      • ORC Room Reveals
    • Decorating Resource Guide
  • Lifestyle
    • Porch Time
  • Shop & Source
    • HOME SHOP
    • Favorite Beauty Products
    • Favorite Table Decor
  • GET TO KNOW ME
You are here: Home / Paint Projects / French Blue Paint Nightstand Makeover

French Blue Paint Nightstand Makeover

DIY Projects· Paint Colors· Paint Projects

20 Nov
  • Pin
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Looking for a quick nightstand makeover with paint? See how I transformed a plain nightstand into an elegant statement piece!

Have you been living with your current bedroom furniture and want a new look? Why not paint your nightstands?

Since I’ve never had the budget available to replace my bedroom furniture, instead I’ve transformed them with paint.

Learn how you can take a stained nightstand and make it look completely different with just a little paint!

Nightstand Makeover with Paint

My bedroom furniture is literally 20 years old! It’s hard to believe that as I type it.

With a little paint I’ve been able to give them a completely new life! The nightstand’s original finish was a deep cherry stain, but I wanted a lighter look.

Update #1 was to paint them a pretty off-white color called Light Raffia, from Valspar.

Nightstands Painted Before and After_Porch Daydreamer

This nightstand makeover was my first time using a paint sprayer and boy did I love it!

One thing that is critical to note when painting over a stained finish it requires NO SANDING! 

The full tutorial of nightstand makeover #1 can be found here:  paint sprayer made a dreaded project easy. 

So I’ve lived with the nightstands painted a simple solid color for a couple of years, but really wanted to give them some personality during my recent Master Bedroom Mini-Makeover.

Contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links where I may make a small commission if a purchase is made. {full disclosure here}

Finding Painted Furniture Inspiration

Luckily, I have an entire Pinterest Board filled with painted furniture inspiration.

It’s filled with gorgeous options and it was the first place I started to find some ideas for painting my nightstands.

French Blue and green are my favorite types of paint colors for furniture because they are neutral and soft.

nightstand-inspiration-finish

Then, I landed on this beauty and knew this was the type of look I wanted to recreate.

It seemed like the perfect fit, with the exposed off-white so I didn’t have to re-paint the large armoire in the room. That was a project I didn’t want to tackle 🙂

The antiquing was a little heavier than what I typically like, but I LOVED the darker hardware.

Because it’s just about impossible to find new hardware for a Bombay styled chest, spray paint is the cheapest and easiest alternative to modify the finish. 

Rustoleum-Forged-Hammered-Burnished-Amber-Spray-Paint-matching-canopy-bed-in-bronze-

Rust-Oleum Forged Hammered Burnished Amber

I found the perfect match to the canopy bed in the room and decided to add gold accents on the hardware with Rub ‘n Buff in Gold Leaf.

After testing a bunch of gold options, this fit the decor in the room the best.

chose-gold-leaf-rub-n-buff

The most important decision? Finding the perfect blue gray to paint my nightstands.

Here are some of the paint options I found that are the most beautiful colors for furniture in general.

My suggestion is to ALWAYS paint a sample board, before committing to a paint color!

The Best Way to Test a Paint Color Before Painting Furniture

Best-Furniture-Paint-Colors-Blues-and-Greens

1. BM Tranquility AF-490 | 2. SW Silvermist 7621 | 3. V Grey Brook 5001-1B | 4. BM Wedgewood Gray HC-146 | 5. V Secluded Garden 5002-4A | 6. SW Breezy 7616 | 7. V Academy Gray 5001-2A | 8. V Sharkfin 4007-2A | 9. V Polished Silver 4008-1B | 10. BM Oxford Gray 2128-40

Which one did I choose? After living with the samples for a few days, I chose Polished Silver!

You can see how blue versus gray it looks in my bedroom.

That’s why a physical sample is so critical to selection because the paint will look so different in your home reflecting the items in the room and changing with the light.

Paint-selection-nightstands-Valspar-Polished-Silver

Off to re-create the inspiration paint finish and teach you exactly how I did it!

Pin It for Later!

French-Blue-Painted-Nightstand-Makeover

Painted Nightstand Makeover Tutorial

How-To Makeover a Nightstand with Paint

How-To Makeover a Nightstand with Paint

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Active Time: 2 hours
Additional Time: 16 hours
Total Time: 18 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $35

Easily transform an existing piece of stained or painted bedroom furniture with a new paint finish. Learn how to re-create this elegant French Blue nightstand.

Materials

  • Valspar Cabinet Enamel / Available at Lowe's
  • Valspar Bonding Primer / Available at Lowe's
  • Rustoleum Spray Paint Hammered Burnish Amber
  • Gold Leaf Rub n' Buff
  • Antique and Clear Glaze

Tools

  • Foam paint roller
  • Nylon/Polyester paint brush
  • Frog Tape
  • Lintless rag like an old t-shirt
  • Q-Tips

Instructions

Step 1:

  1. If furniture is stained, prime with bonding primer and two coats of Valspar Cabinet Enamel Light Raffia 3008-10B.nightstand with sanded hardware I chose to spray over the hardware, but it can be removed if needed. For the final finish, I removed the hardware prior to painting.
  2. Step 2:

  1. Using Frog Tape, tape off areas that you don't want painted the darker color. You can use my pattern or one that suits the furniture you have. My drawers are not remove-able, so I just pulled them out slightly to apply the tape and to paint.

Step 3:

  1. Using a brush and foam roller, apply 2 coats of Valspar Cabinet Enamel, I used Valspar Polished Silver, 4008-1B.nightstands-painted-with-two-coats-of-valspar-polished-silver-cabinet-paint Dry AT LEAST 8 hours between coats. The final coat needs to dry OVERNIGHT.

Step 4:

  1. If you would like to change the hardware color, update the hardware while the paint is drying. Rustoleum-Forged-Hammered-Burnished-Amber-Spray-Paint
  2. In a well ventilated area, spray paint hardware with two coats of paint. Allow 30 minutes dry time between coats.cabinet-hardware-spray-painted-with-rustoleum-forged-hammered-burnished-amber-spray-paint
  3. Let dry overnight before installing.close-up-cabinet-hardware-spray-painted-with-rustoleum-forged-hammered-burnished-amber-spray-paint

Step 5:

  1. Very gently, remove tape to expose areas not painted.final-painted-french-carved-nightstand-with-two-paint-colors-valspar-polished-silver-and-valspar-light-raffiaIt already looks like a brand new piece of furniture!

Step 6:

  1. If desired, create the antiquing glaze by mixing 60% clear glaze and 40% antiquing glaze. mix-of-60-clear-and-40-antiquing-glaze
  2. Stir until thoroughly blended.blended-antiquing-glaze-mix
  3. Step 7:

  1. Using a lint free rag like an old t-shirt, dip a small corner into the glaze mixture. Apply in random dots working in small sections.place-random-dots-of-antiquing-glaze-randomly-on-drawer-fronts-of-night-stands
  2. Make sure to push glaze into carved details.push-dots-of-antiquing-glaze-into-carved-areas-of-furniture
  3. For each section of glaze dots, using the same rag, begin rubbing and blending glaze into the surface of the paint.rub-in-antiquing-glaze-to-blend-into-the-paintIt's important to work in small sections so the glaze doesn't dry and can be manipulated.

Step 8:

  1. Let the glaze dry OVERNIGHT. Then reinstall newly painted hardware.nightstand-painted-in-valspar-polished-silver-antiqed-with-glaze-and-spray-painted-hardware

Step 9 (optional):

  1. Squeeze a small amount of Rub 'n Buff on a paper plate and swirl it with a Q-tip.thin-layer-of-gold-leaf-rub-n-buff-on-paper-plate-with-q-tip-as-applicator Apply directly to areas of the hardware you want highlighted in gold.apply-small-amount-of-rub-n-buff-with-q-tip-to-highlight-areas-of-cabinet-hardware
  2. Apply very little! Rub in with a dry paper towel to finish.use-a-clean-paper-towel-and-rub-in-rub-n-buff-to-cabinet-hardware
  3. Here is the hardware highlighted in gold making it look high end and elegant.cabinet-hardware-updated-with-rustoleum-bronzed-amber-spray-paint-and-gold-leaf-rub-n-buff
  4. Step 10:

  1. Enjoy your new nightstand!white-drapes-framing-blue-painted-nightstand



Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, 2 Inch, White
    Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, 2 Inch, White
  • Shur-Line 2006689 4 Ergonomic Sure-Grip Foam Mini Roller with with 12-Inch Handle
    Shur-Line 2006689 4 Ergonomic Sure-Grip Foam Mini Roller with with 12-Inch Handle
  • FrogTape 1358463 Multi-Surface Painting Tape, .94 Inches Wide x 60 Yards Long, Single Roll, Green
    FrogTape 1358463 Multi-Surface Painting Tape, .94 Inches Wide x 60 Yards Long, Single Roll, Green
  • Rust-Oleum 271480 Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 12 oz, Forged Hammered Burnished Amber
    Rust-Oleum 271480 Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 12 oz, Forged Hammered Burnished Amber
  • Rub 'n Buff Metallic Gold Leaf
    Rub 'n Buff Metallic Gold Leaf
© Porch Daydreamer
Project Type: Makeover / Category: Paint Projects
Update a plain nightstand or piece of furniture by transforming it with paint. How-to create and elegant French Blue painted finish and how-to update the hardware with spray paint. Best blue and green furniture paint colors.
Isn’t it amazing how paint created an entirely new look for these nightstands!

I love how the carved details pop with the paint treatment and antiquing glaze.

Plus what a nice change to the hardware making it look more defined on the nightstand and coordinating it with the new canopy bed.

french-nightstand-painted-polished-silver-bronze-hardware-capiz-lamp

close-up-of-painted-bombay-chest-with-painted-hardware

reveal-porch-daydreamer-master-bedroom-makeover-woven-shades-white-drapes-canopy-bed-benjamin-moore-quite-moments

Love the color of my bedroom? Want to know all of the paint colors I’ve used around my home?

As my free gift to you, download all of my paint colors by signing up for my weekly email newsletter.

Just click the picture to sign-up and get the instant download! 

free download of porch daydreamer paint colors

Please consider following me on Pinterest and Instagram for daily inspiration.

I’d appreciate you Pinning from this post to help me grow!

Until next time…

PORCH DAYDREAMER

Tracey

Hot Stuff Delivered Once a Week!

* indicates required
 
 
  • Pin
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

4 Comments

« 20 Must Haves for Thanksgiving Meal Prep
How-To Hang Christmas Wreaths and Garland on a Railing »

Comments

  1. Debbie says

    November 25, 2019 at 9:14 AM

    What a great tutorial. I am in the process of painting my bedroom. The next project is painting my bedroom furniture. I have matching nightstands. Can I paint the nightstands two different colors?
    Thank you for your great tutorials and decorating tips! I enjoy your blog immensely.
    Have a great Thanksgiving with your family!
    Debbie

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      November 25, 2019 at 9:33 AM

      Awww, thanks Debbie! I’m a symmetrical minded person, so I will always say to paint both of them the same color 🙂 You can do two different colors if you’d like 🙂 Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  2. Cecilia from Georgia says

    November 25, 2019 at 8:54 AM

    This chest is so lovely! How do you know which Rub ‘n Buff gold to use? I didn’t realize there are so many choices! Your tutorial is so thorough and inspiring. Have a wonderful Turkey day with your family.

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      November 25, 2019 at 9:35 AM

      Hey, Cecilia! I bought a set of gold rub ‘n buff and squeezed a bit of each one on a paper plate before choosing 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving and I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

free download of porch daydreamer paint colors

Hi! My name is Tracey

Porch-Daydreamer-Headshot-Blue-minImprove + Beautify + Teach

Creating a beautiful life one project at a time!

A single mom using her crazy career in home improvement to master DIY projects, design, and painting everything! Teaching what I’ve learned + new projects too!

Tracey’s work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, Holiday Decor Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce plus more!

Behind the name Porch Daydreamer

Shop My Instagram

LiketoKnow.IT Shop My Instagram-min

Daily Home Pictures

Instagram_Widget-min

Please Follow Me!

Pinterest-porch-daydreamer-widget-min

  • GET TO KNOW ME
  • WORK WITH ME
  • Contact Me
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
© 2019 Porch Daydreamer | ·Refined Theme Restored 316