It seems like we restore a lot of nightstands around here, but the consensus is everyone likes a good furniture makeover, right? I found a vintage pair of Drexel nightstands awhile back and finally took the time to restore them to their former glory. Click through for the before images and the complete process!
When I’m out and about thrifting vintage furniture, there are some things I always look for… reputable brands, solid wood, good construction, and condition. These nightstands happened to be Drexel (here’s an exact match), were in decent condition, and the price was right, so I pulled the trigger.
Here’s a before image… the photo actually makes it look much better than it was- the nightstands were an icky pale yellow color with stains and scuffs.
I’m going to quickly share the process of restoring vintage furniture with you, but for a super detailed post on furniture restoration, click here or here!
I always begin by removing the hardware. It makes it so much easier to sand and paint.
Next comes sanding. I like sanding blocks because they’re easy to hold onto and you can turn them different ways to get into tough spots. If you buy quality paint, you really just need to roughen the surface… a light sanding will do!
Next comes the fun part- painting! I used Benjamin Moore Auro in an eggshell finish for a matte look.
If you’re wondering about the exact color… it’s called Blue Note. I like that it’s a deep navy with green undertones, and not too saturated.
I always begin by trimming out the piece with a small brush. The trick is to apply the paint in thin layers. A thin application with multiple layers always looks nice and smooth in the end.
Next, I use a door or cabinet roller. They’re very compact with little to no nap. Again… thin layers are best- it’s not about caking on the paint.
After about three or four coats of paint and the piece is completely dry, reinstall the hardware. I polished it slightly with this product (it’s magic!). I sort of liked the antique burnished look, so I didn’t fully polish the hardware- just enough to remove the big scuffs. That’s all there is to it! If you have the time and are willing to put in a little elbow grease, you’ll get amazing results. Here’s the “after” styled image.
I love the way the nightstands turned out. I’ll share our entire bedroom reveal soon. I still have to touch up some paint on the panel moulding, and Emmett needs to install our art. I’m guessing it will be ready in a week or two, so stayed tuned for that!
Here’s a fun little tidbit… Emmett found that mid century bowl buried in our backyard at our Ohio home. It was the inspiration behind the color palette for the nightstands and master bedroom. Pretty beautiful, right?! It’s sort of special because it came from there and holds happy memories. We never got to display it at our previous house because we had already started packing to move when he discovered it. I’m glad it’s on display next to my bedside now.
Let me know what you think of the nightstands! Do you guys like the color or would you have chosen something lighter? For a huge roundup of more nightstands, click here. I can’t wait to share the entire space. It’s been a long time coming!
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Leah Prevost
May 10, 2017 at 12:33 amI love the color! And also love furniture restorations! Can’t wait to see your room all finished!
Sarah
May 10, 2017 at 2:02 pmThanks so much, Leah!! xo
Anne
May 17, 2017 at 4:34 amLove, love, love the color! So deep, rich and cozy – perfect for a bedroom.
Sarah
May 17, 2017 at 3:08 pmThank you!! I know you like the deep blues ;) xo
Kim
October 5, 2017 at 12:46 amLove it! Inspiration for the furniture piece I’m paint right now! I love this color! Wish I could share the picture!
Sarah
October 5, 2017 at 3:02 amThank you so much!! Tag me on Instagram or something- I’d love to see it :) xox
Kim
October 6, 2017 at 12:45 amI’ll send you a picture on Pinterest. I’m not cool enough for instagram 😂 Love the blog can’t wait to see the bathroom!
laura@everydayedits.co
August 28, 2019 at 5:25 amhi sarah, i just love visiting your blog for inspiration and to snoop around! Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend!
laura
Sarah
August 28, 2019 at 8:26 amThank you so much, Laura! This comment made my day. Hope you have a fun Labor Day weekend as well :) xo