Last summer I got this vintage nightstand from a neighbor.
I love, love, love the style, but it definitely has some issues.
I already had this little vintage nightstand on one side of the bed.
While I had this monster on the other side of the bed. ignore the tag…. you know it’s illegal to remove them, right? hehehehe
So, recently while I’ve been trying to slowly get back to work, I decided it was time to work on this little freebie nightstand.
It had a really glossy finish and a little water damage on the top. I sanded it lightly, but then decided that was too much work—so I decided to mix up some DIY Chalk Paint in the Glidden Crisp White Linen that I used on the other tables in my bedroom.
I believe the color on the nightstand was Heirloom White. You can see a little difference in the new color.
I didn’t have a problem with the hardware on the vintage nightstand, but I didn’t like the color. You can see it was sort of bronze. So, I painted it with some spray paint. I think it was black. I stopped to take this picture so you can see the before and after.
The water damage is still there, but less noticeable.
I started to distress it, but the original paint was on there so good, I couldn’t get down to bare wood, so I just left it alone. My heart wasn’t really in this project, so I didn’t even wax or seal the chalk paint. It’s not going to get much abuse in my bedroom—it’s on Louie’s side of the bed. hahaha
I reattached the hardware, and I love the way it looks against the white.
I don’t generally paint the inside of the drawers, but to give them a fresh clean look, I gave them two quick coats.
Here it is in the bedroom, so happy that big clunky table is gone.
It now holds my t.v. Being the impatient DIY’er that I am, I put it in the room as soon as I finished it.
TIP: I knew that the t.v. would stick to the paint, so I placed some wax paper under it. It has worked like a charm. I’ll wait till it’s fully cured before I remove the wax paper.
It makes me smile to see it beside the bed, sort of makes me want to un-distress the other one—but I’ll save that for another day.
I know a lot of people don’t have t.v.s in their bedroom, but I watch t.v. each night before I go to sleep, and I watch Good Morning America each morning when I wake up. I can’t imagine NOT having a t.v. in there. So, that’s the question of the day—IF you have a t.v. in the bedroom, do you have a favorite show to watch as you fall asleep? I watch back to back episodes of Frazier, then I usually turn on HGTV, and set the timer for 30 minutes. I’m never awake when the timer goes off.
gail
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Updated to add, years and years later, the sweet vintage nightstand is still in my bedroom. I made a great little floating shelf below the new T.V. so now the nightstand is a real nightstand, not a tv stand. LOVE it!
carol
I'm right there with you on lack of patience, usually I'm so eager to get to the end product the paint gets smudged! It is amazing what a little paint can do to breathe new life into things. No TV -books for me!
Diane
Love the night stand, sometimes the less we put into something, the better it turns out! I also have a tv in bedroom, use timer, never hear it go off. I grew up in a family of 9 kids, so the back ground noise is a necessary comfort for me to sleep!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule
Love the nightstand! I have a tv in the bedroom but don't watch before bed. I read my Nook...it does make me sleepy and winds me down. Unfortunately I get so wrapped up in what I'm reading I force myself to keep my eyes open (when they'd happily be closed!) to keep reading!! Not a good plan, I don't think. 😉
Nancy
Mindi
So cute Gail! It is perfect, and matches the other so nicely, I am loving the legs on both! Great tip on the wax paper, I may have to use that someday, since we both know I am "impatient" wink wink!
Pat
hmmm... those two little tables compliment each other nicely.
I must say... distressed is the way to go in house. Because it all ends up distressed anyway. But I do like the crisp white on that little table for sure.
No T.V. in the bedroom. Even when we had kids... we had no T.V.'s except for gaming. They had no antenna and got no reception. We didn't even own a T.V. the first 4 years we were married. I could totally do with out it. 🙂
T.H. wants a flat screen ...we may try and spring for one this year.
Patricia
Holly
I love your bedside table. And the hardware looks great now. I have a tv in my bedroom. I generally fall asleep to a movie...I set the timer for an hour...but I hardly ever make it past 10 minutes. 🙂
Diane
Got to have my TV...I just can't seem to sleep if it is too quiet. LOL....I put the timer on and then go to sleep. Bad habit I know, but it works for me and my hubby. Love the little newest addition to the room. Love your color selection as well. Great job!!! 🙂
Becky
We have a tv in our room and it literally never gets used as a tv....but we will sometimes watch movies (DVDs) on it. Arely though. Dust collector.
Laurel Stephens
I read before bed nowadays, but at one time I was addicted to watching Johnny Carson every single night before falling asleep with a smile. I still miss his show! Frazier is a fave, too. That's a cute little night stand.
keya
love this makeover - so cute!
keya
Catherine
Yes--TV in the bedroom, even though it is said to be a bad thing. Oh , well.
I hATe to wake up to a screeching alarm~my bedroom TV has a WAKE UP TIMER, so I wake up to CNN or HLN. Way better and less jarring!
And I love your little night stand!
Catherine
Margaret
Nope, no TV in the bedroom. I'm a reader myself. Love the little nightstand.
Patty
I do have a tv in the bedroom (one of the old *heavy* 25 inchers, lol - but it was free at the local thrift store). I record 'The Nanny' and watch it as I go to sleep. I need light, happy entertainment before dream time. I used to read at bedtime, but found that I would get too involved in the books and stay up too late 🙂
Cute nightstand - I have a couple pieces with similar damage and I did the same thing - slapped the paint on and called it good. I never thought of using wax paper while the paint cures, that will go into my bag of tricks (and hopefully I find it in the deep dark recesses of that bag, lol)
Patty
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
I totally agree about the light and happy entertainment.... if I don't watch a little t.v., I can't turn my brain off while I sleep.
gail
Nadine
The redo is simple and really transforms it! I had to chuckle at you putting your TV on it before it dries...patience isn't a virtue of the creative! We have a giant TV in our bedroom that stays on pretty much all the time between listening to music and watching it. Hubby works 3rd shift so he uses it drown out the noise of the neighborhood. I watch the 11pm news and watch Jay Leno before drifting off to sleep...
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
That's a darling nightstand - perfect size and shape for next to your bed, plus great storage! ... We do not have a TV in our bedroom. I really can't imagine going to sleep with the TV on. I like it quiet and dark! I have trouble in hotels if my husband wants to watch something and I'm trying to sleep. But it sounds like you have a routine that works perfectly for you!
cassie
very pretty! love the shape and style and love the hardware!
Anne@DesignDreams
Pretty nightstand Gail! I watch tv before bed too, only I watch on my iPad - takes up much less room!!
Have a great day xox
Betsy
Love the nightstand! And nope - no TV in my bedroom (we only own one TV; it's in our family room). I'm a firm believer bedrooms as a sanctuary - a place of peace, rest, quiet & rejuvenation - so there's no place for television, but I have built in bookshelves and tons of books!