If you’re looking to add some personality and color to your bedroom, then this project is perfect for you. These beautiful DIY teal blue nightstands will not only serve as functional bedside tables but also as eye-catching decor in your room.

Get ready to transform your ordinary nightstands into unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of blue painted furniture that you’ll love waking up to every day.

photo of nightstand before the makeover with text overlay

Nightstands are important pieces of furniture in any bedroom, providing a convenient spot to store all your nighttime essentials.

However, they don’t have to be just functional – they can also be a great way to add style to your room.

One easy and budget-friendly way to do this is by painting them with a trendy and eye-catching color. Painting furniture is a fun and empowering DIY project that allows you to personalize your home decor.

Not only does it save you money, but it also gives you the freedom to choose unique colors and finishes that reflect your personal style.

Teal blue is a popular color choice for furniture as it adds a bold and vibrant touch without being too overpowering.

Let’s start this teal blue makeover!

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for DIY Teal Blue Nightstands

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Krud Kutter
Wood Filler
Putty Knife
220 Grit Sandpaper
Tack Cloth or Shop Vacuum
Primer
Annie Sloan’s Aubusson Blue
Calcium Carbonate Powder (for homemade chalk paint)
Zibra Paint Brush or Paint Sprayer
Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane
KREG Cabinet Hardware Jig
Crystal Knobs

Prep Your Nightstands

The first step is to remove all hardware from the nightstand, such as handles or knobs, in order to avoid any unwanted paint coverage.

If you want to change out the hardware, make sure to do so before painting. We decided to use new hardware last minute so we had to do touch ups on the paint job.

Next, give your nightstands a good cleaning using Krud Kutter or any other degreaser.

Cleaning furniture before painting will help remove any built-up dust, dirt, oil, wax, or grime that could interfere with the paint sticking to the surface.

Make sure to let your nightstands dry completely before moving on to the next step.

photo of krud kutter and damp rag to clean nightstands

After cleaning, use wood filler to fill in any imperfections such as scratches or dents. This will give you a smooth and even surface for painting.

Be generous with the wood filler and make sure to let it dry completely before sanding it down. You can also use a putty knife to remove any excess filler and create a more even finish.

Now lightly sand the nightstands using 220 grit sandpaper to scuff up the surface. This will help the paint adhere better and create a stronger bond.

Here’s our post on sanding before painting furniture to learn more about the importance of this process.

Remember to always wipe down the nightstands with a tack cloth after sanding to remove any dust or debris. You can also use a shop vacuum with a brush attachment for this step.

photo of scuff sanding nightstands with 220 grit sandpaper

Once everything is clean and dry, you should prime your nightstands using a high-quality primer.

Our list of the best primers for painting furniture can help you choose the right one for your project. This will not only help the paint stick better but also stop stains from coming through paint.

Apply one or two coats of primer and let each coat dry completely before moving on.

Paint Your Nightstands Teal Blue

Once your nightstands are prepped and primed, it’s time to add the fun teal blue color!

We used a color match of Abusson Blue from Annie Sloan – from searching online, a blogger gave the color match code for Annie Sloan’s Abusson Blue, but you can also use any other brand of paint in a similar shade.

We made our own homemade chalk paint by mixing the color with calcium carbonate powder.

mixing calcium carbonate powder with water to make chalk paint

When painting your nightstands, make sure to use smooth and even brush strokes. We used a Zibra paint brush which helped us get a flawless finish.

If you’re worried about brush marks, you can learn tips and tricks on how to paint furniture without brush marks here.

Once you’ve painted the first coat, let it dry completely before adding a second coat.

If you’re looking to save time or want a different method for painting your furniture, consider using a paint sprayer.

They are easy to set up and clean up, can be used with any type of paint, and can even be used for topcoats.

Plus, they provide a smooth finish without any brush marks. Check out our list of the best HVLP paint sprayers for furniture to know your options.

Distress and Seal Your Teal Blue Nightstands

Distressing your teal blue nightstands can add a vintage and rustic charm to them, making them look like timeless pieces.

Using 220 grit sandpaper, you can easily distress the edges and corners of your nightstands to give them a worn-out look.

Make sure not to overdo it and step back every now and then to see if you’re happy with the amount of distressing.

If you’re not a fan of the distressed look, you can skip this step and just seal your nightstands with poly. Here’s our blog post about distressing furniture to learn more tips about distressing furniture!

photo of 220 grit sandpaper to distress nightstands

After distressing, it’s important to seal your nightstands with a topcoat. This will not only protect the paint from wear and tear but also make it easier to clean and maintain.

We used Varathane water-based polyurethane and applied it with a paint sprayer for a smooth and even finish.

Here’s our post on topcoats for painting furniture to learn more about choosing the right topcoat for your next project!

It’s recommended to apply at least three coats of poly for the best durability and protection. This is especially important for your nightstands as they are frequently used pieces of furniture.

Here’s how to spray polyurethane to learn more about how to make your polyurethane topcoat look perfect.

photo of using Varathane water-based polyurethane and paint sprayer to seal paint

Update Nightstands Hardware

When it comes to updating the hardware on your nightstands, there are a few options you can consider.

One option is repainting the original hardware. We did this by using Rub n Buff in Gold Leaf to give it a new and shiny look.

Unfortunately, we didn’t like the way it turned out, so we decided to go with a different option.

And this other option is to replace the hardware altogether. So we filled in the old holes, scuff sanded each drawer, and then repainted and topcoated them.

We drilled new hardware holes by measuring and marking where we wanted the new hardware to be, making sure each piece was evenly spaced from the edges.

Read this post to learn more about How to Change Hardware on a Dresser (this method works on nightstands too)!

You can use a KREG cabinet hardware jig to make this process easier and more accurate. Finally, we added new crystal knobs for a touch of elegance and sparkle.

close-up view of teal blue nightstands after the makeover

full view photo of teal blue nightstands after the makeover

More Before And After Makeovers

Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.