The Antique Blue Nightstand Makeover
When we found these nightstands they were in pretty rough condition aesthetically. But underneath the dings, scratches, and years of built-up grime were beautiful bones ready for a fresh new look. Wait until you see the antique blue nightstand makeover we did with these!
Get more blue painted furniture ideas here!
Supplies Used for Antique Blue Nightstand Makeover
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- Krud Kutter
- Electric Screwdriver
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- Country Chic Paint in Midnight Sky
- Country Chic Paint in Dark Roast
- Country Chic Paint Clear Glaze
- Waterbased Polyurethane
- Cheap Brush
- Lint-Free Cloth
Paint Nightstands Blue
First I removed all hardware, including the pulls, hinges and metal feet plates. Then I scrubbed the dirt and grime away.
Learn more here about how to prep furniture before painting to make sure the finish is smooth and durable!
Then, each piece received two coats of the beautiful Midnight Sky. This deep royal blue is such a stunning bold color and the coverage is amazing!
Check out my honest and detailed Country Chic Paint Review here.
Check out the best blue chalk paint for furniture here and get more navy painted furniture and dark blue painted furniture inspiration here.
Apply Glaze over Blue Painted Nightstands
While the base coats dried I created a custom dark glaze of 1 ounce Dark Roast mixed with 4 ounces Clear Glaze. Check out my comparison between glaze vs wax over chalk paint to learn more.
Once it was mixed I added the smallest amount of water, just to thin the glaze down a bit.
I distressed the edges with 220 grit sandpaper, then wiped off any leftover dust with a damp rag. Read this post to learn about the 6 best distressing furniture techniques.
Then I applied a layer of satin top coat to make it easier to work with the glaze. Check out how to glaze over chalk paint here.
Using a cheap chip brush I lightly brushed on the Dark Roast glaze, making sure to get it into every corner and detail.
When the glaze is watered down ever so slightly it becomes much easier to get a very thin even layer.
Once the glaze started to dry I very lightly wiped it off with a wet lint-free cloth (a cut up old t-shirt works great!) to create a worn feel.
Because we wanted more of a sheen on the nightstands we sealed the glaze with another layer of satin top coat.
Need to SEE how to glaze? Check out this video on how I glaze over chalk paint.
More Before And After Makeovers
Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.
The Antique Blue Nightstand Makeover
Paint and glaze your furniture to give it an antique look. Here are the steps for this antique blue nightstand makeover.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Prepare by removing hardware and cleaning the nightstand.
- Paint the nightstand with 2 coats of blue paint.
- While the base coats dries, create a custom dark glaze of 1 ounce Dark Roast mixed with 4 ounces Clear Glaze. Once it's mixed, add the smallest amount of water, just to thin the glaze down a bit.
- You can distress the edges of the painted dresser with 220 grit sandpaper, then wipe off any leftover dust with a damp rag.
- Apply a layer of satin top coat on the dresser then lightly brush on the Dark Roast glaze, making sure to get it into every corner and detail.
- Once the glaze starts to dry, lightly wipe it off with a wet cloth to create a worn feel.
- Topcoat the glaze with more water-based polyurethane.
Recommended Products
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More Nightstand Makeover Ideas
- Repurpose a Desk into Nightstands
- DIY Emerald Green Mismatched Nightstands
- French Provincial Nightstands Makeover
- DIY Dark Green Nightstands
- Pink Painted Nightstand
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Hello.
I can’t believe I found your post.
It’s almost identical to what I’ve been envisioning in my mind.
I’ve been looking for used wood nightstands, like you found. So far I’m only finding partial wood.
Hey Ali,
Finding specific pieces are always hit or miss. Just keep searching!
Hello,
Thank you for all the great info.
I have a couple of questions. I am just starting out in redoing as an income stream. So I want to understand the why’s behind the choices most upcyclers use.
Why does chalk paint seem to be the popular choice for furniture redoers? Most bands of chalk paint are extremely
expensive. It has a lot of texture and doesn’t always leave a nice smooth, flawless finish. It also has a reuptation for not holding up as well as other options. Seems like using a good quality cabinet paint would be a good choice. When paired with a good quality top coat, that choice is nearly indestructible.
The other question is, why do so many use wax as the finish coat. Based on the information I have found, wax is not a very tough finish. It scratches easily. According to what I have read, its good for pieces that don’t get a lot of wear. But not suitable for tabletops, dresser tops, desk tops or any piece whose top gets a lot of wear, unless there is a lot effort put into layering, curing and polishing.
As I said I am just starting out and want to understand.
In videos the peices always look beautiful and seem to garner a good price.
Chalk paint came around and became popular because it was easier to use. But yes, if done the way that it was marketed, it doesn’t turn out as well as using an enamel paint would. It is also more versatile compared to other paints. If done the way I teach, you can get a professional finish with the chalk paint. But it isn’t the easiest way to paint furniture.
I’m like you with the wax, I can’t understand why people prefer wax, other than it is easier to apply… sometimes.
Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing though, if you want to paint furniture a different way, there is no problem in doing so.
Best of luck!