Nightstand Makeover & Stencil Tutorial

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I went to the Blissdom Conference this past week which was awesome because I hung out with my homies {home blogger peeps}! I came home with the Blissdom Crud – otherwise known as flu-like, sinus infection-like head-ready-to-explode crud.  I’m hoping that I’ll be well soon so I can get busy on my house! 🙂

nightstand makeover with stencil tutorial

Will it spoil the after too much if I show it to you first? Naw! 🙂

I spotted this nightstand/end table at a yard sale for $7.  I hesitated slightly when I saw that it was laminate, but it’s actually good quality with a dovetailed drawer and solid wood instead of particle board under the laminate. The shape is just adorable and the price was right, so I bought it.  I couldn’t wait to give it a new look!

1.  I lightly sanded it down with a coarse sanding pad.  Old stringy tape was stuck to the sides {eewww}, so sanding took care that.

2.  Then I primed the nightstand with white Rustoleum American Accents oil-based spray primer and let it dry for a few days.

3.  I used Rustoleum American Accents Blossom White spray paint in a few light coats to finish off the paint process.

{lookin’ better!}

After a few days of forcing myself to allow the paint to dry and harden, I lightly distressed the nightstand’s edges. I also distressed the drawer a bit. I love how it added texture, color and depth. The knobs are from Hobby Lobby where I scored them for 50% off – only $2.50 each! Woo to the hoo!

Now for the really fun part… stenciling!!

{supplies I used}

1.  I divided the top into quadrants so I would have the center vertically and horizontally.  I couldn’t find my hard measuring tape, but a sewing measuring tape and a ruler worked just fine.

2.  Then I taped down my stencil with blue painter’s tape.

3.  I squeezed Americana’s Bleached Sand acrylic paint onto a foam plate {fancy, I know!}.

4. Then I lightly brushed the paint  onto the stencil with a foam brush. The key here is to not saturate the brush, but to lightly and repeatedly add more paint to the stencil. You could also use a small foam roller for this step.

I continued stenciling the design all over the top of the nightstand.  {Don’t you just love those sweet little fingers peeking over the edge?}  Once the stencil was dry, I sprayed two light coats of clear matte spray paint on it to give it a little bit of extra protection.

{swoon}

I’m thrilled with how the nightstand turned out!

It was easy and inexpensive to makeover. I only spent about $12 for supplies that I didn’t have on hand.

{more eye candy}

We all love a good before and after, right?

Have you stenciled furniture? This is my first piece and I’m pretty sure I’m hooked! 🙂

I’m linking up this project to Tip Me Tuesday, Show And Share Day, Before and After Party, Transformation Thursday, House Of Hepworths, Layla’s How To Party and Melissa’s Paint Party and Furniture Feature Friday!

84 Comments

  2. Wow! This looks great! You have such a great eye for turning blah into fabulous! Hope you get to feeling better soon.

    Reply

  3. Wow…that is gorgeous! I wish I had the eye to turn someone else’s castoff into beautiful treasures like you do.

    With the stenciling, how long did it take for each flower to dry before you could reposition the stencil? Is that a lengthy process?

    It’s fabulous!

    Reply

    1. Sandi, thank you!! 🙂 I spent probably an hour and a half stenciling the top. The key is to not use a lot of paint or else it will clump up under the stencil and then it’ll take forever to dry. After each “flower” I wiped off the stencil, so it wouldn’t smudge when I taped it down again. All that to say, it’s not a lengthy process at all. You just have to have a little patience. 🙂

      Reply

  5. First off, I love your blots and projects! We recently bought and are living in a house in Mississippi that’s 170+ years old so your sight inspires me. What are the green glass insulators? We have a TON of them in this house and I didn’t know if they were just knock knacks or of other value. Thx!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Sandra! You are a dear! The insulators are from old power poles/lines. I love the aqua ones the best…especially when the sun shines through them. 🙂

      Reply

  6. I don’t have any skills when it comes to decorating or fixing up old things, etc. BUT, you are totally inspiring me. I am on such a kick. I have no idea what I’m doing but it’s fun to take some pride in my home and look for good deals when I’m out and about!! Thank you!

    Reply

  7. hi myra! 🙂 this post at TT&J is the reason i started following your blog. i was so inspired by such a pretty and easy detail that i couldn’t help but shamelessly copy it. i am almost finished with my little filing cabinet (that actually but not intentionally has the same exact stencil on the top) and will have a before/after post as soon as i get the knobs i want (also 50% off a HobLob yipee skipee!)! I will let you know so you can check out mine too if you would like! 🙂 Thanks for the great post and tutorial – it is a cutie – patootey night stand and i love it! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Hi Myra, The table looks nice, so fresh and bright. I haven’t tried a stencil yet but would like to. Great inspiration!

    Sandra, I think the glass insulator piece is from old railroad lights. That’s what I’ve heard. Not sure on the value but the colors are pretty!

    Reply

  11. Those are telephone pole insulators. My dad buried a trunk full of them somewhere on my grandparents farm in the 50s. He kicks himself today because they do have value – I think he said the blue more than the clear.

    Reply

  12. Myra – I’d love to know where your stencil is from. Your nightstand looks grat and has inspired me to start a laminate painting project.

    Reply

    1. Hey Sarah! My stencil came from Hobby Lobby for just a few bucks. 🙂 I would love to see your stenciling project!

      Reply

  13. It looks great, Myra! Good job! You must be really proud of it.

    I got married in 1985, and stencilling was a BIG deal back then. I mean, a REALLY big deal. Of course, we were stencilling things like ducks and geese and little hearts–so country that it would make you want to throw up. But the good news is that I got to be a stencilling pro. Looks like I need to get my supplies out and go for it on some furniture!

    You’re absolutely right that the secret is to have very little paint on your brush. I used to plop a dab of paint onto a paint, dip my brush just barely, and then rub the excess off on a paper towel. It takes a little while to do several coats, but you never get any runs or bleed-throughs that way. It’s like the tortoise and the hare–slow and steady wins the race! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Richella, you are just so sweet and so funny! I remember the ducks and geese and little hearts. HA! We must find another event to attend, so we can hang out more. Any chance you might come to Relevant? 🙂

      Reply

  15. Myra,
    It turned out amazing and I am still in shock about how much it cost you! I am so jealous, we don’t have a Hobby Lobby. I’ve heard such good things.
    Great Job!!!
    Cheers!
    Shelly
    p.s. I’m hosting a Giveaway and would love for you to come on over for a chance to win. daisy-diaries.blogspot.com

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Thank you! 🙂 I got the lamp at TJ Maxx several months ago. I snatched it up as fast as I could! 🙂

      Reply

    1. Kelly, thanks for your sweet comment! 🙂 I got my stencil from Hobby Lobby for just a few bucks. 🙂

      Reply

  25. Yes, need details on the lamp please! Love the stencil. YOu have inspired me to redo my guest room night stands!

    Reply

    1. Hey Kate! 🙂 I got the lamp from TJ Maxx months ago…I love them! I would love to see your night stands when you get them redone! 🙂

      Reply

  27. Your nightstand is absolutely adorable. What a great transformation. I haven’t done any furniture re-purposing yet but I am looking forward to it. Especially if it could come out as lovely as your nightstand!

    Good job!

    Reply

  29. that is so cute! i love the blue with the white and sand color. why can’t i ever find something so cute. And it was SO helpful to see a picture of the item you used and in what order-that’s the kind of stuff i need to see so that when i finally DO find a cute piece of furnitue, i will know what to do with it! so thanks and great job!

    Reply

  33. I can’t BELIEVE you stencilled this!! It looks great, I thought it was wallpaper when I first saw it. You must have a steady hand!

    Reply

  34. I have a laminate coffee table that I inherited from my parents and I’ve been dying to paint it somehow but like you, I’ve had my reservations. Interestingly enough, this is the same stencil I’ve been thinking of using…after seeing your nightstand I’m going for it!
    Thanks so much for the tutorial!!

    Reply

  38. The nightstand is gorgeous! I recently re-did an end table and I painted chevron stripes on the top – it reminds me a lot of this one, we used the same colors!

    Reply

  41. Oh Love! I am working on a fun new design for my tween girl – and this would be adorable for her dresser! Can’t wait to show her!

    And she could do it!

    Thanks Myra!

    Reply

  42. girl, I think i already commented, but in case i haven’t…this thing is beautiful!!!! SOOO pretty and such attention to detail. LOVE. Throw it in our new furniture gallery flickr group…you can click the flickr link from my site….hoping to add gorgeous projects like yours!! Can I feature this later today on the blog?
    🙂 xoxo
    shaunna

    Reply

    1. Aww, thank you Shaunna!! 🙂 (blush) That means so much coming from you! I will add it to the flickr group. And you can feature anything of mine anytime. xoxo

      Reply

  43. I absolutely adore, adore, adore this! In fact, I’m feeling like I need to run to a thrift store and grab a table just to try it myself! It’s absolutely adorable and you did such a wonderful job!

    Reply

  44. Hello, Sweet Lady! While I love all of your projects, I chose this one to do a little feature on today because your stencil tutorial is wonderful! I’m sitting here, looking at a little nightstand right now! Hm . . . 😉

    Reply

  46. I too LOVE thrifty makeovers! I just started a new blog myself so that I too may showcase what I have done with them. Will you please stop by? I would love & appreciated any ideas or tips you may have. Thank you & Many Blessings

    Atirinspireddecor.blogspot.com

    Reply

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