Painted Nightstand Makeover That Turned Thrifted Tables Into Bedroom Favorites

This little attic bedroom makeover actually started almost two years ago, when I had the room covered in a soft sailboat wallpaper to brighten a space that gets very little natural light. I loved the wallpaper, but the dark wooden beds and furniture kept weighing the room down, and honestly, I never quite knew where to go with it. That all changed when I found a pair of thrifted white wrought iron beds that finally gave me the light, vintage coastal look I had been envisioning.

Since then, I’ve been having fun adding personality through a few simple painting projects; first with my folding luggage rack makeover and now with a pair of thrifted side tables I found at a barn sale. With the sailboat wallpaper, creamy whites, and our custom blue paint color setting the tone, these little nightstands were the perfect place to bring in one unexpected pop of color.

How I Planned the Look for These Thrifted Nightstands

Before I picked up a paintbrush, I already had a pretty good vision for how I wanted these thrifted nightstands to look. I had shared my photos of the wrought iron beds, red and white quilts, vintage table, and our new sailboat wallpaper with ChatGPT, along with the light, vintage coastal look I was envisioning for this attic bedroom. ChatGPT brought those pieces together into an inspiration image, and I especially loved the soft green nightstands with the unexpected floral details it added. That became the look I wanted to recreate with my newly thrifted tables.

With the inspiration photo in hand, I stopped by my local Annie Sloan Chalk Paint dealer to get some expert advice. The shop owner is a professional furniture painter, and, fun little Maine connection, even Martha Stewart recently stopped in to shop there! We landed on a custom mix of Annie Sloan Amsterdam Green and Country Grey Chalk Paint to create the softer green I had in mind. Annie Sloan paints can be mixed together, which gave us much more flexibility than choosing a color straight from the can.

I had originally planned to decoupage the middle drawer, but after seeing some of the furniture transfers she had used in the shop, I changed course. She recommended the Iron Orchid Designs Redouté II Transfer, which comes with beautiful vintage-inspired florals that I can arrange individually to create my own design. Unlike decoupage, there’s no paper or additional medium to apply. The transfer goes directly onto the painted surface and can then be protected with the same Annie Sloan finishing wax I was already planning to use. It looked easier, and I loved the finished examples I saw in the shop. Easier, and I loved the finished examples I saw in the shop.

Supplies for This Painted Nightstand Makeover

• Two thrifted wooden nightstands
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Amsterdam Green
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey
• Annie Sloan Clear Chalk Paint Wax
• Iron Orchid Designs Redouté II Transfer
• Paintbrush
• Paint stir sticks
• Flat sanding sponge
• Clean old rag

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How I Gave These Thrifted Nightstands a Painted Makeover

Once I had my custom green mixed and all my supplies gathered, the actual makeover was surprisingly simple. The nightstands had already been mostly sanded and prepped when I bought them, so the transformation came down to a little additional prep, two coats of chalk paint, finishing wax, and those unexpected floral transfers.

Painting the Thrifted Nightstands

With my custom green mixed and ready to go, the painting itself was very straightforward. I removed the drawers and hardware, gave everything a light sanding where needed, and applied two coats of chalk paint to the nightstands and drawer fronts. The paint dried quickly between coats, especially on such a warm summer day. I chose to leave the backs of the nightstands in their original oak finish since they’ll sit against the wall, a little reminder of the beautiful wood hiding underneath all that green.

Adding Floral Transfers to the Drawer Fronts

Now for the part that was completely outside my comfort zone!

I had never used a furniture transfer before, and truthfully, this project was already a little craftier than what I normally take on. But that was part of the fun. The inspiration image had me thinking differently about this room, and I loved the idea of adding one unexpected floral detail to each nightstand.

Instead of decoupage, I used the Iron Orchid Designs Redouté II Transfer I had picked out with the Annie Sloan dealer. The set includes eight sheets filled with individual vintage-inspired florals, so I could choose exactly which ones I wanted and save the rest for future projects.

I chose a rose for the middle drawer of each nightstand, keeping the placement simple and similar to the floral detail in my original bedroom inspiration image. And I couldn’t believe how easy it was to apply the transfers. Each one took me only about five minutes, if that. Once they were in place, I simply protected them with the same Annie Sloan Clear Chalk Paint Wax.

If you’ve never tried a furniture transfer before, don’t let them intimidate you. I hadn’t either, and this was easily the simplest and most fun part of the entire makeover.

Finishing the Chalk Paint with Clear Wax

Once the second coat was dry, I applied Annie Sloan Clear Chalk Paint Wax over the painted surfaces. I loved how the wax slightly deepened the green and gave the finish a richer, more finished appearance while still keeping that soft chalk-painted look.

A Simple Makeover That Took Me Outside My Comfort Zone

What I love most about these painted nightstands is that I never would have dreamed up this combination on my own. When I started planning our attic bedroom makeover, I knew the cream, soft blue, and red quilts needed one more color, which is why I asked ChatGPT to help me visualize the room using pieces I already had. That inspiration image introduced the soft green nightstands, and eventually the floral detail that started this entire project.

Green wasn’t originally part of my plan; furniture transfers were completely new to me, and this makeover was definitely a little outside my usual decorating comfort zone. But sometimes that’s exactly what a room needs. I’m so glad I followed the inspiration because these thrifted nightstands have become one of my favorite details in the bedroom.

Styling the Painted Nightstands in Our Attic Bedroom

Once I carried these painted nightstands upstairs and placed them beside the wrought iron beds, I knew the green had been the right choice. I kept the styling simple with an old ironstone pitcher I found while antiquing in Nova Scotia on our way home from Newfoundland last year, filled with roadside Queen Anne’s lace for a soft, gathered touch, and an antique alarm clock alongside it. Against the white bedding, red-and-white quilts, sailboat wallpaper, and our custom blue paint color, that unexpected green brought something to the room I didn’t even realize it was missing.

That inspiration image also changed the way I approached the rest of the room. I probably would have placed the nightstands differently, centered the rugs beneath the beds, chosen shorter curtains, and I’m fairly certain I never would have thought to bring green into the room at all. Even the little folding luggage racks I recently made over have found their way into the space, styled with guest towels and an extra pillow. It’s been such a fun reminder that sometimes simply seeing a room differently can send you in a direction you never expected.

I’m sharing just a peek at the bedroom for now, because there are still a few treasures left to find. I’m heading to Vintage Bazaar New England in Mystic, Connecticut this weekend, where I’ll be hunting for a pair of small brass or coastal-style lamps, artwork for above the beds, and maybe even a little desk I can make over next. I love that this room is slowly coming together through a mix of antiquing, painting, and simple DIY projects, all aimed at brightening up this little attic space.

Stay tuned for the full attic bedroom reveal coming soon!

Looking for more ways to bring vintage charm and personality into your bedrooms? Browse a few of my favorite bedroom decorating ideas, from antique finds and cozy bedding to collected details and simple makeovers that can completely change the feel of a room.

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This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will earn us commission.