Farmhouse style. It’s all the rage these days. How about you? Are you ready for a touch farmhouse today?
Welcome to the May collection from the DIY Furniture Girls, where 20 bloggers use one theme and create 20 different looks. This month’s challenge is a salute to patriotism. Each blogger will refinish a piece of furniture using red, white, or blue.Happily, no one asked me to find the absolute saddest looking nightstand on the planet. I just did this on my own. After all, as we move from month to month, I like to keep you guessing. Remember last month’s lovely serpentine chest? Click here to see. Well, this month, I pulled a 180 and rescued this little guy from the bathroom in the basement. I don’t eeeeeven want to think about what it’s been through. #boys #20plusyears
Disclosure: I received free paint from Poppies Paint Powder in exchange for writing a review on the blog. This post does NOT contain an affiliate link and all opinions are 100% my own.
After a good scrubbing, this is what’s left of the original finish. Notice the hardware was rusting — and believe it or not –I opted to leave it this way.
The plan was to paint it a nice red using Ralph Lauren latex paint. But after it was painted, I decided to distress the edges with 120-grit sandpaper. Once in a while, even Ralph needs to get his farmhouse on.
And I liked the way it turned out, but it was already a little small for the space. When I stepped back and looked at the big picture, the red made it look even smaller. I even tossed a few red accessories in the mix trying to visually expand the red. And I planned to buy pillows with red for the bed.
But no combination of accessories, wood, or fabric helped the little red nightstand look rightly scaled for the space. Plus, it was beginning to swing juvenile and I really didn’t want that. And so….. time for Plan B. What I needed to do is visually include the nightstand with the focal point piece…which is the bed. So the nightstand went back out to the woodshed for another makeover.
This time I used a creamy white latex paint and made it into chalk paint by adding a product called Poppies Paint Powder. It’s really easy to mix. Just add water to the powder, then stir the paint into the mix. And voila. Latex paint becomes chalk paint. Click here for a full product review.
But here’s the real shocker. It only took two coats to cover the red and there was no bleed through.
Pinky promise.
The edges were slightly distressed, but I really wanted the nightstand to melt into the color of the sheets. The tones were already a bit different so a light hand with the distressing merely outlined the nightstand. Sometimes less is more. This, I believe, was one of those times.
Now the piece is refreshed with an updated look, but isn’t dwarfed by the Queen bed.
And with the white, I can easily change out the bed linens for guests. You know, I have about five different sets depending on who’s coming. Can’t have a frat boy sleeping in a room decorated for Mema ……can we?
And almost all of the change outs…yes….all five of them….fit in the little red creamy white nightstand. Maybe soon, I’ll do a post on quick changing the look of the room for different types of guests. It’s super easy and, of course, done on the cheap.
In the meantime, if you’re like me and like light and bright, but don’t want to go all white, here’s a post that offers 5 easy ideas to help with that. Click here to see.
And, as always….thanks so much for stopping by…and please…don’t forget to pin.
And….now……..more from the lovely …
59 Comments
I can never stop being amazed at how paint can make things new. You breathed new life into this once sad piece. Bravo!
Thanks, Larissa. I was happy to put a smile on the face of this little guy.
Cute nightstand Susie! It sure looks more substantial in the white. Incredible what color will do. Love how you styled the entire room!
Thanks, Lucy. Yep…painting it white really helped with scale. I was surprised with the difference.
What a great piece! Looks so fresh in white!
Thanks, Lindsay.
Wow Susie! This turned out so cute. I really liked the red but you are right…as always, the white fits better and makes the little guy appear bigger! I LOVE it!
Thanks, Michelle. I think when I get the sewing cabinet refinished for the other side, it will really make more sense to have used the white. Thanks for stopping by.
I liked the red, but it sure is cute in white!
Thanks, Marcie. I love both colors, too!! It was hard to chose just one. 🙂
Awesome job here Susie. Love it’s new look in white and I can’t believe you fit so much in there. Thanks for the awesome inspiration.
Thanks, Anj. I’m just a folding magician….LOL..
What a beautiful job you did with this nightstand! I love that pillow too it’s too darn funny! Your work is always inspiring and stunning!
LOL….thx CArolann… So glad you like the makeover and my quirky sense of humor. Thanks so much for stopping by.
This is just how I do things – if it isn’t “right” it just isn’t and I keep going until I get it there. LOVE the final white and SO PURTY!! YUM.
Thanks, Linda. I know just what you mean..I truly didn’t want to start over with the nightstand, but it was inevitable. Had to be done. But I’m with you, love how it turned out. Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome job on this makeover Susie! Hard to believe it’s the same piece! It looks perfect in that room. Pinned!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. I’m shocked as well. I still have my heart set on a red piece…so I’m scouting the house… LOL.
I just am blown away at the before and after including from red to cream. I showed the Hubster this project too so we can clone you someday. I am so glad I know you now.
Thanks, Sue …you’re the sweetest ever. Appreciate your vote of confidence.
First Susie, I LOVE the pillow on your bed – too funny! Second, I love your writing style and read every single word in your posts. Last but not least, I love me some red and I loved your night stand painted red buuuut you were spot on repainting it white. It looks totally unified and larger, like you had envisioned. Just the right amount of distressing too gives it so much character. Love it – pinning it!
Thanks a million, Marie. You are such a dear…..whatever would I do without such kind words and encouragment?
It looks so great Susie! I love the white also. The styling and photos of it are great. I know it can be hard to shoot toward a window but you did a great job! I love the pillows and bedding too. A great space for guests.
Thanks so much, Nancy. I’ve already restyled the bed linens for photos of the nightstand on the other side. Lol…..never a dull moment.
White was the perfect color for this nightstand and it looks great in your pretty guest room. Love what you did with this piece!
Thanks so much, Paula. I was sad to have to refinish the piece twice, but was so glad i did.
I love this makeover! You were working the red there, but in the end I think the white was the right choice. You have such beautiful style. XO
Thanks so much, Christy. You are so sweet. XO
Susie, white was the way to go! Great job and I love the usual looking nightstand! Really worth the save!
Thanks so much, Kim.
I love the new life of that tired and well used little table. It looks so much fresher in white than the red like it always wanted to be white, and the distressing is perfect. I really have to buy some of that Poppies Paint Powder, it’s the second time I’ve read about it and it makes it more economical than some of the other chalk paint brands.
Thanks, Toni. Yes, Poppies makes a nice chalk paint and it’s easy to sand and distress.
WOW! The white really did make it look bigger..who would have thunk it! LOL! It turned out just beautiful and really is perfect now!
Hugs,
Karin
Thanks, Karin. yes, I love playing fool the eye….. LOL..
This piece is so pretty! Love the red, but the white knocked it out of the ballpark. So true, sometimes less is more!
Thanks, Wendi. yes….less was definitely the way to go with this one.
I love the nightstand. What a fantastic transformation. And Poppies Paint Powder is great. I just finished a piece using it.
Thanks, Debra. I’d love to see your piece. Hope you will consider linking to Friday’s Furniture Fix.
I love that you are never so married to a piece that you won’t redo it! You have a great eye for details and staging. Love it!
Thanks, Nancy. And…I just knew the chalk paint would save the day.
You never cease to amaze us with your projects. We are so honored that you trust Poppie’s with your amazing creations. Just love this one too!
Thanks so much. It is a pleasure to work with such a good product and wonderful company.
Whaaaaat?? Only 2 coats and NO bleed through?!! That’s awesome!! I might have to give this paint powder a try! The red was very cute, but I love the clean look of the white. It really holds its own in the room now 🙂
Thanks, Stacy. XO
Susie,
You nailed this makeover. The red did dwarf your nightstand but, the white gives it great balance. I also want to see the post on styling for different guests. Beautiful job Darling!
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
Hi Karen…and thanks so much. Love having you visit…. feels like home. XOXO
I love this makeover. Such a great job. Thanks for the inspiration Susie.
Thanks, Denise.
i love the distressed look, I always think that when you make it look like that on purpose any bumps and scratches will just add to style haha
Thanks, ALina. True dat. Anytime I can cover up bumps and scratches….I’m there. LOL.
Thank you for linking this lovely nightstand to our first (Waste Not Wednesday link party. (http://www.smallhomesoul.com/waste-not-wednesday-link-party-1/). I just love the new life that you breathed into this tired little girl! Please come visit us again.
I just adore this new look!! The bones of the piece really pop now. Ps…love the pillow on the bed!! Adorable!
Thanks, Kim.. And I agree…the pillow is hilarious.
Susie, hi I’m Florence…first time here & from Blogging Fifty. Just thought I’d drop by. I love the little nightstand in the white! Like it much better than the red! Like the amount of distressing you did. The nightstand is so cute now. I guess this is the white part of the red, white, or blue challenge.
Hi Florence and many thanks. Once I saw nightstand beside the bed, I knew it was good to redo it in white. And yes, this is the white part of the challenge. Totally unplanned, but an accidental ending.
Forgot to tell you I pinned.
Hi Florence. Thanks so much… hopping over to your blog to say hello, too.. 🙂
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