We already owned these hairpin leg nightstands. My husband had bought them a few years ago, we used them in our bedroom, and I always liked them. A few months ago, we switched out our nightstands and the decor in our bedroom, so these sat around for a few months just collecting dust.
I loved the real wood and the metal legs. So I knew I wanted to keep the legs as is and leave some of the wood vs covering everything with paint. So I’d need something that complemented the wood and legs. I decided that black would complement the grain in the wood and the legs. I’ve heard it can be challenging to have a smooth finish when painting furniture black. And there was some water damage on the top. So, challenge accepted!
I started by removing the hardware and setting that aside to clean and freshen up later.
I sanded with 120 and then 220 grit sandpaper, spending more time on the top to take care of the water damage.
I’d heard that when painting a dark color, it’s best to use tinted primer. So I used the Zinsser primer in gray.
Primer: Zinsser 286258 Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer, Quart, Gray
After I primed, I saw the dents and dings that would have kept me from getting the smooth, professional finish I wanted. So, I used wood filler to fill in the dents/dings (and one of the water damaged spots that I’d already sanded earlier). I let it dry, sanded it down lightly with 220 grit sandpaper, and repeated the process for some of the deeper dings.
Filler: Minwax Natural Stainable Wood Filler Interior/Exterior Wood Filler
I added another coat of gray primer, let the paint dry, taped off ever wood drawer because I didn’t want any paint getting on it, and was finally ready to paint!
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Supplies used:
– Zibra PLM200LCS Palm Pro Cut in Angled Paint Brush for Furniture and Next to Trim, White, 2 in, 1 Count
– Whizz foam roller
– black paint
– calcium carbonate
– Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane, Quart, Matte Finish
– Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 12 oz, Matte Farmhouse Black
– Howard Products Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish & Conditioner, 8 oz, Orange
I mixed some of the calcium carbonate into the paint to make it more durable and matte (a DIY chalk paint) and got to work. I applied the paint with my angled brush and smoothed it out with the foam roller. I gave it 2 coats of paint allowing and then was ready to finish it. I added some of the black paint I’d used to the polyurethane and followed the same paint on and smooth out process I’d used to apply the paint. I did 2 coats of the polyurethane finish.
I gave the wood some TLC by applying the Wood Polish and Conditioner to the insides, side, and front of the drawers.
I cleaned the hardware, spray painted them black, and let them dry before putting them back on the nightstands.
I added a snake plant for staging, took pictures, and posted on Facebook Marketplace.
What do you think of the final product?!