Reclaimed DIY Nightstands

Design

May 8

I'm so excited about this project - turning two ugly '60's end tables into pretty white nightstands for my master bedroom.

I found the pair on Kijiji for $15 and snapped them up not only because of the bargain price but also because they have a simple, mid-century modern shape and both a drawer for closed storage as well as an open shelf for books and magazines.

I love having simple nightstands beside the bed for their functionality. It essential to have a good reading lamp and a place to put a book, reading glasses, lip balm, etc. Closed storage keeps things tidy and calm.

This project cost only about $50 for both nightstands - a real bargain, PLUS I kept consumerism low.

Here's how I found the tables when I purchased them. And the end result.

Here’s what I did:

I removed the hardware, filled in the holes with wood filler, and lightly sanded.
I used a primer for laminate surfaces, let them dry and lightly sanded again.
I then brushed on a coat of CIL high-gloss trim paint in untinted white.
And a second coat.

After drying, I added a coat of water-based polyurethane high gloss for a protective shine.
I pasted removable wallpaper to the back of the shelf, and as a liner inside the drawer. I simply cut the paper to size and used an adhesive spray to hold it tight.
Finally, I drilled new holes in the centre of the drawer faces for new knobs I picked up at a vintage store.
I left the tapered wood legs as is for a nice contrast to the white cabinet and so that they stand out as a classic mid-century design.

And voila! They turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. They are now in my master bedroom in my little condo. An amazing addition at a low cost to me and the planet!

UPDATE: the photos below show the stands as I've used them in my homes since this post.