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girlwonder88

help me update these bedside tables!

6 years ago
We are finishing up a master bedroom addition, which will hopefully be light and bright-pale sea glass colored walls, oak floors, lots of light, vaulted ceiling. We don’t have a big budget for new furniture right now, and (more importantly), my husband made these himself and we’d like to keep them. I thought about painting but he likes the natural wood-thoughts about better hardware or a different stain? Current handle is 4”x2”-drawer is 14”x3 1/2”. Help!

Comments (11)

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Easiest table runners or covers.


    Next is to sand,prime & paint them.


    Get matching light color countertop remanent or a mirror cut to size to put on top of. Try cutting out posterboard or color paper to put on top to visualize before buying.


    Since your hubby does woodwork, he could make a countertop out of wood with a lip over existing top which you could paint


  • 6 years ago

    Buy some fabric and cover them like a table cloth.

    It would be nice to see all of the paint/bedding/flooring choices before deciding about painting and handles.


  • 6 years ago

    I agree with your husband :) what I would do is to get a piece of heavy duty glass cut and properly buffed all around and rest it on the table top , you could even put fabric to match your curtains or bedding and use that under the glass if you want a different look , no paint... just use lemon oil to keep the wood top shape.

  • 6 years ago

    Or you could get a piece of mirror for on top and the bottom shelf and lighter hardware.

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    they're nice, but would look better painted. next time tell him to use better wood if he wants them to stay natural!

    what you could do make both of you happy, redo the top in a darker stain like a warm walnut, and paint the lower portion.







    try General Finishes Milk Paint (it's an acrylic enamel). very easy to paint with. make sure to prep the wood prior to painting.

    https://generalfinishes.com/all-colors#






    do a nice glass or acrylic handle or knobs.





    and if you're really feeling creative


  • 6 years ago

    I like them as is! I wish my DH would do something like that.


    Or you could get a glass top cut as suggested above. Then you could change out your fabric/paper under the glass whenever you felt like it.

  • 6 years ago
    Thank you all! I totally appreciate the thoughts, and also the work that went into them :). It’s great having a spouse who can do things! Beth, I think he would use nicer wood if he was making them today-these were in his poorer bachelor days (you can’t imagine how much nicer they are than anything else had back then). Maybe I’ll just sand and oil and replace the drawer handles. Any ideas? Wall color and flooring below (the floorings shown in my daughter’s yellow room).
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    you could sand, use a gel stain in walnut on all the outer wood, and paint the inside of the lower portion your beachy color. (just use whatever you used on your walls for that inset portion) I think that would look nice w/the wood.

    find a new handle that fits those existing holes.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Based on your picture, you need larger nightstands! I understand wanting to use something your DH made (mine makes things for our house, too) but is there another bedroom they could be used in where their size and finish would be more appropriate? That way his beginning handiwork is still part of your home and maybe he can make something more in line with your vision for your room.

  • 6 years ago
    Ha! That’s a very good point! Hmmm maybe we could move them to the guest room we will finally have. They hopefully won’t be as stacked when we move in-we will have swing arm wall lights and my son liked a bunch of books on mine. Everything is stacked everywhere in our house right now.