DIY Navy Nightstand Makeover in a Coastal Bedroom

Last Updated on January 21, 2025

See the beautiful transformation of this navy nightstand makeover and get DIY painting tips so you can easily do this at home yourself! 

I bought dark brown (espresso) wood nightstands many years ago when I was on a dark furniture kick. Literally every piece of furniture in our house was stained dark brown! I do think dark furniture is pretty but it’s very traditional. 

I’ve always loved coastal design style and the woods most commonly used are lighter tones. It seems like the trend towards lighter tones goes well beyond coastal style. Light floors, light furniture, light walls – light, bright, and airy vibes have been trending for a while. 

I was ready to upgrade our nightstands, and I thought about just completely replacing them with some light wood ones. However, that’s hundreds of dollars and the fact was – I actually really liked these nightstands. They’re the perfect height and they have a drawer for storage. The look is traditional but I tend to lean a little traditional in my decorating so that was fine with me. So, I decided to just paint them instead!

Choosing Nightstand Paint

Since my home decor style is very coastal, the most obvious choice for me was to paint our nightstands some shade of white. White furniture is quintessential coastal and a great option. But we already have a lot of white and off-white colors in our room, so I wanted to do something more bold. I decided on a classic navy color to complement our coastal bedroom.

When it comes to cabinet or furniture paint, don’t skimp on quality. I either use Benjamin Moore Advanced Interior or Sherwin Williams Emerald Enamel. Because our nightstands only required a quart of paint, I went with Benjamin Moore. However, for big jobs, I usually do Sherwin Williams and have them color match. They often have sales, so you get more bang for your buck. I also think their paint quality is just as good as Benjamin Moore.

Hale Navy Nightstand Makeover

I discovered Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on Pinterest about six years ago and completely fell in love with it. It’s literally the perfect navy. Some navy blues can pull too much purple or royal hues, which was not a look I was going for. Hale Navy is slightly lighter than what I would consider a traditional navy blue and it pulls gray undertones. I think that is what I really love about it. It’s an understated navy that feels very timeless. 

If you’re looking for a tried and true navy that you’ll never get sick of, I highly recommend you check out BM Hale Navy. I have now painted a console table, our basement cabinets, a dresser, and our nightstands Hale Navy. I continue to love this color after years of incorporating it. 

My first Hale Navy paint job:

Painting our nightstands was super easy, but there are some tips to help you get the nicest finish. I provided some simple tips below!

How to Paint a Nightstand

Before I jump in, I want to preface that I did not sand these nightstands before I painted them. If you have existing paint on your nightstands or any uneven spots, it’s a good idea to give them a light sanding.  

I use 220 grit sandpaper which you can find at any hardware store. We get ours at Home Depot.

1. Make Sure They’re Dust-Free

Wipe your nightstands down with a damp microfiber cloth. Then, dry them completely. You don’t want any dust on them when you paint.

2. Designate & Prep a Space for Painting

First, figure out where you want to paint. I suggest a garage if you have space. That way, it’s out of the house but not outside where dust or debris can collect. 

Next, put down drop cloths, rosin paper, plastic sheeting, or even large pieces of cardboard can work. Painting is a messy job and you want to protect everything around it. I painted our nightstands in the garage and used plastic sheeting. Use blue painter’s tape to tape down the edges of the sheeting to keep it in place. 

3. Use a High-Density Foam Roller

We have a paint sprayer that we use on big jobs, but for these nightstands, I just used a high-density foam roller. It gives you a really smooth finish and is a lot less prep work than using the paint sprayer. 

Be sure to pick up extra foam rollers. I often go through at least 2 or 3 when painting. 

I actually took the legs off of our nightstands to make it easier to get to all the nooks and crannies. You certainly don’t have to do this but it was easier for me and these legs were super simple to unscrew.

4. Lightly Sand Any Drips Between Coats

As careful as you try to be, it’s not uncommon to miss drips. Inspect your nightstands before you paint additional coats. Carefully sand them with your 220 grit sandpaper and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. 

I only needed two coats of paint for these nightstands but if you are going significantly lighter, you could need more.

Navy Nightstands

Sconce | Vase | Pampas Grass | Marble Tray | Wicker Tray

I am so happy with how these navy nightstands turned out. They add the perfect pop of color and are absolutely perfect in our coastal bedroom. If you are considering a nightstand makeover, I highly recommend Benjamin Moore Hale Navy! It’s an affordable way to give an old nightstand a brand new, elevated look. 

I hope this post gave you some good DIY nightstand makeover inspiration. Happy painting!

Sconce | Vase | Pampas Grass | Tissue Box | Diffuser | Wicker Tray

Discover similar posts:
→Hale Navy Dresser: An Easy Dresser Ikea Hack
→Navy Blue Cabinet Makeover
→Dreamy Coastal Bedroom Design
→Perfect Preppy Coastal Guest Bedroom
→How to Style a Coastal Daybed

This post is about a DIY navy nightstand makeover in a coastal bedroom.